Race Week Readiness

By Matt Russ

Remember this; "there is nothing you can do to increase your performance on race week, there is everything you can do to screw it up." Do not think you can gain that last little bit of speed. It is more likely to work against you if you try to train hard on a race week. Reduce your volume overall. Include a few race paced efforts in your work outs, but make them shorter than usual- well within your parameters. Take a day off two days before your race. The day before your race perform a pre-race ride or brick, shorter than race length. Check out the course and practice technique; include a few short raced paced efforts. Make sure your equipment is in proper order. Mentally go through your racing process, then relax!

Matt Russ has coached and trained elite athletes from around the country and internationally for over ten years. He currently holds expert licenses from USA Triathlon, USA Cycling (Elite), and is a licensed USA Track and Field Coach. Matt is head coach and owner of The Sport Factory, and works with athletes of all levels full time. He is a free lance author and his articles are regularly featured in a variety of magazines such as Inside Triathlon, and Triathlete. Visit www.thesportfactory.com for more information or email him at coachmatt@thesportfactory.com