# Can’t seem to perform hard intervals

**URL:** <https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/can-t-seem-to-perform-hard-intervals/88448>\
**Category:** Training\
**Created:** [November 20, 2023, 11:24am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/can-t-seem-to-perform-hard-intervals/88448 "2023-11-20T11:24:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![hpsims](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/hpsims/32/7757_2.png) [@hpsims](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/hpsims)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 11:24am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/can-t-seem-to-perform-hard-intervals/88448/1 "2023-11-20T11:24:30Z")

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Every time I try to perform an intense interval session, I get pain in a very small spot on my left knee. Feels like a concentrated sharp pain (3/10) top lateral corner of my kneecap. Pain goes away after 2 days. It doesn’t hurt on the bike, starts a few hours after the workout. On the bike there is no pain. I have no problems doing 4 hour rides outside or tempo ride inside without pain with double or triple the TSS. It’s come to a point that I just avoid intervals completely for the last few years. I do value being able to ride outside comfortably for 4 hours rather than improve my FTP. But can I really just improve by doing tempo and endurance exclusively ? Or should I try to fix this issue?

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**Author:** ![TrekCentury](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/trekcentury/32/123801_2.png) [@TrekCentury](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/TrekCentury)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 12:23pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/can-t-seem-to-perform-hard-intervals/88448/2 "2023-11-20T12:23:42Z")

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Could be IT band or LCL problem. Have you seen a good fitter about this ? Seat height maybe.  
I had knee pain located in front of the knee after hard steep climbing. Being older my analysis was a tendon or ligament issue. Added collagen before my rides. After about 6 months I was able to climb steep hills again. Don’t known if the collagen was what helped it heal.

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**Author:** ![hpsims](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/hpsims/32/7757_2.png) [@hpsims](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/hpsims)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 12:45pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/can-t-seem-to-perform-hard-intervals/88448/3 "2023-11-20T12:45:44Z")

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It’s not on the side of the kneecap. Probably the insertion point between the quad tendon and the kneecap. But only in one small area. Have seen a fitter a few years ago but this came up few years after.

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**Author:** ![callen1992](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bcef8e/32.png) [@callen1992](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/callen1992)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 3:35pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/can-t-seem-to-perform-hard-intervals/88448/4 "2024-01-10T15:35:49Z")

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Were you ever able to figure out the cause of this pain? I am having a similar pain during hard intervals and have not been able to narrow down on something that can relieve the pain.

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**Author:** ![AJS914](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@AJS914](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/AJS914)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2024, 1:54am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/can-t-seem-to-perform-hard-intervals/88448/5 "2024-01-11T01:54:54Z")

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I’d have a fitter look at you and/or consider adding some motion to your indoor trainer.