Fetty Files - Stress & Training
Keep Stressed Managed and Life Balanced While Training

By Jacob Fetty

Stress is a fact of life and low levels of stress are beneficial to us. It is when we allow stress to accumulate that we find ourselves in a tight spot. Stress comes in all shapes, sizes and disguises. Athletes should work with their coach to help balance worldly stresses with training stresses.

Our bodies handle or process stress via the Adrenal Glands. What makes stress a tricky beast is that our bodies process emotional and training stress in the same manner. With this in mind, having an objective guide or coach can be invaluable.

Here are some helpful ideas to incorporate into your life to keep stress under control:
• Plan days off, breaks in training. The rigors of life and training can easily accumulate. Plan to take days off from training like you take days off from work. Most people work 5 days per week so why do we try to train 7 days a week, 52 weeks per year? Planning days off can allow you to catch up with life’s demands.

• Mix fun into your workouts. I have never heard anyone go for their first bike ride and say, “Wow, this is fun! I want to do intervals everyday.” Don’t forget why you ride in the first place. If riding is not fun take a step back and incorporate some fun ideas into your training.

• Laughter is the best medicine. Perhaps mixing laughter with training does not make sense but I will tell you that people who laugh a lot tend to be happier and happier people tend to have less stress. It may be unconventional but a trip to a comedy club or a romantic-comedy may be just what you need to alleviate stress and make your training and life more productive.

• Keep variety in your workouts. Do not hesitate to mix up your workouts. This is closely tied to mixing fun into your cycling. The goal is to not get stuck in a routine where you are doing the same thing week in and week out. Keep the workouts fresh and entertaining and you will look forward to them.

• Be honest and objective; use common sense. Being honest with yourself is paramount. If you are feeling overloaded or overworked you have to admit to this and pull the plug. You can get by for awhile being overloaded but inevitably the load you are bearing will come crashing down on you. Know when the load is too great and back off.

• Know your limits; don’t spread yourself too thin. Along the same lines of being honest and objective is knowing your limits. You have to know what you are capable of and what is too much. Know this fine line and do not cross it.

• Make time for yourself. Even if it is 15 minutes a day with a cup of coffee and the newspaper or walking your dog before work. Take a few minutes a day to refresh your mind.

Don’t let stress accumulate and bring down your performance. Incorporate these ideas to maintain fun and enjoyment in your training/life routine. Remember, we do this because it is enjoyable, not to add more stress to our lives. Use cycling as a fun means of exercise to reduce stress.

Jacob owns and operates FS Concepts, a custom coaching company. To learn more about Jacob and FS Concepts visit www.fsconcepts.com