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Strava "suffer score"

MattAaronsonMattAaronson
in General Training Discussions

Does anyone know how this is calculated and have a viewpoint on its relevance? It seems every run workout I do is an "epic suffer score" of 150-250 point yet my really tough bike rides of 60-75' are in the 30-50 point range.

TrainingPeaks' assigned TSS scores "feel" more right to me based on my perception of the relative physiological impacts of these workouts.

My various profile items (FTP, TP/LT pace, max HR) are all updated and identical in both programs.

Thoughts?

Comments

  • tim cronktim cronk
    I think the STRAVA suffer score is derived from HR for the Run ... If I recall correctly you have the ability, or tend to have a really high HR...But this should still be relative to the zones you put in? Since I do not use HR STRAVA never assigns me a suffer score...
  • MattAaronsonMattAaronson
    Interesting. I have my max HR in there as 195 because that's the highest I've ever hit (on a treadmill in a 75-degree hotel gym in Seoul...).

    When I go for a run I can easily park my HR at 170 for 2+ hours. On a tempo / HMP run I will hold HR steady at 180 for about an hour. And for LT intervals 187-188 isn't uncommon although in the winter it's more likely to be in the 183-184 range.

    On the bike I will ride 0.9 IF for 45 mins and my HR will barely get above 160-165, or on FTP intervals I can MAYBE hit 175 for a 15'+ interval on a "bad day". For the 110% stuff it I'll usually max in the mid-to-low 170's.

    So therefore it makes sense how the suffer score is the way it is.

    It of course begs the question as to why I can't get my HR into the 180's on the bike...
  • Dino SartiDino Sarti
    It's based on time in the higher zones. If you get a good amount in the "threshold zone" you will get a high score. It's sort of like Garmin's "training effect" number.
  • MattAaronsonMattAaronson
    Except on Garmin every workout is 5.0!!
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