FTP and Sustained Power Build: threshold work is killing me

[stevemz]

@heathmac

I can hit my power targets fine with Anaerobic, or VO2 workouts when I get them. But, in particular, threshold, above-threshold, and some sweet spot are destroying me. I did Stromlo +3 this morning and only made it through 3 of the 5 eight-minute intervals. Starting in #4, I was decreasing the intensity, pausing, backpedaling, anything I have heard mentioned on the podcast to try to get through. This isn’t the first time I’ve struggled with these types of workouts whether in Sustained power or SSB2. The same thing happened with Elephants +4, Raymond +7, Mary Austin, Leconte, Carpathian Peak +2. It’s starting to be a pattern.

Your FTP is probably set too high and you likely have a higher anaerobic contribution to efforts.

If you go out and do a steady state 35-50 minute TT near threshold, you’ll get a better sense of where your real FTP is and you can adjust the ramp test results going forward.

I.e. you may need to take 74% or 73% of the final minute of the Ramp Test as your FTP.