OS FTP increase - what reference point
One question I've had with regards to the Outseason plans is what is the reference point for the FTP increase?
10k PRs, HM PRs those are all straight forward.
Is the FTP increase % that is often touted (15% ?) over season peak FTP, or over the baseline FTP at the beginning of the plan?
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Guy does first test prescribed in the OS, get 200w
End of OS, tests at 230w = 15% gain.
Sorry, we have no way of know what flavor FTP that initial 200w test is, ie, season high, etc
We've had people gain more than 15%, some less. Hopefully some members can share what gains they've seen with us or you can also snoop peoples' signatures, where they have recorded where the started at and where they are now.
Expect year over year improvements to become smaller as you build to your peak potential. Also how old you are may impact the pace at which your body can adapt. Younger may adapt faster. I’m 54 this year.
The caveat to the FTP increases are it's YOU doing the work, not the plan. In our experience, people who plug themselves into the accountability and mojo systems that develop organically here in the OS do better than those who don't. They learn that everyone else is suffering, they see peeps 4-8wks ahead of them in the plan making huge gains after struggling with the same stuff they are dealing with now.
For me the plans are a great value - because my brain doesn't tend to creativity and I've struggled the last couple years to get out of my "routine" week.
Where I struggle is that - I can buy a IM plan + HIM plan for ~350 bucks - and my type a personality will carry me through pretty well.
That said I do see the value of the community and it's peer pressure aspect - along with the ability to pick the brains of the folks who designed the plans and have much more experience than I - in addition to having a nice place to come and get my ego massaged when I'm in taper mental breakdown phase.
Where I do struggle is with the $99/month fee. For two reasons:
1> My understanding is that as a member of the team, I never really get to see the full structure of the plans - just the next few weeks. I like to know the whole deal as I'm diving in.
2>I'm a bit like - if I'm going to pay $99/month for coaching/training guidance - I'm almost like why wouldn't I pay $200 - $300 / month to get 1x1 coaching from a local coach.
That's where I'm at currently and where I need to think about for the next 8 or so days before the price goes up.
Also - was I right in reading someplace else that the price drops $20/month for the second year onward?
1) RnP created a season planning and overview tool that includes the total hours and long run and long ride for each week of the HIM and IM plans, along with other key workouts. You wont see the details of those workouts but it is enough to plna you schedule, other races, etc around. Otherwise, you are correct and only see about a month in advance at a time.
2) I was the same way and did the EN thing because i was self coached and wasn't quite ready to jump to a full time coach. It was the middle ground for me both price wise and also as a transistion from being completely self-coached to following a plan and advice of others. My intention was to join for a year and then move to a 1:1 coach, but 2 years in I am content here and will be here next year as well. Will you get more from a 1:1 coach, maybe.. but I highly doubt you will get 2-3 times the value or EN.
This knowledge is impossible to replicate on a 1:1 basis in my opinion.
tom