Training for a week long, 24 - 7, 4x4 bicycle relay - Marc Christensen

Training for a week long, 24 - 7,  4x4 bicycle relay 

How the heck do you do that? Over 3,000 miles, multiday, 24 -7 endurance race, done in short relay intervals? Yikes. I’ve asked a multi-race Tour de France finisher, an Olympic Cross Country Ski Medalist, and an Olympic Cross Country Ski Coach to provide me coaching and advice to prepare for this event. I think the Cross Country Ski Racers have the closest events to this in their long relay races, but even these races are only one day events. How is one to combine the training of the Tour de France with the Cross Country Relay Team? 

I started with the training regime created by the Tour de France rider, Marty Jemison. Marty recommended the basic tried and true bicycle race training calendar, Monday, easy spin or off, Tuesday, intervals, basically short burst in 1 or 3 minute increments. Go as hard as you can. Barf. And go again. These suck but the results are almost immediate. Wednesday, long ride. Thursday more intervals. My Thursday intervals were usually climbing intervals. Friday was an easy spin day or off. Then the weekend. Long rides Saturday and Sunday. All of these training rides were to be measured in hours on the bike, rather than miles or speed. This same type of schedule is used by the skiers, but they work in additional weight training and other off ski workouts. The cyclists seem to stay on the bike. In my training leading up to the race, I was able to log over 2,000 miles using this schedule. My longest week was 250 miles. I watched my speed and intensity continually increase. In the last 30 days of training, at the behest of the skiing advisors, my training was to switch to 2 or 3 one hour rides per day. This was to mimic the conditions of the actual race and get my body prepared for the relay aspect, rather than the endurance aspect. Unfortunately, at this late date, 9 days until race day, I was not able to complete this portion of my training. Too much interference from work travel, family, and other responsibilities. What I could do if I was able to commit all of my time to training!  So, I am as ready as can be, and looking forward to the start! Maybe I can work the training schedule in next year!


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