When I first started biking, I was determined to keep it light and fun, nothing too competitive or serious. A few months later, I decided that I was actually going to go to the Olympics. Always keeping it real, that’s me.
After a few months of training myself and struggling to pull together a decent workout plan based on a number of different training approaches/philosophies, I was directed to Alison Dunlap to get personal coaching from a true expert who had done everything I was hoping to do. I’ve been working with her since the beginning of 2008 and she has given me some real gems of insight, including:
“When you do it right, it’s easy. When you do it wrong, it’s not.”
“Try not to eat so much cheese.”
“The rides that make you win races are the ones where the weather sucks, you feel terrible, and you hate your bike.”
“One or two cookies is fine, but twenty?”
“Spin to win!”
All kidding aside, having a coach has made all the difference in the world with my riding. I have an experienced pro telling me when I need to work hard and when I need to rest, things I would otherwise struggle to manage on my own. It also helps to know I have a training plan for each day; there’s no ambiguity, no “I don’t feel like riding today”, no letting myself off the hook. Sure, I miss a ride on essential occasions and I’ll rearrange training rides if life requires it, but since I pay somebody to tell me what to do, I try to actually do it.
The training works. I’m a much stronger, more disciplined rider than I would ever have been without a coach guiding me. Alison has trained me from a Cat 3 mountain biker and a new cross racer to a Cat 1 mountain biker and a Cat 2 cross racer in just over two years, after I’d only been on a bike for six months.
My point is that coaching is the key to improving your riding, even if your goals are slightly more normal (stay in shape, kick that guy’s ass at your local race). Since Alison has helped me so much, I want people to know that (a) as a coach, she rocks, and (b) if you’re not into paying a lot for full coaching, she offers basic plans for $60 a month that will give you everything you need to get better. You can learn more about it here. No, I don’t get anything for referring you (she would probably blush if I mentioned that I’m blogging about her) – I just want people to know that Alison is an awesome, affordable option for a coach.
Just don’t sign up if you’re racing in my class.
I used her $60 plan for 6 months to get a good base developed over the winter, it definitely works, and I came into April with more fitness than I had at my peak the season prior.
Of course, then I injured my knee in my first endurance race of the year and ended up taking a month off…so now I am just racing for fun over the summer and will do the entire cross season this year.
Your coach tells you not to eat so much cheese and mine tells me to stop for lunch on my long rides.
Hi, I’ve been a lurker around your blog for a few months. I love this article and your entire site! Looking forward to reading more!