What to do in preseason to start on the right foot
Preseason prepares your body for the volume ahead: aerobic base, strength, technique and habits. How to make the most of it.
After the holidays or the end-of-season break, the first weeks set the tone for the rest of the year. Preseason isn't for running fast, but for building what you'll need later.
Get the routine back
The first thing is to train regularly again: short, frequent, easy sessions. Five 40-minute runs beat two two-hour ones.
Aerobic base
Most of the work goes below the first threshold. It's boring, but it's what lets you handle hard sessions later without breaking.
Strength and mobility
- Two strength sessions a week, with basic leg and core exercises.
- Some hip and ankle mobility.
- Running or pedalling technique, in short sessions.
Update your references
After a break, thresholds and zones may have changed. A simple test at the end of preseason gives you real numbers for the next block.
And increase the load gradually: most early-season injuries come from trying to recover in two weeks what was lost in two months.