Grüß Gott aus Deutschland, (hi)
I see two options when I train:
- I can trust the input. So, if I approach an interval training, I’d look up what I am supposed to do based on the stimulus. For example, I could ride 6x3min @90% max HR, 2 min rest. I’d then trust this input to be a stimulus and basically lay back and let my body figure out the adaptation and come back faster the next time (if equally well rested).
- Or, I could force the progression. Then I’d, for example, look at the total work that I performed the previous session and increase it by 1-2% even if it means that I have to push some intervals above 90%.
I try to figure out how to balance both approaches, since I think both are important aspects of training:
- You should aim for the specific stimulus you are after.
- You should progressively overload.
I try the following:
- I start with (1). I figure out what I am after and then adhere to the lower end to the prescribed stimulus that should be enough to elicit adaptations.
- Then, for a while, I increase my output in small increments.
When I feel that I am leaving the stimulus, meaning that I start to overshoot (better would be to assess before that point…), I re-assess by performance reverting back to the starting point. If my training worked, I’d be able to increase my performance with the same input.
What are your thoughts about that?