On April 5-6, 2008 I’ll be at Cadence Cycling and Multisport Center in New York City for a 4-hour clinic, “Preseason Cycling & Triathlon Off-Bike Power Training.”

We’re now officially out of winter and into spring. Longer days are a sure sign that the cycling and triathlon race season is right around the corner. Endurance athletes’ training preseason training now shifts to gaining power. Through the fall and winter months smart cyclists and triathletes engaged in periodized resistance training that produced actual strength gains. Added strength by itself doesn’t serve much purpose, especially for an endurance athlete. Now it’s time to convert strength to power.

If you haven’t realized any actual strength gains over the past few months, approach power training with caution. Better yet, don’t even bother with it this season. Lifting light weights for many repetitions (muscular endurance training) doesn’t increase strength. And, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to jump right into high-intensity power (speed-strength) training without an appropriate strength base.

Lower body plyometric training is a key to added power for cyclists and triathletes. The Spring 2008 issue of the U.S. Olympic Committee’s e-zine, Olympic Coach features a good review of plyometrics by Kimberly Sanborn.

Equally important is the use of explosive lifting for increased power. Be sure to check Explosive Lifting for Sports for details on how to benefit from the plyometric effect of proper explosive lifting techniques. This is the simplest, safest, and most effective means of performing overloaded, explosive plyometric training without the repeated impact of jump training.

An important variable in power training is the actual measurement of power. It’s one thing to subjectively “try harder” to be more explosive. Remove doubt with the use of the Myotest performance measuring system (check www.myotest.com). Watch here for future highlights on Myotest use and application for power improvement.

Regardless of your event, if power is vital to your sporting success, you’ll need to include power training at some point. Springtime is the right time, so get with the program!