Team Vista Murrieta

During the SoCal League 2023-2024 season, I had the pleasure of working closely with the Barney Family and the Vista Murrieta Mountain Bike Team. Together, we created a unique training plan, developed with feedback from Amber and Matt. The plan integrated structured training, strength conditioning, and detailed pre-race and post-race strategies. Our approach included monthly meetings to evaluate what worked, what didn’t, and areas needing more focus. Post-race discussions helped fine-tune upcoming training sessions, leading to notable improvements in the team’s dynamics and results. Read more about the team, the plan, and the remarkable outcomes. I'm incredibly proud of the Barney Family and the Vista Murrieta team.

Cynthia PlankenJuly 2, 2024

ATHLETE HIGHLIGHT: Shelly

Check out Shelly's incredible journey - Balancing a demanding work schedule, family time, and her passion for endurance events and bike packing, Shelly exemplifies dedication and determination.

What sets Shelly apart is her clarity of purpose and her ability to thrive under pressure, mirroring her professional prowess. Central to her success is a sustainable base activity level, meticulously honed over time. By mastering the basics, she ensures a smooth transition when intensifying her training for bike packing events.

Shelly's magic recipe for success is a testament to her commitment to excellence. From packing nutritious lunches for work (sourced from her own chickens!) to weekly rides averaging 8-10 hours and 500 TSS on the bike, she prioritizes her physical well-being.

By maintaining this solid foundation, Shelly can ramp up her training without risking overexertion, showcasing her mastery of consistency and perseverance.

Read more for about her training and to see what goes into an elite athletes lunch.

Rock on and way to go Shelly!!

RACE READY

Five questions to ask yourself to be RACE READY

You have been training for weeks and months for race day; and for most people, you may only have a few big races a year. Heck, this could be your first race or first big race. Having a plan gives you the confidence to race your best knowing you did what you needed to take care of all the things in your control.

Cynthia PlankenOctober 14, 2023

PREPARING FOR AN ENDURANCE TRAINING RIDE

Endurance training rides are a vital component of any cyclist's journey to improved performance and overall fitness. Whether you're gearing up for a long-distance event or simply aiming to boost your stamina, proper preparation is the key to a successful training ride. In this excerpt, we'll explore the top ten tips that will help cyclists like you maximize their training experience and conquer those demanding miles with confidence.

Gravel cycling, Mountain BikingCynthia PlankenAugust 8, 2023trainingComment

The Business of a Cycling Coach - Look back at two years

On July 1, 2021 I made one of the biggest decisions of life…one of the hardest decisions of my life - I quit a stable, 401K paying, 6-weeks of vacation job as the Fitness Center Manager. On that day, I took a chance on myself to become Outdoor Fitness Coach full time. OFC started back in 2010 when I trained groups for one-day Mt. Whitney Summits and created Outdoor Fitness Coach Blog. And I continued to run my business on the side: before work, after work, and on the weekends any chance to squeeze in 1-2 hours or more wherever and however. Not only was it exhausting to carry on this way but I also had this deep pull - not just a voice in my head but energy in my bones to commit 100% to OFC. After a long conversation with my husband, and a longer one with myself, we came up a plan and I did the thing I had been waiting to do for years - I resigned. Hallelujah!!! What an extraordinary feeling full of adrenaline, joy, excitement, disbelief and yes fear. It was time for me to see what Outdoor Fitness Coach was all about.

Cynthia PlankenJuly 12, 2023Outdoor Fitness Coach, business, productiviy, self talk, coachComment

English Holiday 2023

It’s been almost a month since we left for our two-week holiday in England. This year, myself and my husband both turn 50 marking this our 50-years of living celebration trip. When we started talking doing a 50 trip, we thought of different places to go, and England came up time and again - because we both enjoy it so much and he wanted to show me The Lake District - a place he has talked about since the day we met. So with much nudging from me, we booked tickets, created our 4-leg holiday that including visiting his family, time in the Lake District, London, and visiting his Uni - Nottingham University where he studied Chemistry. One thing worth notting is our experience studying at University are very similar. We both went to college in 1991 and have similar memories packing up and moving away, getting into trouble (but not really), and our love for Pearl Jam and Nirvana which was heavily played for both of us when we were at school.

So with a pencil sketched map of our trip, we packed our bags and grabbed our passports and set out for jam-packed, lovin’ holiday full of family, food, laughs, gardens, hikes and more.

TravelingCynthia PlankenJune 27, 2023travel, hiking

3 Tips for New Gravel Riders (to keep tires down and smiles up!)

Whether you are new to riding, transitioning from road to gravel (or mountain biking to gravel), riding this new light, skinny bike on gravel, dirt, and rocks is a new feeling and can be a bit scary. COACH TIP - understand your bike and your body. The bike-body connection is key to gravel riding and once you start to feel it, you will ride with ease and flow (and faster and safer).

Cynthia PlankenMay 19, 2023

The Power of Dirt Skills

About a year ago a gravel/mountain bike coach, world champion mountain biker, and cycling community organizer were introduced with a common goal of empowering gravel women cyclists through gravel skills clinics. The clinics have since been expanded to include all genders and as a 6-part gravel series of clinics and trail rides for 2023. Also new for the year, is the non-profit organization being formed, called Controlled Chaos Cycling, to put on these clinics.

Guest UserMarch 21, 2023

Understanding Training Zones

It’s hard not to train without talking about Training Zones. Training Zones allows you to know how ‘hard’ or ‘easy’ to train. Although the concept is relatively straight forward, there are often more questions than answers when learning about them.

Cynthia PlankenMarch 9, 2023training

How to get ready for the 10th anniversary of Rock Cobbler

Rock Cobbler is not to be underestimated, the Cobbler is 80 miles with 7000’ and the Pebbler is roughly half of the that.

Many endurance athletes may think… “80 miles … 7000 feet of climbing..easy I got that”.

What they may not realize is that the terrain is rough, the climbs are relentless, and most of this race is on some kind of dirt, grass, gravel and unroad. It will test your endurance, your skills, your stamina, and your strategy.

Here are some tips to help you prepare for the 10th annual Rock Cobbler.

Gravel cyclingCynthia PlankenJanuary 27, 2023race prep, gravel, raceComment

BLOG

Five questions to ask yourself to be RACE READY