Block Periodization - Any experience?

pan280

Hi,

I've read some good things about block periodization as an alternative to traditional (linear) periodisation programs.
I've been using a linear periodisation plan for the last two years.
But i am moving backwards now and i'd like to try something different..

Has anyone tried block periodisation? or know of some good material that i can read?
Or even a coach that uses this type of periodisation?

BeaconRuth

I'm not familiar with the term, can you explain?

Ruth

pan280

I've come across this while reading "cutting edge cycling" from Allen & Cheung.
So according to them it is a refined version of using a periodaized training plan where you target a specific system.

The idea is to disregard the approach where you go through a build phase (say for 3 weeks), and then recover.
But rather you work on a system until exhaustion (or close to), you then rest until completely recovered and then repeat. The length of each cycle then depends very much on each athlete.
They say you start with endurance, sub-threshold, threshold, VO2max and finally neuromuscular power.
So you build each system well, before moving to the next.

They give an example of someone working on threshold.
So they might start with a 3hour ride and somehow do 1 hour at their threshold (say 3x20).
Next day they do the same thing and so on until they can only hold say 90% of 20' of their threshold power.
Then rest any number of days between 1 and 8, the aim is to rest enough so that you can do the same workout for at least 3 days in a row. If you can't then assume you haven't rested enough. After say three threshold blocks you then move into the next system (say VO2 max).

Joe Friel, has a blog discussing something similar and he cites some studies that seem to support this.
But as far as i can tell the studies address the impact of the single high intensity blocks as opposed to structuring the whole season like this.

http://www.joefrielsblog.com/2013/04/another-block-periodization-study.html