Guidance for Preparation Phase
By Rich Strauss

Welcome to the start of your training plan. I look forward to working closely with you to accomplish your goals. The following general guidance is meant to get you started and make sure that you and I understand what we will accomplish during this phase.

• The primary purpose of this two week phase is to complete successful testing in each sport at the end of the second week. Depending on your starting fitness level, priority races, etc., I will either have you do aerobic time trials or lactate threshold testing at the end of Prep Week 2. We will use these tests to establish your starting points for velocity and fitness. We will then repeat these tests at the end of each four week training period so that you we can measure your success and make a plan for how to go forward with your training.
  
• An aerobic time trial is a time trial on a measure course performed at your race target heart rate. Lactate threshold testing is either a maximum effort time trial or testing on a Computrainer, track, treadmill, etc.
  
• A secondary purpose of this period will be for you to shake out your workout schedule to figure out what works best for your personal schedule. Another large goal should be for you to begin solving the logistics of training for all three sports: what gear to have prepared, how you plan to eat during the day, packing separate bags, etc. I use checklists for each sport and basically keep everything in my car. A rolling gym, you might say.
  
• As for training, everything should be nice and easy, with the exception of the time trials.
  
• The overall purpose of this training phase is to have a brief transition before we start the real thing in Base 1, your next phase.

In Summary:

• Begin to shake out your workout schedule and figure out how to fit it all in with your real life. I can help you.
  
• Begin to work out the logistics of your training: what to have ready, when, where to keep it: a system so you don't forget something.
  
• Have successful tests at the end of the phase.
  
• All efforts in all sports are easy and comfortable.

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