Do we really have to train today?

Use the winter months to plan your training and trial schedule. Dedicate a 12 month calendar to help you with this.

First, go through the calendar and mark all of the important dates that might affect your training or show schedule. These might include holidays, vacation time, or conferences.

Now, mark your anticipated show dates. Include travel time if necessary.

Once you have your anticipated show dates written on the calendar, mark any that are special. This might be a national event, a large show, or finishing an anticipated title.

Have you filled up your calendar yet? Take a look at your schedule. Make a few notes.

• What new skills do you need to acquire to be successful at these events?
• What skills do you need to proof or polish to be successful at these events?
• What skills do you need to maintain to be successful at these events?

Write these skills on your calendar. Begin with the foundation skills and work toward the more advanced skills. Include a new skill that you will be training, a skill that you are proofing or polishing, and a skill that you are maintaining for each block of training time that you have between shows or events.

If you are planning for a big event, you’ll want to make special preparations to ensure that you are at your best for this event. Begin planning by reading Webb’s article Using Periodization to Create Peak Performances - Clean Run, January 2008. If you’d like Webb to prepare a special training program to help you peak for this event, contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

By using the down time during the winter to plan, you can go into the spring show season more focused and productive than ever.