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general training question - make the most of EN

murphy.m.jmurphy.m.j
in General Training Discussions

I obviously want to make the most of EN as a full member, can someone easily summarize how I do this?  I have my races scheduled, my OS plan has "begun" should I put data into data tools? or do i just keep it on my desk top? 

I have ordered a Power package wheel from Rich, "check is in the mail", i will probably get everything setup in 2 weeks, so no rush here.  so today i cannot enter in any real bike info, but intend to do so when available. I  have done a couple of chitown marathons, steelhead 1/2 - 2 times, and now will do IM W 11.

I have a polar rs800cs, so i can easily enter running data, do i enter average speed and time, distance and leave off the rest?  when i go to Data Tools, it seems like I am suppose to enter some of this info, like FTP and some of the other t's which I have not gotten use to but know that they are very important.

thanks ahead of time for your WoW (words of wisdom).

 

Comments

  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    Mike, to be clear, the DataTool is NOT a training log. It's not something you enter data into daily to run reports and other fancy stuff. Instead, you:

    1. Do a test or race
    2. Enter whatever data you have from that test/race (ie, power, avg HR, pace, etc) and the DT will calculate HR and pace training zones for you.
    3. You'll be able to see the tests and races of other similar athletes, compare notes, etc.

    Short answer is that you're not missing anything at the moment. No worries.

  • murphy.m.jmurphy.m.j
    So in using DT as just a tool, when I want to enter in a test, I would say that test being of a 95% or more total effort on my part and race event?
    for example, today i did a "normal" run, a 9:30 pace for 6 miles. I would not consider this a test, just doing a normal training day.

    Test day would be in the 9:00 range or faster for 6 miles. So if I was doing this kind of test, I would then put it into DT fo someone, like yourself, to look at.
    I did not know that I would get something out of the DT's like pace training zone, and othert things. thanks.

    after doing 1/2 IM steelhead at the end of july, i actually took 1 month off, it felt really good to relax doing only minor exercising thru august and september. now i am doing the OS, and starting to have a great time training again. I was actually relieved to see in many forumns that this is very necessary to do.
  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    Here you go: The Data Tool

  • Tom GlynnTom Glynn
    Michael,

    Just to add to Rich's comments, EN is all about getting better/faster and one of the big things we do is bench marking our swim, bike and run data. As you spend more time in EN and test when called for in the plan, you will then slug the results into the Data Tool. Hopefully over time you will see improvements. As always, testing is objective data, so you'll never hear "I feel faster" around here. Testing holds you accountable for your training.
  • Eric RueppelEric Rueppel
    Just like Coach Rich and Tom said above the data tool is for testing and bench marking the disciplines. To get the "Most" out of EN reading and participating in the forums can gain you valuable information you might not otherwise have access to.
  • Nemo BrauchNemo Brauch
    What Eric said. THe folks that participate in the forums (ask questions, help others, observe, etc) are the folks that gain the most around here.

    Side note- if your getting power, don't forget to purchase a copy of WKO+ for your PC to download and analyze your power/pace training results.
  • steveperxsteveperx

    @michael:

    I'm not sure you're getting the answer you're looking for.  When you start the OutSeason, you will have specified testing days.  As you may have seen, you had a bike FTP/LTHR test on day one (functional threshold power/lactate threshold heart rate).  You will have a VDot (pace)/LTHR run test on day 3 (Wed.).  You will only enter data into the data tool after performing these tests.  So, for the FTP test, I will enter the time, my normalized power (NP) over the 42' range specified in the testing protocol, and whatever other data the tool asks for.  The tool will calculate my FTP and my training zones, which will be used for future workouts (until the next test 4 weeks later).

    Similarly, after the run test, I'll enter my average pace for the 5k and my avg heart rate, etc.  The Tool will calculate my VDot and run LTHR as well as my pacing zones for future run workouts.

    Once I have this data, then when my workout calls for 2x10 min at 95-100% FTP with the remainder at 80-85% FTP, I know what power zones I'm targeting for each portion of the workout.

    You will NOT enter information in the Data Tool from any workouts OTHER than your tests.

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