Periodization 101: How Elite Athletes Structure Their Year
Periodization is the strategic planning of your training over the course of a year (or season) to optimize performance and recovery. It’s how athletes avoid overtraining, peak at the right times, and continue improving without hitting plateaus or risking injury. At its core, periodization breaks your training into phases, each with a specific goal—like building muscle, increasing endurance, or peaking for a competition.