What is this "off season" thing eveyone is talking about?

The Nov./Apr. timeframe would mean about three more months of a season than most A races around NJ.  I don't know about others, but off-season for me means training with creativity.  I'm not so concerned about trying something new or extreme, as it won't mean losing valuable time prepping for a race.  If I injure myself overtraining from November-March, I'm not going to give a rat's behind.  At least I'll know my true limit and can move forward from there.  I'm planning on using this "off-season" to push myself harder than I did prepping for my seasonal races this year.  Of course, I'm new too, so I have lots of pushing to do. 

I'm planning on doing two marathons during my "off season." Disney in January & I'm looking for another in March.  My first tri will be St A's in April. 

I'm still new at the sport and only did sprints this year (planned Olympic in September was cancelled.. grrr) so I have a lot of energy and motivation to train and get better this winter!

Last year I wrote a post for my blog about what is the "off-season"

http://jorgepbmcoaching.blogspot.com/2007/11/off-season-planning-next-season-and.html

I'm tired from my season and doing my first IM.

I'm taking 2 weeks off with no s/b/r but will do other active things. Then another two weeks only b/r if I really really want to. Then I'll do more unstructured stuff and more cyclocross later in November. December I'll start training for next year working on getting faster r/b.

I'd rather err on the side of over resting/recovering so I am fresh and ready to go for next year and maybe lose a little more fitness than under resting so I struggle next year.

Losing fitness is okay as I know it will come back. Mentally and physically I need a break now and it will be good to get away from a training plan.

Its the time where I can actually use the snooze button some days and sometimes even turn the alarm off.  Doesnt mean ya dont stop training in some form though for me.

I prefer to call the 'off season', 'pre season'.  It's a time where you can recover from a hard season and then begin to prepare your body for the coming season.  For me this year it involves building up my running after a long period of injury, getting in loads of base miles on the bike and re-learning to swim.

IMO if you can go year after year without a proper break (ie. off/pre season) then it means you're not going hard enough throughout any given season and therefore not reaching your potential.

Yep, my last tri is November and my first 1/2 Marathon is in March

IMO, it is a key part of the training cycle; it doesn't have to be long but it is a physical and pyschological break from training.  IME, taking 4-6 weeks off at the end of a season, staying active but not having a plan is crucial to long term involvement with sport and maximizing improvments.

Once your off-season is over, then it is time to move into pre-competitive training; a great time for a single sport focus cycle (or two) before moving into balanced training and building towards your first A race of the season.

Shane

Shut it desert boy!

Off Season???

Here in South Florida??? LOL

I race almost all year round...my last Triathlon will be on November...but our Triathlon Season starts again in February...I have a break for 2 months...I take it easy...but...I never stop...I keep my trainings...easy...