Going from a competitive bodybuilder to someone who trains for function fitness I have been blown away by how much my training has translated into the activities I love. While out on a ride with coach Lyle we got into a conversation about how much the strength training has helped us in our adventure sports. Lyle climbs, trail runs and cycles when he isn’t swinging kettlebells for absurd reps. I’m primarily an ultra mountain biker and bikepacker who love kettlebells, Olympic lifting and TRX suspension Training. It is essential for me to be strong enough that when I come to fallen trees after 2 days of little to no real sleep that I feel confident I can continue on. In races like the Pisgah 36, race director Eric Wever had us pushing our bikes up Farlow at 2am on Stage 1. This was a make it or break it stage for a lot of the field but I love grind workouts specifically for these occasions. Flip a tire for 10 min, push a sled for 10 min then 10 min of burpees and you will start to know what pushing up Farlow feels like.
Do you need a specific training plan, fancy bike and expensive gear to get out and feel physically prepared for an adventure? Heck no! If you have 10 years of training in and you have plateaued as an athlete or you are looking to get on the podium then yes. Things like the lightest gear and most aero clothing can make the difference between winning and losing but for the vast majority of individuals who want to take on an epic adventure you need to build a really solid base of strength and stamina before ever specializing. Specialization leads to injury especially in individuals who are new to a sport. If you want to complete your first trail race, mountain bike race then hit the weights 2-3 times per week and you will be better off than someone jumping straight into some elaborate program that is a derivative of an elite athletes training plan.
Years ago I got too focused on hitting the numbers on my bike and moved away from strength training. I was hitting CrossFit workouts 4-5 days per week and riding 4-5 times per week. My body felt so beat up that I no longer had rides that felt good or strong. I paid the price when I took out the strength training completely, I could sit in the saddle forever but my knees ached on basic bodyweight movements like squatting and push ups. The McHone Performance Training programming provides strength training workouts 2-3 days per week for mountain athletes to help them increase their fitness and feel stronger on mountain bike rides, trail runs, and feel less beat up at the finish line. Get fit and strong while performing the outdoor recreation activities you love. With increased overall fitness your miles will get better and you can enjoy those adventure experiences for a lifetime.