Winter Training and Motivation: Athlete Focus
The temperature is cold, and the days are shorter. Struggling to maintain the motivation for training or orienteering regularly? You're not alone. Getting yourself out on cold dark mornings and evenings takes a lot more motivation than it might do in July.
Pick up some tips and see what makes up a typical training week for some of our top elite athletes this winter with our elite athlete focus feature series.
Athletes club: Roxburgh Reivers
Athletes age: 25
Competing at the European Championships in 2016.
I do 3 weeks hard, 1 week easy. Hard weeks include intervals, longer run, tempo running, steady running, tech session, xc races, cross training, s&c and yoga. Easy weeks end in some tests so I can monitor progress. I have a plan and the focus changes slightly from the focus on strength/base to building in some speed through the winter.
I try to get out on a map once during the week (I’m focussing on sprint so this is easy as I live in Edinburgh where there’s lots of maps and courses planned) and then again at the weekend if I’m not racing xc. I will prioritise technical sessions more and more as the season goes on.
"Never give up, great things take time."
Thank you, Kirstin. British Orienteering and members would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the very best with your training throughout the rest of the year.
Elite Athlete Winter Training Series of Interviews
More information - here.
Interview #1: with Charlotte Ward - here
Humberside and Lincolnshire Orienteers, Sheffield University Orienteering Club
Interview #2: with Kris Jones - here
Forth Valley Orienteers, Swansea Bay Orienteering Club, Lillomarka OL, Swansea Harriers, Dundee Hawkhill Harriers
Interview #3: with Alice Leake - here
Airienteers
Interview #4: with Alasdair McLeod - here
Airienteers
Interview #5: with Jenny Ricketts - here
Edinburgh University Orienteering Club, Mar Orienteering club
Interview #6: with Hector Haines - here
IFK Lidingö SOK
Interview #7: with Graham Gristwood - here
Forth Valley Orienteers
Interview #8: with Charlotte Watson - here
West Cumberland Orienteering Club, Lillomarka OL
Interview #9: with Jonathan Crickmore - here
Edinburgh University Orienteering Club