# Specialty Phase Struggles

**URL:** <https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/specialty-phase-struggles/72305>\
**Category:** Training\
**Created:** [May 5, 2022, 9:46am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/specialty-phase-struggles/72305 "2022-05-05T09:46:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Bgrim](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/bgrim/32/91020_2.png) [@Bgrim](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Bgrim)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2022, 2:13pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/specialty-phase-struggles/72305/21 "2022-05-05T14:13:19Z")

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Yes @mcneese.chad i saw that and replied to it.

> [@Bgrim](#):
>
> I believe specialty is intentionally set up to more or less hold ftp steady and focus in on the demands of the target event.

I don’t think my suggestion was so off base as to need this degree of bolded response. I certainly was not trying to lead him astray, I was wondering if he was interested in looking at it.

If you you want to build ftp, do a build phase. If you want to primarily further your aerobic engine, do a base phase. If you want to prep for a specific event and have done the aforementioned to the extent that seems appropriate, do a specialty phase. My suggestion was to consider looking at the enthusiast specialty phases to see if they were interesting.

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**Author:** ![mcneese.chad](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/mcneese.chad/32/15056_2.png) [@mcneese.chad](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/mcneese.chad)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2022, 2:16pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/specialty-phase-struggles/72305/22 "2022-05-05T14:16:47Z")

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Sure, great to point out those Enthusiast plans since they often get overlooked. I was just trying to point out that I didn’t think they addressed the apparent core issue of FTP.

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**Author:** ![rebeccamcshane](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/rebeccamcshane/32/87533_2.png) [@rebeccamcshane](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/rebeccamcshane)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2022, 10:35pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/specialty-phase-struggles/72305/23 "2022-05-05T22:35:12Z")

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My A event is not until November so not sure why I am on specialty phase now, i’d rather keep trying to build ftp but will follow the plan and see how I go

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**Author:** ![foldingbikebass](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/foldingbikebass/32/101743_2.png) [@foldingbikebass](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/foldingbikebass)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2022, 1:47am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/specialty-phase-struggles/72305/24 "2022-05-24T01:47:35Z")

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If you were trying to build FTP almost indefinitely: First, staleness, stalling etc. might be a problem with too many cycles of base-build. Second, this sounds a lot like Gran Fondo training - the Century specialty phase looks and smells a lot like Sustained Power build. Key difference seems to be 2xVO2, 1xthreshold in Build and 1 VO2, 2 threshold Specialty.

I just tried a system experiment and put in a year’s plan with no event and Gran Fondo as my focus - I got two 6week SS bases, SP build, Century specialty and then back to 2x (shorter) base, build, specialty. I think this will do what you ask for with just a bit of variety (only so much variety for a sustained power athlete).

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