Post Event Goal Setting- a cautionary tale ..

Originally posted by "Mark" on the old Athletic Progression forum.

As Jeff would probably tell us all, and now in my experience having lived it; I can say that post-event goal setting and planning are of equal importance to the planning of your goal events in your calendar.

This past June I completed the Raid Pyrenean- It involves traversing the Pyrenees, climbing 18 cols (11 000 + m vertical), over 720 km, in a time limit of 100 hours (that's 4.5 days-including sleep)  In planning the training for this event I did everything correctly, right up to the event itself.  It was careful, measured, periodized...just about perfect.



The event was awesome, successful, I lived a dream, and performed on point every day!  And then I came home.

I was lost afterward, and as a result I couldn't manage the burnout I felt towards the bike.  It was a long very focused year of training.  It was a singular goal.  Burnout is understandable, and expected.   There was no follow up.  So, after I got back I really hadn't trained, or just rode for fun in the 2 months after.

I returned to my reference books (including Friel) and found that just like the week off between training periods I should have planned to pursue activities separate from the bike after my event.  This would have allowed me several positive outcomes:

allowing recovery to let the body adapt
alternate activities train what you've neglected
allowing a constructive mental break from the bike
learn to have fun again
get hungry for cycling - because you miss it
leveraging the great training the event gave me into later season goals.
So there, I hope some of you find this interesting if not useful to you.  I am back on the wagon again getting ready for next year.
-Mark