I saw a small but steady increase last year then a big jump in August.
Date
FTP
Tuesday, Nov 12, 2019
251
Wednesday, Jan 1, 2020
248
Wednesday, Feb 5, 2020
247
Monday, Mar 23, 2020
252
Sunday, Apr 26, 2020
258
Monday, Jun 15, 2020
264
Training has been different;
Year-to-date (all sports) I had averaged 7h22m training per week by this time in 2020, I’ve averaged 9h19m in 2021.
In 2020 I did the first quarter almost all running with light ~150TSS bike then switched to SSB LV (250TSS) and finished SSB MVII (280TSS) at this time.
In 2021 I started with SSB MV (avg 300TSS) then did Oly MV Build (259TSS) Oly HV Base (284TSS) Oly HV Build (300TSS)
In 2020 I was still maintenance lifting now (squats/bench/row/dead/press) once or twice per week
In 2021 I did a heavy lifting block in February 3/wk, but now lifting only sporadically 5 times in the last 10 weeks
Also my body fat has stayed the same, instead of a steady decline, I’m still only a kilo off my “winter weight” where I’m usually down 4kg by now
I hadn’t swam at all in 2020, I’ve been swimming 3-4 times per week for the last 8 weeks
Raced my first triathlon Sunday at Eagleman! Was a great learning experience, and I found out how demoralizing it was to get passed on the bike and run. I ended up missing the podium for my AG (M18-24) by 1:11 which was a little disappointing but there’s plenty of room to improve. I’ve got IM Wisconsin coming up in three months so it’s back to training as soon as my legs stop feeling like they are broken in half.
What about your run volume around the times of all those FTP tests? I’ve noticed that as my run volume ramps up, my FTP tests plateau or drop even though I seem to be getting faster in my events and can hold SS or threshold longer. My theory is that running takes away the ability to hold the VO2max portion of the ramp test. Then come end of tri season and I drop run volume, my FTP goes up like magic. Last November I tested at something like 375 and kept that up for the most part. Then I start running and I’m getting 350-360.
Don’t despair, after a 6 month build, my ftp has gone up from 238 to 247, and that includes going from my tt bike (238) to my road bike (247), however my ability to hold power has increased waaay beyond what it was previously. Lots of people see their ftp jump 20w+ just from moving from the tt to the road position, however that’s only half the equation.
I get it…
It is just frustrating…
When I started on TR my FTP was 208 (2019)
It peaked late last year at 256.
Not its going down hard… not sure why… but I have notice my ability to sustain the pain seems to be decreasing…
I have no clue really…
Back in January, I hurt my piriformis while I was trying to train for a running 5K PR in the spring…
I tool a solid 8 to 10 weeks off running and an additional month or so of slow progression adding miles and speed.
During the time off running, I hit the bike hard. I was doing 1 vo2max (TR), 1 ss (TR), 1 tempo (TR) and 4 endurance rides (zwift)
I was feeling strong on the bike…
Then I started running and swimming and all went to the toilet!
When I was running and swimming last year, I never failed a ramp… I would always get to 20 minutes. Now I cant…
Sounds like my experience as well. Though I’ve noticed that it’s not really in the toilet, but it just doesn’t show up in ramp tests until the fall when I drastically cut back the running and swimming and it rockets back up.
EDIT: Though you are saying that last year this wasn’t the case. Are you quite a bit faster this year in general? Maybe last year and previous years you were still getting some of the “beginner” gains and your general upward trend in fitness was masking the fact that your absolute bike numbers were suffering due to the run/swim. What about hours per week in swim/bike/run the last couple seasons?
I havent race yet, so I have no clue.
Last race in November I was as slow as ever on the swim, much faster on the bike, and same on the run (compared to previous year where the race was wet suit legal).
Running I feel slow AF! But its expected after such a long time off running.
Cycling I am indeed struggling a bit on the higher end of SS.
Now. Things related to eqipment is different.
Have a new bike that has not been properly fitted.
Have new power meter. Had c1 chainrings, not have assioma pedals.
One could argue that the old power meter was giving higher numbers. And I suspect that might be the case here.
This seem reasonable… and it might also be part of the whole thing.
I usually peak at 12 hours per week
Since January Ive been doing 8-10, with few weeks of 12 (mostly biking) and some of 7 (recovery weeks)
But that makes sense doesn’t it? You were doing much more on the bike and only in the bike, so naturally you’d get stronger then get weaker when you switched back to multi sport.
But although I was feeling strong on the bike… My imaginary number was held flat… The ramp after my winter bike extravaganza was 3w lower… So idk… But whatever…it’s just a number… Right?
With IMMT just cancelled, I am thinking of doing IM Wisconsin which is 3 weeks later. I am finishing build on the current plan builder LV and would have started specialty on June 28. Would you have suggestions as to how to fill the extra 3 weeks? Push specialty by 3 weeks and repeat 3 weeks of build? It is my first full and training has been going well. Thank you.
