Been using Xert for a few months now. As I am moving from base to build in my program, I see that Xert generally plans Hardness Tests for my high intensity training days, sometimes for multiple times per week (i.e. I did one on Monday and I see now that another one is recommended for Sunday).
Is this normal? Are hardness tests the only high intensity workouts available on Xert?
I know I can manually override Xert’s suggestions, and I have sometimes done that, but I was wondering why I get recommended so many hardness tests and if this is how Xert structures intensity workouts.
Depending on your fitness sig, focus type and especially when specificity = ‘mixed’ you can get recommended hardness tests quite frequently IME. Also perhaps periodisation in Xert will bring you through training focus changes as you progress through Base → Build → Peak on the 120-day program:
The top entry on recommended lists is one of several options to choose from.
Others on the list including Load More entries are viable candidates to consider.
Note the Suitability rating and compare with the alternates. Productive/Good, Achievable and Optimal Focus can apply to a short or long list of options depending on the XSS goal for the day.
With XATA you may have noticed the Suggest button randomly selects from the top list of four.
If one workout happens to repeat at the top of the list it’s simply a close mathematical match to XSS (low/high/peak), Difficulty, and Focus for that day.
If the alternates list is skimpy, you can use the new Magic Buckets Workout Generator to create a suitable workout or Autogen one. With XATA that option is available from the Planner when you select (+).
I usually find an alternate to choose from but other times I accept the repeating workout and mix it up on-the-fly by switching to Slope mode indoors. You don’t have to ride it exactly to achieve the strain goal for the day.
I wouldn’t label selecting an alternate as “manual override”. It’s using Xert as designed. You have options!
