TrainingPeaks power method

Jan Schorpion

When putting in threshold power in TP, you have to select a Method. Andy Coggan, CTS, Durata Training. All use somewhat different zones. Whats the difference and which does EN base their calculations on one of these? 

Coach Patrick

Jan, can you just use our calculator to get our zones and then manually input the zones on TP.com?

Amulya Parthasarathy

I was wondering about the same thing. We sure can update the zones manually in TP but the EN zones has gaps in them. What happens to the watts that is generated in those gaps? Should we ignore them?

Coach Rich

Posted By Amulya Parthasarathy on 15 Dec 2014 03:49 PM


I was wondering about the same thing. We sure can update the zones manually in TP but the EN zones has gaps in them. What happens to the watts that is generated in those gaps? Should we ignore them?

If it were me:

• I would input the FTP that I know to be my FTP from the tests that we prescribe in your training plans.
• It then sounds to me like they want you to select a "training zone determination method," so that is can display for you somewhere time in zones, etc. So if it lets you, just manually create our EN zones within TP's system and don't worry about the gaps. 
• I gotta imagine that TP doesn't ignore completely the watts that are generated between zones. IOW, these numbers don't disappear from your aggregate data, if that makes sense. Rather, I'm 100% sure that the intent of defining training zones is so that TP can display to you on some chart/graph/table the amount of time you've accumulated in these zones. 

For me, I know 5 numbers and these are the only ones I pay attention to:

1. My current FTP
2. My current w/kg, at FTP
3. .85 IF
4. .75 IF
5. 1.2 IF

I then just try to see #1 and #3 on the dial a LOT. #4 I rarely try to see, unless I'm deep into Ironman training. #5 is my floor for "just crush yourself up this hill" efforts. #2 helps me put down the donut 

Amulya Parthasarathy

Thanks Coach Rich. You are correct, TP does not completely drop those watts in the zone gaps but does not display them in the zone charts.What your saying about the 5 numbers makes sense.

Al Truscott

Behind this question is another one: What are the useful metrics and analytics in TrainingPeaks for the EN athlete? I'm sure each of us uses the program/site in our own unique way. Here are the things there I pay attention to (the actual use of them might be fodder for another thread, if anyone is interested):

• Training Stress Score (TSS) for any given workout
• Performance Management Chart (PMC), which tracks Acute Training Load, Chronic Training Load, and Training Stress Balance.
• Mean Maximal Power Curve

None of these depend on the zones set up in TP; I simply ignore those, as I assume that if I am following the EN workout as prescribed, I don't really need to have the time I spend in Zones analyzed. As long as I set up my FTP, and the TP for running, I'm set to go with WKO/TP. KISS

To answer the original question, TP will not "ignore" any data which happens to be outside of the zones, when it comes to TSS, PMC, and MMPC. 

Coach Rich

Understand that TP's business model, and the model of any training log service, is to present you with tons of pretty fields to insert data, upload data, run reports, display charts, graphs, line graphs, pie charts and all kinds of other stuff. In their boardroom, more features = more better = high subscription fees? The net is that they not very concerned with what you need / what is useful but rather what whizzbangery can we put on a page to occupy you with inputting and staring at data. 

Which is to say, focus on the basics, which is executing the workouts consistently. 

Mark Roberts

FWIW -- I use the Coggin zones -- He writes about them in his book "Trainig and Racing with Power". They are close enough to EN zones. I just put in my FTP and use those for Training Peaks, although I train by Richs 5 numbers.