Panic Training, Fitness Plateaus, Pro Racing, and More – Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast 423

TL;DR

After winning Leadville last year, there is some pressure for Hannah Otto to repeat her success, but she is focusing on the execution and not expecting anything. She plans to make small improvements in her strategy, including taking in more carbs through drink mix. She does not find it useful to do intervals at very high elevations before Leadville.

Transcript

Welcome to the Ask a Cycling Coach podcast presented by Trainer Road. Today we're gonna talk about steep climbs. We're also going to be talking about panic training. Uh, you know, it's the time of year when these big races happen and sometimes we find ourselves in a spot where we're not prepared for it. So we'll talk about that. We'll talk about fi... Read More

Key Insights

• 💗 Winning Leadville last year gives Hannah Otto confidence but does not result in added pressure, as she knows the difficulty of winning twice in a row.
• 🥺 Small changes in strategy, nutrition, and equipment can lead to improvements, even if previous methods were successful.
• 🖐️ Recovery and consistency play a crucial role in achieving optimal performance.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Hannah Otto approach Leadville after winning it last year?

Hannah focuses on execution and does not place pressure on expecting a specific outcome. She knows she has already proven herself and can use that confidence to her advantage.

Q: What changes will Hannah make to her Leadville strategy?

Hannah plans to make small improvements, including taking in more carbs through drink mix and increasing her carb intake per hour. She also plans to follow a more standard preparation leading up to the race.

Q: Do intervals at very high elevations before Leadville provide any benefits?

While it can be beneficial mentally, Hannah does not personally engage in high elevation intervals due to difficulties with recovery at high altitudes. She believes it is more important to focus on recovery and consistency in training.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Hannah Otto approaches Leadville with a focus on execution and not expecting a specific outcome, as she has already proven herself by winning it last year.

• She plans to make small improvements in her strategy, such as taking in more carbs through drink mix and increasing her carb intake per hour.

• Hannah does not find it useful to do intervals at very high elevations before Leadville because it hinders recovery and training.