I can't sit around in some pose with nothing on around me while humming or whatever. I thrive on music.
One method is making a playlist of songs from race videos. From racing cyclocross this past fall, I've diligently watched all the CXHairs.com video series, "Svenness". With a playlist on Soundcloud of the music from the videos, I can visual the races or better yet, just racing. This playlist gets me into the mindset of thinking about powering hard through a bike session on trainer. It also gets me amped in the car ride home from work to get on the trainer.
I'll also listen to the playlist from my runs while not running. In fact, I have a set of 40 songs on my mp3 player that hasn't changed in over 2 years. Sure, there's an added 2 or 3, but it's very much the same since I made it. This allows me to get amped for an upcoming song. Even better, when I hear these older songs, I can get in a better mindset. There's something comforting there I guess. I can drift off, clear my head, and think about a run, or see myself kicking it in to the finish line.
Now, the flip side. When racing, there is no music. Rules are rules and both USAC and USAT do not allow headphones or personal music during a race. That's OK! If your imagination is as vivid as mine, you won't need actual music. You can immerse yourself in your head. Switch up your training sessions without music to be used to it. I've seen a lot of people post race comment on no being able to pace themselves because they didn't have their iPod or whatever. I've even seen some people just about freak out pre race becuase an official told them that they couldn't wear their headphones. Remember the adage: NOTHING NEW ON RACE DAY. If you have to train with music, be sure to train without music.
Well, that was all over the place, but hopefully you can take something away from it. Spring is almost here!
One method is making a playlist of songs from race videos. From racing cyclocross this past fall, I've diligently watched all the CXHairs.com video series, "Svenness". With a playlist on Soundcloud of the music from the videos, I can visual the races or better yet, just racing. This playlist gets me into the mindset of thinking about powering hard through a bike session on trainer. It also gets me amped in the car ride home from work to get on the trainer.
I'll also listen to the playlist from my runs while not running. In fact, I have a set of 40 songs on my mp3 player that hasn't changed in over 2 years. Sure, there's an added 2 or 3, but it's very much the same since I made it. This allows me to get amped for an upcoming song. Even better, when I hear these older songs, I can get in a better mindset. There's something comforting there I guess. I can drift off, clear my head, and think about a run, or see myself kicking it in to the finish line.
Now, the flip side. When racing, there is no music. Rules are rules and both USAC and USAT do not allow headphones or personal music during a race. That's OK! If your imagination is as vivid as mine, you won't need actual music. You can immerse yourself in your head. Switch up your training sessions without music to be used to it. I've seen a lot of people post race comment on no being able to pace themselves because they didn't have their iPod or whatever. I've even seen some people just about freak out pre race becuase an official told them that they couldn't wear their headphones. Remember the adage: NOTHING NEW ON RACE DAY. If you have to train with music, be sure to train without music.
Well, that was all over the place, but hopefully you can take something away from it. Spring is almost here!
What is on your playlist? Got a sample? Better yet, have an excel spreadsheet?
ReplyDeletehttps://soundcloud.com/deltabrian/sets/cxhairs
DeleteCheck this out for starters!
Cool! Thanks!!
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