Originally Posted by
kbarch
In a way, I know what you mean about structured programs - you'll see them described in magazines or on the internet, and my eyes glaze over when I try to read them. But that's not to say I don't enjoy participating in them if someone else is leading them; and as much as it's work, it's fun to meet a challenge.
I raced for 3 years ... the first two years as a member of a club, the last year as an independent.
The club coach had us all "training" ... on a very structured program. Each day we had something specific to do. Thankfully, I forget all the details, but I do remember that Tuesdays were interval days. It didn't matter if it was pouring rain, howling with wind, snowing or whatever, Tuesdays were interval days. And another day of the week was a rest day ... again, it didn't matter if the day was the most gorgeous day we had in weeks, that day was a rest day and we were not, under any circumstances allowed out on our bicycles. Each day had a type of ride (or not if it was a rest day) assigned to it.
I followed that program until I became very, very tired of it all.
I just wanted to go out and ride for the fun of it sometimes ... but instead every day had a purpose.
Finally after two years of that, I went independent and made up my own more relaxed "training"program ... a year later I left the structure of racing entirely and got into Randonneuring.