Is there any point in training at a high intensity
incog24
Posts: 549
At the moment my training has a mixture of high intensity stuff, threshold work, and about 8-10hrs steady pace. If I'm doing a higher intensity session it affects my steady miles, and obviously I can't do both at once.
I was thinking though, is there any point in doing the harder stuff now, or would it be more effective to build a bigger base and then build a top end through racing from April-May onwards. I always find I go a lot deeper in races, and that the amount of work I do compared to perceived effort is much higher than in an intense training session.
From May onwards I know I can race three times a week. If I do more intense training now I'll be probably doing less racing then, and aiming to peak for certain races. If I do less intense training now I'll presumably be able to race more (bigger base), and because of the higher volume of intense work probably reach a higher peak albeit later in the season.
I'm strong enough to finish the races, so from that perspective II could afford to not do the intense stuff now.
What do people think? Its possible that by training at the higher intensity I'll continue to progress for longer (I'm not plateauing yet), but the other approach may mean a better season this year perhaps?
Thoughts?
I was thinking though, is there any point in doing the harder stuff now, or would it be more effective to build a bigger base and then build a top end through racing from April-May onwards. I always find I go a lot deeper in races, and that the amount of work I do compared to perceived effort is much higher than in an intense training session.
From May onwards I know I can race three times a week. If I do more intense training now I'll be probably doing less racing then, and aiming to peak for certain races. If I do less intense training now I'll presumably be able to race more (bigger base), and because of the higher volume of intense work probably reach a higher peak albeit later in the season.
I'm strong enough to finish the races, so from that perspective II could afford to not do the intense stuff now.
What do people think? Its possible that by training at the higher intensity I'll continue to progress for longer (I'm not plateauing yet), but the other approach may mean a better season this year perhaps?
Thoughts?
Racing for Fluid Fin Race Team in 2012 - www.fluidfin.co.uk
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Comments
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A little of everything most of the time is OK.
It's whether you make certain elements of training a primary focus at any given time that is what one should consider, and I'm afraid there is no way one can sensibly give a specific answer to an individual without a LOT of prior knowledge about you and your racing.
Training to lift threshold power is base training.0 -
Cheers Alex. The first races I've got are TTs and then I'm moving into road racing. I think I'll go with your style of threshold 2x20 type training for those, and hopefully increase my aerobic power etc. Then use the road racing and crits to lift my sprint power. Probably the best of both worlds.Racing for Fluid Fin Race Team in 2012 - www.fluidfin.co.uk0
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Just a side note:incog24 wrote:Cheers Alex. The first races I've got are TTs and then I'm moving into road racing. I think I'll go with your style of threshold 2x20 type training for those, and hopefully increase my aerobic power etc. Then use the road racing and crits to lift my sprint power. Probably the best of both worlds.
When I speak of training that lifts power at threshold, this does not mean exclusively or lots of level 4 efforts (such as 2x20s), and in fact at times it may not involve much specific Level 4 training at all. It can and does though at times (and it can be a major focus).
Sprints, especially short ones, can be done just about anytime.0
