Michael Hayley was a runner, competing in 10k's, until he sustained a final running-related injury that forced him to give up the sport in 1999. At that time, he took up cycling as an alternative, and in February of 2000, he purchased PC Coach Elite with the Cycling coaching plug-in. By 2001, Michael was racing cat 5, and last year, he raced in the 40+ age category.

Living in Miami, the racing season is February through September. Michael competes in the Florida Points series, as well as the Rosewood Criterion. Last year he gained more confidence and learned more about racing strategy.

Michael discovered that he was strong enough to maintain a position in the peloton and still be competitive in the final sprint to the finish. In his third season of racing this year, Michael regularly finished in the top ten, placing as high as 5th.

When asked how PC Coach and the cycling plan had contributed to his success, Michael told us the periodization employed in the plan helped him manage his training cycle. Plus, the program schedules a wide variety of workouts, including sprints, interval training, endurance rides, muscular strength rides, etc. Without having those scheduled for him, he would have stayed with his favorite types of rides and missed the benefits provided by the different types of workouts.

What is his favorite ride? Leave Miami at 5:00 a.m., ride up the coast on West Dixie Highway to Palm Beach (70 miles) at about 22 mph, have lunch with a friend in Palm Beach and take the Tri-Rail train back home in the afternoon.