Training as an Experiment?
This morning I gave another presentation for Zwift Live where I discussed the specifics of how to create a training plan for an upcoming criterium. You can watch the entire presentation at this link, but for now I want to focus on one concept that might be helpful if you’re just beginning the process of laying out your own training for the upcoming season.
“Training Is Experimentation”
Long Slow Distance, High Intensity Interval Training, Polarized, Periodized. The list goes on and on. There are many different training strategies that can help you get better on the bike. Which strategy is the best?
It’s up to you to conduct the experiment. Stop following a scattershot approach to your training and commit to following a purposeful plan. Training isn’t simply about improving on the bike, it’s about improving your process of training. The best way to improve your process is to know what works and what doesn’t. Here are a few suggestions.
- Test your baseline fitness to get a clear picture for where you’re at
- Choose a “progressive element” to target during your training block. This could be threshold power, time in zone @VO2max, etc.
- Design a progression of workouts increasing in difficulty throughout the training block.
- Rest, then assess your progress with another fitness test or race.
Did your training strategy work? Was it a complete failure? At a bare minimum you’ll learn from your experiment and make better training decisions in the future.
2018 Napa Valley Training Camp
Looking for an incredible opportunity to ride and eat over a few days in the Napa Valley? We would love to have you join us at our 2018 Napa Valley Training Camp. Exclusive early bird pricing ends on October 31st so sign up soon to save money and reserve your spot for an amazing weekend! Head directly to our camp details by clicking here.
Nate Dunn
Founder/Head Coach
Data Driven Athlete