Endurance riding is one of the most important training sessions that you can add into your training because of the massive benefits it provides. Specifically I am talking about zone 2 training. It’s often overlooked because it’s not fancy, and dare I say, boring? The work requires a certain amount of concentration to stay within the proper power zone to get the most benefit.

Neuromuscular Power (NP for short) work teaches our bodies (and our brains!) to recruit muscles efficiently to produce power. When performing a task, the brain recruits specific motor units to contract the muscles. By training NP, the body becomes more efficient doing neuromuscular work. This means the brain can now recruit the exact motor units needed AT THE EXACT right time. This is done through a variety of short and intense efforts, ranging anywhere from cadence work to all out sprints.

It’s snowing and cold in Nashville - so join me for a fun Snow Day Series! Since many of us are stuck indoors, let’s make the most of our trainer time. I’ll be hosting daily Zwift rides to pass the time.

Before I started coaching, I had a job that worked me 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. I was on my feet literally all day and spent the majority of my time interacting with customers and staff. I was training for my first Ironman race, had only been married a couple of years, and my husband was working full-time while finishing up his master’s degree. To say our life was busy would be very accurate! That year was a test to my ability to plan and schedule as I had to figure out how to balance work a full training load and family time around two very hectic schedules. This is where having a coach really helped.