My training has been feeling like all training and no fun. I’m wondering if I’m not structuring my schedule correctly.
If during a week, I’m supposed to do 2 interval days and 2-3 days of endurance, how should I fit in a weekly 2-3 hour fun ride with friends where the intensity goes between z2 and vo2 max?
Should I have 1 structured interval day and replace the second one with a 2-3 hour “group ride”? Should I drop an endurance day and potentially sacrifice recovery or not performing as well during my interval days?
I think the important question is: why do you do structured training?
For me, it’s to stay in shape and be able to ride with my friends. So I would answer your question by first switching an endurance day for your group ride, and see how you do with the overall load. If it’s too much, try swapping out an interval day for your group ride and see how that goes.
There isn’t a “right” answer to your question. You just need to try an approach, see how your body handles it, and adapt as needed.
Hey @ddetch! Are you following a TR plan? I can’t seem to find your account to take a look at your schedule.
But you can definitely swap out an Endurance ride for your group ride without sacrificing your interval workouts, which are the main workouts that drive training adaptations.
I am not sure what day your weekly fun ride with friends is, but I would consider spreading your interval work/group rides so you have enough recovery in between these rides, so you are rested on your interval days.
If you are too tired doing three sessions with intensity per week then drop one of the interval sessions over the endurance session.
I wonder how TR’s system would react if you put your weekly group ride on the calendar as a weekly B race?
Looking at the big picture, you should have been through the build cycle by now and be full mid season. Now’s the time to race, or crush the group ride if that is your race. But if you fed TR’s calendar a race in October it’s going to have you be do hard training now.
If you are not a pro… or trying to be pro… fun should be the first thing that gets scheduled in a training plan. For some that is an adventure ride, or group ride, or an epic MTB downhill shredfest. Whatever it is for you that should be the priority, after all that is the motivation that will keep you consistently getting on the bike! As suggested try it in place of an endurance ride first. If that is too much swap for the intensity workout.
Looked at your Calendar, and I like how you have things right now, actually. Sunday’s group rides with your friends>>Monday’s off to reset>>Tuesday Intervals>>Wednesday Endurance>>Thursday off>>Friday Intervals>>Saturday Endurance.
And by looking at our fatigue management system, the days you have off or easy rides are trending to be the days where you’re getting a Red or Yellow day!!
the tr plan is a guide, you dont have to do 100% what it says. After all you are riding for fun. The plan is what brings the most progression. But for instance;
I was following a mid volume plan this spring which had the classic 3 interval days and then wed/sun endurance. I swapped out the endurance rides for free rides when I felt like it. And if after the wednesday ride I was too tired, I skipped the thursday interval or swapped it for something lower intensity.
Now I even switched to a low volume plan which gives 3x intervals. So I’m free to fill the rest up with either endurance rides or free rides, whatever I feel like. This works best for me.
