Your Total Guide To lifestyle

Total Guide to Fitness: Training like an Olympian

If last years Olympic hopefuls have made you want to step up your fitness game in 2013, then you've come to the right place! TGtB checks out what we can learn from Britains sporting finest.

Training has to follow a format to allow progressions and developments to occur. At different stages of the year depending on the season, competition or goal we as coaches or trainers change the focus to allow the bigger picture to occur.

We often have to allow a building phase, develop a skill, test the results the training brings, then fine tune before the main event. It gets very scientific in our heads but the plan that the athletes sees is simplified to allow focus.

Anyone wanting to achieve a big goal or optimal results could think about splitting months into a macrocycle which will ensure all elements have focus at the right time

Here is a basic format of a macrocycle:

* Phase 1 - General development of strength, mobility, endurance and basic technique

* Phase 2 - Development of specific fitness and advanced technical skills & core

* Phase 3 - Competition experience - achievement objectives, times, weights etc

* Phase 4 - Adjustment of technical model, preparation for the main competition

* Phase 5 - Competition (Olympics)

* Phase 6 - Active recovery - planning preparation for next season/event