When it comes to training for an event, there are two main schools of thought. The first says that signing up early and getting started with your training as soon as possible helps to make sure you are fully prepared for the challenge ahead. The second says that you should leave it until the last minute, using the added pressure to quickly whip yourself into shape.
While option two might work for some people, we’re more inclined to side with the turtle rather than the hare. Playing the long game offers some distinct advantages, and gives you time to properly prepare for the challenge ahead.
Signing up early can also help with motivation and minimise the risk that you’ll want to drop out due to a lack of preparation. Let’s explore how an early sign up can help to make sure you are well prepared for what lies ahead.
The benefits of signing up early for a challenge
It’s certainly possible to cram training for a long distance cycle into a couple of months, but this won’t be as enjoyable as giving yourself 6-9 months, or even longer. By giving yourself the time to build up your endurance, you’ll find the event day to be much more enjoyable.
Signing up early can also help to prevent stress along the way. If you fall ill and have to take a few weeks off training, this can be easily managed when you have months to play with. But if every day is essential, then you might find yourself pushing yourself to train when you aren’t ready.
Without the pressure of a deadline, it can be more difficult to stay motivated. It’s easy to give yourself a break, because the deadline is so far away. You might find yourself saying, ‘it’s not that important for me to complete this training session, because I have months and months to catch up’. However, the race will come around sooner than expected.
Creating your training plan
If you’re giving yourself lots of time to train, you should do so with a plan in mind. Creating your training plan will give you a sense of the time you have to play with. It will also ensure that you’re able to ease up before the race to make sure you have plenty left in the tank.
A good training plan will gradually increase at achievable increments and help you to build strength and endurance. It should include key milestones so that you know if you’re on track or falling behind.
If you have 9 months to train, and you’re a complete novice, you want to aim to increase your distance by around 6 miles per month. By aiming for 8 miles per month, you can be ready ahead of time, and give yourself a buffer in your training plan to account for illness or injury.
How to stay motivated when the race is months away
It’s essential to keep your eyes on the prize to keep your motivation strong. It can be easy to become complacent and to lose focus on the end goal. You might think the race is so far in the future that it’s not urgent or pressing.
This is when fundraising can help to plug the gap. By giving yourself plenty of time to train, you’ll also give yourself lots of time to raise money. By letting people know that you are training for your race, you build a sense of accountability that can help to keep you on track.
You’ll feel motivated to train because you’ll be aware that you’ve already told people that the race is happening. They might have pledged a donation already, so you’ll know there’s no backing out.
Setting smaller milestones throughout your training plan will also help you to stay on track. Setting yourself a half way challenge of completing half the distance will give you an idea of whether you are on track, or if you need to step up your training.
Don’t be afraid to join last minute
While signing up early might be the ideal way to structure your training, there’s also nothing wrong with leaving it until later if you are confident in your fitness levels. It can be a fun challenge to quickly get yourself up to speed with the rest of your cycling team, and you’ll be setting yourself an additional challenge of trying to fundraise in a shorter space of time.
The most important thing is that you arrive on race day feeling prepared for what lies ahead. This will not only help to ensure you can complete the race without risking an injury, but that you’ll also be able to enjoy the ride. Long distance cycle challenges should remain fun and challenging, and making sure you have completed adequate training will help you to achieve your goals.
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