Since the AI relies so heavily on our self-reported RPE I’m curious to hear how you all think about RPE? Since the beta began I’ve been wondering how much variance there is in how we all individually think about each level of perceived exertion. How do you arrive at your rating?
I tend to think about these levels roughly in terms of if I could repeat the effort right afterward.
EASY - I could do this workout again without a problem
MODERATE - I could do this workout again but would probably feel a bit beat up afterward
HARD - Physically hard enough to be relieved its over. If I had to repeat this it would be iffy or at the very least end up Max Effort and ruin me for a few days.
VERY HARD - Physically AND mentally hard. I likely thought multiple times about giving up but pushed through. Probably wouldn’t make it more than 25% in if I tried to repeat this.
MAX EFFORT - If I finished the workout at all I probably felt like throwing up or perhaps actually did. I may have cried a little bit. Wouldn’t make it out of the warm-up if repeated. Really just want to lie down for a couple of hours. Might sleep for a day.
My hard part evaluating intervals is that often if I have, say, 6x2.5 intervals, numbers 1-4 are tough and feel like I almost can’t finish (but do). Number 5 feels better, and by 6 I feel like “I could’ve done 7-8 of it came down to it.” Sometimes in that final interval I’ll even go all out the last 10-30 seconds and try to (and sometimes even hit) a power PR or near that level.
At least knowing this it gives me confidence in my interval workouts, despite how rough the first half usually are.
In terms of how it impacts the AI I’m undecided but as a feedback metric its more important than I’d like to give credit for. If a workout is prescribed as doable and your perceived exertion says it’s not then youre goosed either way. So in that regard, it sort of supersedes the rest. But for subtle feedback ie. Z2/Z3 differentiation its bloody hard to use RPE to draw that sort of line. In real world races though it can be the only real reference tool, think power in hot conditions, it all goes out the window.
I’ve never identified with these RPE charts for a whole workout. I feel like they are artifact of an indoor training mentality and didn’t exist in the olden days and probably don’t exist out on the road.
I mean, I’ve done max efforts many times. Doing it outside, especially pre-power meter days, you just did some max efforts and pedaled home. You just did whatever was max on that day and time. There wasn’t this idea of interval or workout failure or the whole workout being physically and mentally demanding.
I honestly don’t think successful pro athletes push themselves this hard in training. They do their programmed efforts and go home. Then, they can come back and do it again very soon. Per Seiler, “always leave one interval left in the tank”. Pros auto regulate much better than amateurs.
Sure, I have experienced VERY HARD and MAX EFFORT in the list above but only in races or group rides where I wasn’t going to give up and detach (basically a race).
