SKATE TIP OF THE WEEK
Inline secrets from the world's top skaters and coaches

This week's tip:

Give Yourself a Break!

By Julie Glass

You've worked hard all season, skated lots of miles, improved your skills, and maybe even lost a few pounds.

So what's next?

Should you jump into a new round of training? Redouble your efforts so you'll be able to beat so-and-so next year or lose those five extra pounds?

Probably not.

Usually, at this point in the season, the best thing you can do is give yourself a break. That doesn't necessarily mean no skating. But it does mean decreasing the intensity and rigor of your training. And going easy on yourself — at least for a few weeks.

A healthy break can leave you rested and recharged. The alternative — pushing through your late-season fatigue — is a recipe for burnout.

During my active years of inline racing, I always took a break at the end of the season, usually right after the World Championships.

I was still in high school the first few times I went to Worlds. Each time when I got back, I would stay off my skates for several weeks. Instead, I would play basketball with my high school team. This provided a perfect antidote to skating. Not only did it give me a mental break from racing, but it did a great job of maintaining my cardiovascular conditioning. Within two to four weeks, I would be ready to start rolling again.

Goals

Before you restart your training, set new goals for yourself. Do you want to win a world championship ... the age division in a marathon ... or simply lose a few pounds? Decide what is required to reach your goal. Then adjust your training accordingly.

I remember the first time I competed for a spot on the U.S. World Team. I was crushed by the competition. But then I sat down with my coach, Robb Dunn, and we decided what I needed to do to make the team. The next year, I not only made the team, but won — at age 16 — my first gold medal at Worlds.

Julie Glass is one of the winningest women in the history of inline skating. A native of Jenison, MI, she won 17 gold medals, 10 silvers and 4 bronzes at World Championships between 1995 and 2004. She was also a top racer in the World Inline Cup circuit. She and her husband, Doug, own the skate company Nistevo, LLC, and Luigino Racing. She gave birth to twin girls last spring. Several months later, she returned to racing to finish fourth in the elite division of the Northshore Inline Marathon. Oct. 12, 2007

• Luigino Racing

Related reading:

• Skate Tip of the Week Archive
• Beginners Guide to Outdoor Racing
• Beginners Guide to Inline Skating