Don't Overcook It - A Training Analogy

The Senior World Championships are currently taking place and the best wrestlers in the world are at their peak performance levels.  The rest of the world is in some version of the preseason.

College athletes are training with a purpose in the weight room, conditioning and even finding some mat time.  High school wrestlers are playing fall sports and jumping into some open mat practices and/or attending club practices.  Youth wrestlers might even be doing a few club practices.  Regardless of the age, this is the preseason and should be treated accordingly.

Championships and titles are a culmination of the entire year (preseason, in season and post season) and each season should have a specific desired outcome.  Being at your best at the optimal time cannot be accomplished in the preseason, however, not being able to reach your peak when it matters can be the result of mismanaging the preseason.

I'll give you a cooking analogy to explain this point.

No matter what method is used, a cook always runs the risk of overcooking meat.  No one really likes to eat meat that is overcooked.  Individual preference varies in how we enjoy steak on every level below overcooked.  Once overcooked, you cannot go back and un-cook the meat.  However, you can always undercook meat and choose to re-heat it many different ways.

The same is true about training and it's better for everyone to lean towards undercooked rather than overcooked.  Of course, "just right" is what's desired for each season and that can be very different for each athlete and program.

The coach and athlete's objectives should be clear during the preseason.  Executing technique with championship timing and wrestlers feeling like they're ready to win the state or national tournament  shouldn't be part of the equation.  Yes, you're making investments so these come true at the right time, but preseason isn't the right time.  The attention to skills should be about the mechanics (how the technique works) and essentially building a base.  Over-training in the preseason can sneak up on athletes and have repercussions at "tournament time" that are irreversible.  The preseason should always leave an athlete wanting more.

Athletes can push themselves to the limit during workouts and still be in a good situation.  Usually, athletes under-recover before they over-train.  Spacing workouts so the body heals and the mind feels good about the process can lead an athlete to feeling anxious and antsy for more.  That's how a preseason should conclude.  Athletes should end the preseason still hungry and, essentially, undercooked so you can keep the heat on to finish the product at the right time.  Once you overcook it, you cannot go back.

Have caution during the preseason.  Get to work and be intentional about your training while keeping an eye on how much heat you're applying.  If you undercook, you can always turn up the heat.  If you overcook, you're past done.  So, be mindful.  Some of us need to take it out of the oven.