It Depends…

It’s not uncommon for me to get asked questions like “What’s the best interval session?” or “What strength exercises should I be doing for cross-country skiing?” Of course, I could give an answer like “4x4 intervals have been shown to be the most effective.” Or “the clean is the one exercise you should be doing because it strengthens the posterior chain while also developing speed and power.” The honest answer? It depends.

I’m not trying to be cagey or avoidant in saying that. It just truly does. The people asking these types of questions are well-meaning and often just looking for some interesting coaching insight. From my perspective, it’s why I coach.

Individualized plans are just that. The reality is that you can find a number of free or low-cost training plans to get you ready for a specific race event or distance. A number of these plans are quite good and often can help you improve by adding structure and progression to your training.

Do you really want to make progress as an athlete? Having an individualized plan and coaching is the answer. We are all individuals and the best interval workout for someone? Well, it depends. It depends on what your starting point is. It depends on what your goals are for racing. It depends on your athletic background. It depends on a number of factors. And the weight of each of those factors? Well, it depends.

The other key thing to recognize is the answer to these questions can and should change. If you’re just getting started with structured training, the right interval workout will likely be different than it would be six months into a program.

I love chatting training, but I often find that my answer to those types of questions can feel a little vague. The reality is that individualized plans should truly be individualized.