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Someone tell me exactly what WKO can do for me?

QuintanaRoosterQuintanaRooster
in General Training Discussions

I run with pace using my Garmin FR 305 and I just recently got into training for the bike with power using both my CompuTrainer with coaching software as well as my Powertap when I train outdoors.   I have been using Garmin Training Center to input my workout data up until now.  I have been to the website looking at WKO+ but I still don't really get how it can help me.  Can someone please enlighten/educate me a little on this?  Thanks in advance.

Comments

  • mgraffeomgraffeo
    Three things:

    1. Analysis of individual workouts. Very important. See the power webinar for more detail.

    2. Keeping track of overall workload and impact. Also important, see power webinar

    3. Analysis of threshold. Very important. See power webinar.

    Hmmm... I'm seeming a trend in my responses. Sorry, don't mean to be trite. But it's all there.

    MG
  • Coach PatrickCoach Patrick
    It's just the language we all speak. Find any "crucible" video I have done here in the forums for how I use it to analyze folks' race sim files....
  • gilliattgilliatt
    x2 on the power webinar. You'll definitely come out a smarter athlete on the back end. Yeah, you sorta need wko to speak the power language. The money it costs is sorta expensive but long since forgotten.

    http://www.endurancenation.us/blog/tag/powermeter/

    some more stuff on the blog
  • jburbattjburbatt
    And here's the WKO link from the wiki which will give you some good base knowledge on how to use it and why it's beneficial:

    http://endurancenation.us.dnnmax.com/Resources/Wiki/tabid/108/Default.aspx?topic=WKO++3.0
  • eliwashereeliwashere

     As above, it is the detail on the individual workouts as well as the ability to watch trends over time.

    This is the best part I think, being able to look at the TSS, CTL, ATL and figure out how it relates to how you feel given a certain load.

    Plus, the graphs are AWESOME.

  • david waredavid ware

    OK, next question is whether those of you that did the upgrade think it is worth it.  I have been on 2.2 as long as I have had it, and do not know whether the additions are worthe the additionalcost? 

  • mgraffeomgraffeo
    Still using 2.2, and have no plans to upgrade. It's plenty for what we do around here.
  • Spokane_AlSpokane_Al
    I upgraded and frankly think I probably wasted my money. It did give me some fancy new charts that I rarely use. I still stick with the numbers and data that important around here.

    And now, as a Quicken user, I am being offered a new upgrade. The current model works just fine for me, so I will decline.
  • trijeditrijedi

    Thanks for those questions and answers about upgrading. I have been using 2.2 for 18 months or so and am quite happy with it. I upgraded my computer and thought that I would have to get another license so maybe it was time to upgrade. Fortunately, their documentation isn't quite right as I was able to load the software on the new machine without any issue.

    Rubin

  • Tom GlynnTom Glynn
    I upgraded also. Not worth the funds
  • Coach PatrickCoach Patrick
    If it ain't broke...
  • William JenksWilliam Jenks
    If you want the quadrant analysis occasionally, you can get that from Golden Cheetah, which is free. (GC isn't quite a replacement for WKO+ yet, but it does do many of the same things.) http://goldencheetah.org/download.html Current version is 1.3, but a 2.0 is in the works. Will still be free.
  • Beth_SBeth_S

    1. You have something to keep you honest. No cheating time/numbers. Data is data. I found I skip workouts way less since having WKO because I don't want to miss out on the data.

    1a. You can also see points where you start to be a slacker/are working too hard in any individual workout. One of the first things I started to see was that I was starting intervals way too hard. Graphs proved that was bad.

    2. It is also amazing for verifying exactly how many 30/30s you did. Because sometimes counting is hard.

    3. You get to have a neat scientist toy. It is an awesome way to test out theories. Does running consistency do anything? Look at the chart. Is slacking on bricks okay? Look at the chart. Okay to raise your VDOT, even though it is February and there's not a 5k anywhere within a 100 mile radius? Look at the chart.

    4. Entertainment. Art school girl here frequently finds herself analyzing charts for hours. Is it a coincidence I've dropped Netflix down to two at a time instead of three?

    5. Cool kid athlete points for knowing your CTL from your TSS.

    6. Oh, yeah, and knowing your TSS. Good indicator of when it is okay to do something serious cool and unplanned with your fitness and when to back off.

    Think of it as your tiny, robot assistant coach.

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