Power/Pace/Volume

irahelp

After completing HIM on October 27 this year and have just completed week 3 in the OS plan.  I have notice tremedous strength in power, pace and a lower heartrate during these past weeks. I wish I felt this way up to the HIM, Maybe of would of placed in the top 3, vs 8 in my age group.

My concern are we training too much(volumn) leading up to the race and maybe the plan should be adjusted to mirror some of the OS plan such as week 1-4 near the end of the HIM training plan. 

I had a hard time maintaining 80% of FTP  near the end of my training and ended up racing at 60% of FTP for HIM with a 8 place finish.

Holding 80% now feels like 60% even though I tested at 3 more watts in week one of OS time trial?

Peter Greagg

Hi Stephen — well done on your 8th place.
I don't have anything that suggests EN plans do too much volume for long course preparations.
What I did wonder about was whether you had dug yourself into a big fatigue hole in the lead up to your HIM?
When you are heavily fatigued, heart rate and RPE tend to be much higher for a given power or pace.
I am currently in SC training and have found that I need to take days off every two or three weeks because of tiredness.
Cheers
Peter

Norton

If you were only able to hold 60% of FTP for a HIM bike, you were carrying fatigue or ill. Take a look at your taper; was it long enough or did you try to fit in "just one more" strong workout? Another downfall is the athlete "testing" themselves just before a big event; save the big efforts for the race!

Brenda Ross

and further to what Bill said above, remember that the plans can be modified based on your individual needs. If you look at the plan and think, "gosh, that seems like alot of work days before an HIM" then modify. I know that I need a bit more rest before an HIM then the plan says, so I modify based on my previous experience. not sure if I explained this well enough.

Trent Prough

X2 on bill and Brenda. I think the taper portion of the plans are too much for me and even the portion about 6 weeks out is just too much FTP stuff and TP on the run. I went into a couple feeling too trashed and didn't perform like my tests proved. So I think modify to what you know work for YOUR body and remember you don't have to follow the plan to the T. Some do and can handle it but others not. Plans are just a basis for training not the know all, will all, do all. Rich and Patrick are good but not that good.

jhbinsc

agreed w/ others. also confirm you had a valid test to determine FTP