could this be detraining?

Your training program is not sound

OK Mr. Obvious--maybe so. But, the other kids on the team who have increase their training volume through the season have improved and are now racing faster than he is.

His total training load has decreased and so has his performance level.

Could the reduction in overall load CAUSE the drop in performance?

Yes, of course!

i dunno wrote:

Could the reduction in overall load CAUSE the drop in performance?

Flounder, are you the same guy as Mr. Obvious? You seem to have the same tone.

Dude, how many idiotic obvious responses do you need? It doesn't have to be explained, you've already answered your question several times. What else do you want from us, some manner of salvaging the poor kid's season? Tell his coach to better monitor his summer training so he doesn't peak in August or September. *shrug*

No, I am not Mr. Obvious, although it is plainly obvious that this is de-training. What more do you want - some made up BS about how it isn't your coaching?

The rest of your team is improving because they were f'ing slackers over the summer - they are doing more than they were doing so they get better. Your other guy probably did a lot over the summer - now he is doing less, guess what - his performance drops. Why would this be so difficult to understand?

I dropped from 90 miles a week down to as low as 30 during the season and I continue to improve because I've shifted to anaerobic workload. That kind of base can not be eliminated in that short of time.

Flounder and others--I guess my question is about the cycling specifically. That's really the only variable.

I hoped that the specificity of the training and the milage buildup through the season would offset any loss in aerobic base from dropping the riding.

The other kids didn't slack, but they only ran. Our top 10 runners are on the same basic program over the summer. The kid with the performance drop has increased his running mileage to around 65-70 midseason like the others.

Face hurts--this is a unique situation. The issue is how do you manage a talented, multi sport kid like this who races bikes all summer and then stops in September because he's in school all day. runs, and works.

He may end up being a better competitive cyclist than runner, so I don't want to be a hard ass and tell him not to ride. At the same time, I want him to do some running in the summer. 40-50 miles seems reasonable and was able to manage it through the summer.

I don't really think it's as clear cut as you suggest.

And I'm not desperate, the kid's still doing very well in training and he's healthy and focused.

iron deficient anemia wrote:

I dropped from 90 miles a week down to as low as 30 during the season and I continue to improve because I've shifted to anaerobic workload. That kind of base can not be eliminated in that short of time.

Seriously. The aerobic base will not disappear so quickly. The kid is overtrained or has some physical problem like anemia.

Took my heart to the limit and this is where I stay.