BoumTAC

Training Randomly

Published on June 10, 2025

When you practice a discipline seriously, you often have a precise schedule for each session in order to progress quickly and optimally.

This article will apply to all sports: cycling, running, weight training, tennis, etc. It's valid for absolutely everything! But also for other non-sporting activities like piano practice, for example. I'll talk about my personal experience but you can easily transpose it to your activity.

I've practiced several sports, always intensely. Running, cycling, street workout and now weight training. I've also been around quite a few triathletes.

I had this reflection while observing powerlifters training at the gym and I noticed that the problem was identical in all disciplines.

To progress, you need a serious training program

There are no secrets, to progress, you need a precise program. Every session must be planned with each exercise well defined. All over a minimum horizon of three months, but often much more distant like an Iron Man or a powerlifting competition planned for next year.

This is the best way to progress. All professional athletes work this way. For some sports, programming can extend up to 4 years! Gymnasts have their program defined until the next Olympics — to be both at the top of their performance on D-day but also well rested.

Any amateur practitioner works the same way if they want to progress.

I was observing the powerlifters the other day at the gym and they have a precise program, for example 3 sets of 3 reps at 150 kg on bench press on Tuesday and 3 sets of 8 reps at 120 kg on Friday. The following week they move to 152.5 kg on Tuesday and 122.5 kg on Friday. They do this for a complete 6-week cycle until they reach a deload week, specific to any discipline.

A well-defined program like this is the best for progressing! It's tested and approved by the greatest athletes.

What if it doesn't work?

People who follow this type of program progress very quickly, but observing these powerlifters at the gym, I made an observation.

After more than 12 years of practicing various sports, I've seen dozens (hundreds?) of people training this way with an optimal program. They all made spectacular progress. But they also all gradually disappeared a few years later, no longer practicing or hardly practicing any sport.

These powerlifters, I'm convinced that in 2 years they won't be practicing sport seriously anymore.

Why it doesn't work

Why do people who apply this type of program no longer practice sport seriously after a few years?

Because life is made of unexpected events, unlike a program.

  • The top program you chose doesn't take into account that Monday night you'll sleep poorly and won't be in top form for the intense session planned the next day.
  • It doesn't take into account that Thursday is a holiday and you won't be able to do your planned swimming session because the pool is closed.
  • It doesn't take into account that Friday you'll finish work 30 minutes later than expected. 30 minutes isn't much but it's enough that you can't do the complete session planned.
  • Your program doesn't take into account that Saturday morning, the day of your long outing, it will rain with lots of wind.
  • It doesn't take into account that you'll have a slight tendinitis next week.

And there are an infinity of small unexpected events: a little cold, allergies, car maintenance, your girlfriend's birthday, a problem at work or with the kids, a parent-teacher meeting, a doctor's appointment, the Specialized bike with a flat tire that prevents you from training this morning, etc.

This is also why models don't work in finance. You can take into account a maximum of parameters, but you'll never be able to guess when you'll have a flat tire on your car or when there will be floods in the Var. The stock market depends on so many parameters that it's impossible to predict.

Of course serious unexpected events are rare, thankfully! Cruciate ligaments don't happen every day. But small unexpected events are very numerous. And accumulated, they can be very devastating.

What should the powerlifter do at his Tuesday session if he slept poorly and isn't in top form to validate his 3x3 at 150 kg? He can only manage a 3x2 at 150 kg. So he's disappointed, which is normal — it impacts his morale and his desire to train. Small unexpected events of this type, I estimate happen at least one session out of four.

Then comes a month, the month of bad luck. It's no longer one session out of four that went badly but one out of two. Morale drops, progress is absent or even negative. The athlete doesn't understand. He invested fully, followed his program as best he could but the results aren't there. He loses hope and abandons this discipline in which he invested so much — we never see him again.

This is why all hardcore practitioners end up giving up overnight.

But then, how do the pros do it?

Pros have the same problems as us. Only they have more means to adapt. Sport is literally their job. So it's their number one priority. This already avoids many problems compared to us.

They can rest if needed unlike us who still have to handle our work day. They have access to a physiotherapist, essential in case of tendinitis or minor muscle fatigue.

You have a session to do after work in blazing heat? No problem, he can do it in the morning when it's not too hot yet. Sick or tired? The coach will adapt the program according to his form and continue to motivate and encourage him so he keeps his morale up. The gym will always be open for him. It will never be taken by children's classes in the evening.

They have many fewer problems compared to us. This makes it easier to follow a program.

The solution: random training

We have unexpected events constantly. The solution is neither to deny them, nor to try to reduce them but to play with them and take advantage of them.

You're a bit tired? It's not serious, don't stress about it, do a small quiet session — anyway, today isn't the day you're going to perform. Whatever happens, you won't be tired forever — and in 2-3 days when you're feeling good, you'll take advantage to do a big session.

You want to go running tonight but it's raining or cold? It's not serious, take advantage to do something else, read a book or spend time with loved ones. It will be nicer tomorrow or the day after.

You have training planned for Saturday but you're going away for the weekend? How to fit this session during the weekend? No problem, do a good session Friday before leaving then go away for the weekend and enjoy life. You'll come back Monday recharged and in top form. You'll be even more motivated!

What would have happened if you had tried to fit your session during the weekend? You would have done a bad session — losing a little morale. The following session at the beginning of the week would have been shifted because you couldn't do the weekend one. You become lost and demotivated.

The trap

Some keep their programming but follow it less seriously. You absolutely shouldn't do this, because they end up not really knowing what to do at each training session. You must completely let go of the program and go completely with the flow.

For example, today, I feel good, it's been a long time since I worked legs — let's go do a deadlift session. It's as simple as that!

Not having a precise program but adapting intelligently has its benefits! It's not possible to be disappointed if you have no expectations.

The disadvantage of this method is that you shouldn't constantly look for excuses to avoid training. This requires integrity and honest introspection to assess our feelings.

But the advantage is that you'll be able to combine your sport and your personal life — because what matters for progressing isn't the program itself, it's managing to last over time. And this is even more valid for health.

Above all, this method allows you to keep morale up in life's small and big troubles — essential for lasting.

In 5 years, I'll still be there training. The powerlifters will have abandoned ship long ago.