Gravel racing has taken the cycling world by storm over the past decade. Events appeal to a broad range of cyclists from former pro tour roadies to novice riders wanting a massive physical challenge paired with a fun event experience. Is gravel racing simply a road race on a dirt road or is it a […]
The 5 P’s of Performance in Cycling
Cycling is a sport that commands a lot of commitment to perform at a high level. The hours required to really lift the endurance capacity required for long distance events like XCM and MTB stage races dwarfs the training requirements for many other sports. Subsequently, a lot of motivation is required by the participant to […]
Train with Mind Matters Athlete Coaching for the Dragon Trail MTB Stage Race
It’s one thing to enter a mountain bike stage race like the Dragon Trail, but how do you truly prepare? Riding your bike more before an event is a good start, but there’s more to it than that if you want to know you’ll get through the event and have fun – or be competitive. […]
The Power of Enthusiasm
I am often asked what is the most common personality trait of a successful athlete. Many attitudes come to mind that are conducive to performance but I have rarely committed to one trait to be crucial for success. It is something I have spent some hours ruminating on and researching. Recently, I had a minor […]
Goal-setting and motivation during COVID
With no foreseeable racing at a high level, it can be hard to find the motivation for training. I myself find training harder, but the usual OCD attitude towards training is slipping. Occasionally I have been taking the easy way out of intervals, or finding excuses not to complete a program, and let’s be honest, […]
Training for the Start Line Jitters
The start of a mountain bike race wether it be XCM, XCO, enduro or even downhill is the peak of nerves, excitement, intensity and fear for all riders. Training for this element of a race is often the most complex. And it is not just from the perspective of intensity and training structure but also […]
Train with MarathonMTB.com for the Convict 100
So far the year 2020 has thrown up challenges around the world. The world of sport has been upended, but in some countries events have been able to reschedule, allowing us mountain bikers to set goals for later in the year. Goal setting is a key part of motivation, and a positive goal to train […]
What are the benefits of solo training?
As a coach I am often asked by athletes whether they are better off to go and do structured efforts on a solo ride or to join a local fast group ride instead? It is a good question which has a multifaceted answer and one in which I enjoy exploring with different athletes. As with […]