So Cross is in full swing in my area and have already raced 7x. I started the CX season v. burned out and finished racing a 6-race/week block that was mostly MTB XCM, XCU and some SS XCO, so basically the opposite of what you want to do leading up to CX season. It showed and my results have been miserable but starting to get a bit better (i’m a masters that races in 50+ cat 2 and SSCX that has about 10 hrs/week to train)
Question is, is it too late to start CX specialty mid or high V being that the my CX season ends in Dec. or should i just plod along and focus on training outdoors and work on CX skills?
I’m so sorry that you started the season feeling burned out 
. That’s certainly not ideal. I’m glad things are starting to get better though. Let’s hope you continue on that trajectory 
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If you feel able to finish the season out, I think it would be a great idea to let a Training Plan guide you through to the finish. It’s SO difficult to find the right balance between stress and rest without a structured Training Plan.
I suggest you take a rest or recovery week, and then use Plan Builder V2 to create a Training Plan around your remaining races. I think this is your best shot at finishing the season as best you can.
Then you can take the lessons you have learned from this season into next season, so that you’re feeling excited and strong 
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Let me know if you have questions 
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if you’re actively racing CX many weekends, the best strategy is to race, maybe do a touch up workout during the week (in the past I’ve done a sweet spot workout) and otherwise keep it easy to be fresh enough to race.
as for my own prep for CX season, I did 2 blocks leading up to my club’s race (my A race, and in fact the only race I’m able to do this year). First block consisted of vo2 intervals (I settled on 5x4min intervals) and some longer anaerobic intervals (like 75sec in my case). For the 2nd block, I did one anaerobic workout of 1min max efforts, 6-8 times, and another workout of 5min 30/30s or 40/20s (full gas on/totally off). These were all about 12hr weeks. Incidentally I didn’t really need that much top end work, I actually tempo’d my way through, so I’m mainly kicking myself for maybe not digging in deeper to get closer to podium (I finished 8th). But I had the luxury of only focusing on that race, so as I said above, if I were actively racing a full season I’d probably do things a bit differently to account for the races themselves and the need to recover in between.
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I did one early season CX race and now have four weeks of racing in a row for the month of November. In the build up to these races I did a VO2 max. sessions on Tues. 30/30s or even 15/15s to simulate race efforts. Also mixed in some threshold intervals with hard starts. In addition, I was lucky enough to get in a couple of cyclocross practices with a great group. We worked on skills and did short simulated races 20-25 min. I also did one longer endurance ride per week at zone 2, usually 90 min- 2 hrs… In addition I mixed in short runs and one weight session per week.
For the next four weeks I will race on Sunday, take Monday off to recover or do an easy short run or weight session. Tues. will be an hour of Zone 2. Weds. will be either VO2 max. or Threshold with hard starts on alternating weeks. Thurs. will be a 90 min. Zone 2 ride on the road. Easy day on Fri… Openers on Sat…, race on Sunday. RINSE AND REPEAT! The Intervals on Weds. and the races on Sunday constitute enough intensity for me or any other masters CXer. The rest should be easy or zone 2 IMHO. I have a nearby park I can go to to practice skills as well.
I think TrainerRoad’s plan builder is a fantastic tool. I use it for base and build phases, but prefer to create my own mix of TrainerRoad workouts to create my own CX specialty plan in season. I favor the Masters Mid Vol. plans. I am 72, (race age 74). I just love “cross”!
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Good tips all! Just wanted to see if anyone had any experience with the CX plan but sounds like it’s too late and I should just work on skills and one day of intensity during the week. I’m lifting as well 1-2x a week and my z2 rides end up getting easily into tempo range. We do have some CX practice sessions but I just don’t have time to make it. But I’ve been racing CX long enough where I feel it’s a punchy fitness thing that I don’t have and not barrier practice or skills (except maybe cornering)
Lessons learned is to pay attention when people say “cross is coming” but our mtb schedule doesn’t care.