3 Reasons You Shouldnt Finish a Workout

Cyclists are rarely eager to stop a planned workout. Sure, they might joke about it, but the truth is high-achievers don't want to quit.

There are some cyclists who will go to any length to avoid the did-not-finish (DNF) stigma, even for workouts. While that might seem noble and tough, in some cases you're better served by a DNF.

As a cyclist, it can be a difficult choice to end a workout early. This is because you're wrapped up in the emotion of the goal in front of you. You might feel guilty because of the time and money invested in this crazy hobby, or maybe you feel that a particular workout is critical to the rest of your season. There are a lot of reasons why goal-oriented athletes find it hard to stop.

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To have long-term success, it's important to recognize when you should cut a workout short or not begin at all. It's possible that you'll do more harm than good. To avoid illness or injury, learn how to identify the warning signs.

Insignificant Contribution to Goals

At the beginning of each season, it's important to list your three primary goals for the year. These main goals should have sub-goals, or stepping-stones that will help you achieve success.

If the workout in question doesn't have a significant impact on the season goals, it's easier to eliminate than one that does have impact. Seldom does a single workout have critical, season-make-or-break importance. This is important to remember if you aren't feeling well, if you notice fatigue or a muscular problem that a workout might make worse.

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Illness

When a cyclist has been ill leading up to a key workout, it can be difficult to predict how the workout will go. For example, if a cyclist has a bout with the flu on Monday and Tuesday, he or she might feel good enough to do a long ride on Saturday or Sunday. The decision is made to "just start and just see how it goes."

If the workout is short, it's usually easier to quit the session than if it's long. For example, a cyclist decided to start a century ride after having the flu earlier in the week. The first 56 miles went well. He was riding strong and at the front of the group.

At one of the stopping points, his face lost color and became pale. He was nauseous but felt that he'd be fine after eating. After the fueling break, his speed was noticeably slower and he was obviously struggling, compared to earlier in the ride.

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With a little nudging, at mile 68 he stopped and called his wife to pick him up. At the time it was a tough decision. He later realized, it was the only sensible thing to do.

Below are a few reasons his workout needed to be ended:

- He had the flu within the last seven to 10 days. The illness included diarrhea and vomiting, where his body lost nutrients.

- While completing a century is a nice early season accomplishment, doing so would not have a significant positive effect on his fitness. His foundation fitness was already strong.

- Pushing himself through another 32 miles, which included strong winds, could do more harm by further running his body down and risking illness.

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Injury

It's not unusual for a cyclist to experience a sensation of "something doesn't feel quite right" at least once during the season. Maybe a knee feels funny, the lower back is tight or some other seemingly small issue arises.

A good percentage of the time, a cyclist can work through the discomfort or "funny feeling" without further thought. And this is what could get you in trouble.

The next time you feel pain and you're tempted to just work your way through it, consider stopping. It's a good idea to cut a workout or race short anytime an issue gets worse. There's no reason why a cyclist should risk an injury during a workout.

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There may be a feeling of embarrassment or not wanting to inconvenience someone else when you have to call for a ride home. It's best to put your ego aside and make the call. If needed, make it worth your driver's time to help you out.

Questions You Should Remember

Try to be more critical of the value of a single workout. Look at the entire season and decide the value of that workout with the bigger picture in mind. This will help you make more reasonable decisions when you aren't feeling well and make choices that benefit your training over the long term. Your health should always be your first concern.

The next time you find yourself wondering if you should start or DNF a workout, ask yourself these three questions:

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1. What's the worst possible thing that could happen if you don't start or don't finish?

2. What's the worst thing that can happen if you force this workout and things get worse?

3. Will this one workout make or break my entire training plan for the season?

A DNF is a small setback. Pushing through pain or illness could mar your season, or end it altogether. Play it smart and remember, cycling is supposed to be a fun and healthy activity. Listen to your body and stay safe.

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