@eddie I’ve generally found the surveys to be easy to complete following the guide you’ve posted. However I wasn’t quite sure how to rate the VO2 max interval on Monday (Silliman). The middle block absolutely destoryed me. I had to stop pedaling between the last 3 intervals of the block, and I was seeing cross-eyed. However, the very last block of intervals felt hard but very doable (relatively speaking)… I can’t say for certain, but if I had another 10 minute break, I miiigggght have been able to do another block of the same intensity. I ultimately rated that session “Max Effort” because of how much I struggled in the middle. What would you say about scenarios like these, where the effort / RPE was significantly higher in the middle of the session than the latter half?
Referring to https://support.trainerroad.com/hc/en-us/articles/4404884465563-Post-Workout-Surveys
When answering the survey, consider the entire ride
If you have to pause during a workout to catch your breath … the workout was likely a max effort.
I think “Max Effort” sounds right.
I’m generally accused by everyone I know of “overthinking everything”, but somehow despite this I’ve never had much problem rating my TR workouts how they feel, crib sheet rarely if ever required…
Given this, I cannot begin to fathom the overthinkingness-ability of those seeking ever more precise crib sheet scripture that can be deferred to in order to identify the correct survey response, a word-tweaking exercise which, beyond a certain point, seems likely to create as many problems as it solves, Whack-a-Mole-stylee.
Recognise the pure beauty of, “How did this effort feel?”… you know it makes sense 
BTW does anyone think cycling training might attract certain types more than others? 
For almost everything around here, I’m 100% with you and think most people overthink everything. Having said that, I’m guilty of it with the rating system, because I’ve had issues in the past where I feel like I must under rate workouts, which leads to the next workouts, being harder and harder and harder and harder, until I fry myself. So, I try to reverse that by rating everything one higher, and then things just seemed to get even worse because I was trying to game the system. I struggled with it enough that I gave up and left for a long time, so, for this one, I’m a sympathizer. Things do seem to have gotten better since I’ve been back though, so who knows if the system adjusted or I did…
I would suggest that was actually a failed workout because of the middle set. But that word “fail” is loaded because you really accomplished something big gutting it out. If you felt the same way and didn’t have to stop it would have been all out. Under no circumstances was it merely “very hard”.
Congrats on the ride! That took guts!
Joe
I was motivated to post as I felt that if I was seen to always be agreeing with you on everything, my wife might get suspicious… 
Plus, I fear a little for @eddie’s sanity if he’s not given some respite now and again from The TR Eternal Question.
I do recognise that answering it can sometimes be a bit tricky.
But how does a 3 differ from a 4??? 
These can be a bit tricky.
I find that the last interval or set is usually not the hardest. I blame my brain for this, as I can seem to overcome anything when I know I get to get off my bike afterwards. The second-to-last ones are always the hardest for me.
If there was a portion of the workout where you had to stop pedaling in order to continue on, I think Max Effort is a good choice. 
On a scale from 1-5 by 20%
20% easier, harder, or more moderate??? 
