No person can sustain a "pedal to the metal" pace of training for 52 weeks per year. An effective training plan allows for times of increased load, as well as for recovery. A given year or season must incorporate encouragement of varying physiologic processes, some of which should not be trained concurrently with others. The concept of "Periodization" is what allows for a training plan which is complete and goal-oriented.
In this episode, we discuss the rationale behind Periodization and the various methods for employing this practice in your training.