It's not easy to manage daily life, work and ultra-distance training.
It's all about finding the right balance, so that cycling doesn't take up too much of your life to the detriment of everything else. So how can naturopathy, good organization and emotional management help us find the right rhythm? The one that allows us to limit our sacrifices, stay healthy and thrive in our daily, professional and sporting lives?
That's what we're going to find out today!
- What objectives and why?
We think it's essential, even before embarking on the preparation of a test, to know the "why?"
We all respond to different triggers such as :
- The need for accomplishment & challenge (cf. Maslow's Pyramid): the need to realize oneself, to prove things to oneself.
- Social validation: "If others do it, it must be good, so if I do it, others 'validate' me".
- To set an example: to your children, to your loved ones
- Escape from everyday life and live an "ultra-ordinary" adventure
Once the "why" has been clearly identified (there's no such thing as a "good" or "bad" why in my eyes, but knowing precisely why you're doing it will help you when the going gets tough on the bike!), it's time to set some goals...
Here again in ultra, there are different "right answers":
- Do it to test yourself
- Doing it to finish
- Do it for a time/podium...
By writing down in black and white the goal of the run you want to do and why, you're setting up a mental action plan because you're telling your brain precisely where you want to go.
So exercise No. 1 today: identify why you want to challenge yourself and with what objective?
2. Surround yourself well / your family life etc.
Do your family and friends support you in this project? This is extremely important, as they will be your foundation in the months to come. So you'll need to explain to them why you're doing it and for what purpose!
Even before buying a race number, it's important to discuss the subject with your family, so that it's a collective decision from the outset (because the ultra adventure is a collective one, just look at the number of spouses at the start of the RACE ACROSS FRANCE ;)).
3. Getting organized / managing your time: taking on a coach, preparation tools / calendar
4. Managing stress: meditation and journaling
There are lots of ways to manage stress in the run-up to the test, and I think it's essential to start early (at the same time as you start your preparatory courses) so you don't have an anxiety attack the day before and refuse to take the start.
Here again, it's really important to have the support of your family and loved ones, because sometimes you have to go through the tough times when you miss a session, or when big professional deadlines come up.
- 5. Recovery
Take at least 1 day off (or even 2) a week and listen to your body.
For plants : Ginseng and Rhodiola, plants that boost vitality and help anticipate recovery.
We also remember that sleep is one of the most important aspects of our lives: by acting on our brain, sleep promotes our ability to learn, memorize and make logical, rational decisions.
It also readjusts our emotions, supports our immune system and regulates our metabolism.
Good sleep = good performance.
For more tips on quality sleep? See the next article "How to manage fatigue" and the book "Why do we sleep?" by Pr Matthew Walker..
