About this Video

• Video Title: How to Use TrainingPeaks (Easy Start Guide)
• Channel: Phil Mosley - MyProCoach Triathlon Training
• Speakers: Phil Mosley
• Duration: 00:07:24

Introduction

This video provides a beginner-friendly guide to using TrainingPeaks, a software tool for endurance athletes to track and manage their training. The video focuses on key metrics within TrainingPeaks to help users train smarter, not harder.

Key Takeaways

• Training Stress Score (TSS): A metric indicating workout intensity relative to fitness level. Helps plan easier sessions on tired days and post-training reflection on session difficulty. A TSS of around 100 indicates a very hard session.
• Chronic Training Load (CTL): A 42-day rolling average of TSS, representing overall fitness. A rising CTL indicates increasing fitness. Gradual increases are key; rapid increases risk injury and illness.
• Acute Training Load (ATL): Reflects training volume over the past seven days, indicating current fatigue levels. High ATL suggests heavy training and potential need for recovery.
• Training Stress Balance (TSB): Calculated from CTL and ATL, showing readiness to perform. Positive TSB indicates readiness; negative TSB suggests fatigue and need for rest.
• Performance Management Chart: A visual tool in TrainingPeaks to track CTL, ATL, and TSB, providing insights into training blocks, season performance, and race outcomes. It's important to remember that life stresses outside of training also significantly impact performance and recovery.

The key difference lies in the timeframe they represent:

• CTL (Chronic Training Load): This is a rolling 42-day average of your daily Training Stress Score (TSS). It reflects your overall fitness level built up over a longer period.

• ATL (Acute Training Load): This is a 7-day average of your TSS. It shows your recent training load and how much fatigue you're currently carrying.