Coaching Update:Battling

Gidday everyone

Hope you are all staying fit and for those heading into events in the next few weeks time to cut back the volume and sharpen up.

I have been battling a cold the last week. I know I have done my last long ride leading into the Festival of Cycling today and will just do short speed sessions from now till the big day. Racing round the AMP showgrounds, track on Sunday and some hill sprints next week. I will hit into the big event at around 87-88kg which is not bad seeing I haven't trained much with the cold.

Learning more about my Cycling NZ role as a National Junior Selector. It will be my mission to pass on information on riders who are in contention for Cycling NZ Development Squads to the NZ Development Squad Coaches. The Development Squads (U17 and U19) are the feeder squads into the High Performance Programme that is focused on Junior Worlds, Youth Olympics, World Cups, Commonwealth Games, World Championships and Olympic Games. Very exciting to be involved in the process.

I will starting to develop some tutorial sessions for riders. There will be some basic information and then some homework to complete. There will be three main areas that I will focus on...

-Using TrainingPeaks software to monitor training with a Power Meter
-Sprinting Tactics and Preparation (have already done a few of these)
-Goal setting (I want to see better goal set for 2000!!!)

And as always. Feedback. The rider I receive the most feedback from and demands the most commitment to her success is the rider who won FOUR UCI WORLD TITLES this year!

Part of my commitment is to make times to speak with everyone I coach at least once a month. Even in the US! I have signed up for free National calling and very cheap Overseas calls. Also available by email, mobile phone, Facebook, Bebo, and Skype.

Hamish

Coaching

Gidday everyone

Hope you are all fit and well. Nothing too major to peak for so hope you are all getting really fit. Big observation across the board is having really good condition. It's that Arthur Lydiard stuff from the 60s but it pays huge dividends on race day. I have been doing it myself and have lost 5kg (11lb) in 5 weeks and lowered my 16km TT from 26.40 to 25.00. 14kg to go for goal racing weight.

I am attending a Sports Nutrition seminar on the evenings of 1st and 2nd of December. Nick Kimber an exercise physiologist and cyclist is running it. It is $140 for the course so if anyone is keen to attend let me know.

Interesting news is that Bike NZ (Governing Body for all cycling in NZ) have appointed me a Cycling NZ (the road and track side of things) Junior National Selector. This is a huge opportunity for me to apply my knowledge of high performance cycling towards the vital area of selecting young cyclists for National Teams and for Development Squads. I start on the 1st of December.

I have a new toy. A hot Pinarello FP3 road bike with Shimano Ultegra SL componentry. Always wanted one and have to admit it is freaken cool to ride.

Congrats to Sharron Dawson for placing 2nd in the Molesworth Muster XC Race. Mike Smart for being part of the Teams Winning Section from Source to Sea RR and Simon Acker for being part of the winning team at Canterbury U17 TTT champs.

Still fair to say that I want more feedback from people on how their training is going and if you are feeling confident about your progress. Nothing more frustrating for a coach to hear after the fact or worse through the grapevine if you are unwell or feeling burnt out!

Hamish

The new toy!

Smashing myself in a local crit.