Hi All
I’m about to start a training plan for my A Event in June which is a 14 day tour of the UK (LEJOG - Lands End to John O Groats). It will be my first time using AT and PB as I’ve previously followed the standard TR plans or just done TrainNow.
The plan that PB has produced has scheduled recovery weeks in places that I didn’t expect so I would be grateful for some feedback / advice from more experienced PB users.
As background I’ve been a TR user since 2016 and have been through SSB, Build and Specialty previously so reasonably experienced with workouts and interval training although I don’t race.
I plan to ride 4 times per week. I will do 2 TR workouts and substitute the Saturday workout with my normal group ride (weather permitting). I also do an additional group / social ride in the week. I plan to maintain these as this will be my time in the saddle / endurance rides.
It’s a 26 week LV plan that is split into:
3 weeks SSB 1
4 weeks SSB 2
8 weeks Sustained Power Build
10 weeks Century (which includes the 2 week long goal event)
1 week Recovery post event
This all seems fine. However, I am surprised at how early the recovery weeks take place. I have 2 weeks of SSB 1 and then there is a recovery week. Then there is 3 weeks of SSB 2 and then a recovery week.
Q1 - considering the SSB base phase tends to be 5 weeks of work followed by a recovery week, why is PB given me a recovery week after just 2 weeks and then another recovery week after 3 weeks? It seems quite early to be given a recovery week. Thoughts?
Q2 - During the Build phase I have one week scheduled time off for holiday built into the plan. I won’t be riding during this week. However, a recovery week has been scheduled one week before this time off so effectively my build will be 3 weeks of work, 1 week recovery, 1 week holiday with no riding, 2 weeks of work, 1 week recovery. Does this seem weird to you? I would have hoped PB would maybe see the holiday as recovery and therefore not schedule a recovery week immediately before it? Is there anything I can do to avoid this, other than ignoring the recovery rides and maybe doing Train Now for that week?
Q3 - I put one weekend in as time off as I am away so I know that will be a weekend of no riding. That just gives me 2 workout days in the plan. I could just remove the time off and then manually move the assigned third workout to an earlier day to maintain the 3 workouts. What do other people do in this situation? Cram rides into a shorter number of days with the weekend then off, or just do a lighter load of 2 rides that week?
Thanks for taking the time to read. Any advice / reassurance gratefully received as its my first time using PB!
Many thanks!