When thinking about training planning, whether for personal development or competition, there are a number of variables we all need to consider, whether as the trainer or trainee.

Underlying it all and before we can even start planning, we need to work out where the following are:

• Intention
• Attention
• Focus

Both for the immediate goal and the longer term structure. Once these have been identified, and there can be only one or two main intention points, then the next step can be assessed.

Here, we need to look at which phase of training we are in. If we are a beginner, or have been training for only a short period of time, then we are still in base development, where we are learning the mechanics and improving work capacity. As we improve, we can start working on the individual elements of our chosen discipline. These can include:

• Skill
• Stamina
• Strength
• Speed

These lead to a development of work capacity. Or, the ability to do something faster, more accurately and for longer and more efficiently.

When looking at each days training plan, it goes through 4 phases, the length of which dependent on the above goals and the physiological status.

• Move
• Groove
• Load
• Cruise

We first start to move, to explore the body’s capacity for work that day, consider recovery from the last training session or injury. We then start to groove in the movements that we will be training that day. Once warm and ready, we can finally get the load moving, whether that is under a barbell, a HIT phase or a bike ride. Once we have completed the scheduled work, we finally cruise down, checking in again to note how we went, and to feedback for the next session.

The final, often overlooked and probably as important element of training is the recovery and nutrition. However, we tend to look at the work rather than the recovery, believing that more is better, which for most people, it tends to be, given the rest of their lifestyles, but with that, the nutrition element still has to be considered, and for most people, should be one of their two main attention points. Nutrition is a huge, complex and troublesome area, can be generally be summed up succinctly as:

“Eat meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch and no sugar. Keep intake to levels that will support exercise but not body fat”

Greg Glassman

Now, forget everything, go and play.