| One of the most common mistakes people make | | | | several time when talking about endurance events |
| when training for a century rise is over training. It is all | | | | such as riding a century. |
| too tempting to simply think that the more you ride the | | | | One of the main things you need to do as part of your |
| fitter you will get and the quicker you'll be able to ride | | | | training is to learn to listen to your body. There will be |
| your century. The reality is that if you follow this | | | | days when your body is pleading you not to go near a |
| approach you will most likely simply wear your body | | | | bike or the gym. If you have days like this, listen to it |
| out over a period of weeks, increasing your chances | | | | and rest. What will happen is that you will come back |
| of picking up an injury and you may even reduce your | | | | the next day stronger and more mentally ready to |
| performances on the bike. | | | | push yourself next time out. |
| All professional riders take a much more scientific | | | | Recovery need not mean total rest. One very good |
| approach to training. | | | | way is to incorporate recovery rides into your training |
| The human body only actually gets fitter after it has | | | | schedule. Such rides should be under one hour in length |
| exercised when it is resting. Exercise stretches your | | | | and ridden at a very very low intensity (about 60% of |
| muscles and causes lots of tiny tears. Only while post | | | | you max.). Such rides will help you get the blood |
| workout rest is happening do the muscle fiber knit | | | | flowing through your muscles without actually causing |
| back together again stronger and longer than before. It | | | | any more muscle damage. As a result they can help |
| is because of this fact that rest and recovery are so | | | | speed up the recovery process as opposed to total |
| important. The importance of recovery is multiplied | | | | rest. Again try to listen to your body. |