Howto create a training program ?

Hi All,
How can you create a follow a training program with Xert ?
The workout designer seems to be tuned to create single workouts. What is the best approach to create for example a classic six weeks program ?

Best Regards,
Bart

What parameters do you feel will dictate what workouts you should be doing in a six week program? One, for sure, would have to be time available to train. Others?

That depends, time is always the biggest question. I know that I can’t push myself to hard because then I get injured. I am focusing on a GC specialist type of rider. I do mostly one group ride in a week where I am the lead rider. In the days in between my biggest question is, what is the recommended workout to achieve my goal ? I don’t think it helps me that I always ride the same workouts ?

So whether you want workouts to push you really hard or whether you’d rather not suffer too much is another variable, it appears. What areas of your fitness are you looking to work on - strengths? weaknesses? Accommodating flexible schedules to allow you to do group rides or skip workouts when you don’t have a choice due to busy work schedules, and maybe even increasing frequency/volume when time permits. Periodization is important for longer programs. Mixing things up so that you’re working on various aspects of your fitness as you progress.

I think all of these are the parameters of a training program. A one-size-fits-all approach, is not what’s best for athletes.

So today, you kind of have to make this up yourself. We provide some help with recommended workouts.

Our goal is to encompass all the above into our training program offering. It’s a tall goal but there are so many that are underserved by the “classic” training programs yet really don’t feel they would need a coach.

I thought about this as well. I think Xert already has the infrastructure in place, users just need some additional visibility as to where their training is headed. What about allowing a person to “prioritize” multiple events instead of just one?

For example, right now I have targeted my race team’s criterium at the end of April as my “A” event, but I am also looking to take a stab at doing my first half distance triathlon in early March. I know that there is lots of overlap in the traditional “base/build” schedule with the biggest difference in training plans coming the last 4-6 weeks of specialization as I approach each event.

It seems like it wouldn’t be too hard to have Xert take into consideration 2-3 events and athlete types and still give some suggestions on what type of workouts to be focusing on at THAT EXACT MOMENT in the annual training plan.

It could get a little complicated, and may not be applicable or valuable for all exert users, but the n again it could provide some better visibility and planning to those that are already accustomed to planning out their annual plans and training load in programs like Training Peaks.

I too could see something to having a few different events targetted. I’m currently looking at a time trial weekend end of April (three events around 30min, 75min, and 3+ hours), then after that I’ll be going for a 12hr race end of May, and a 24hr in November. But now we’re getting into computerized (robot?) coaching… and while Xert is breaking new ground so far, this might be pushing it a bit at the moment.

The goal is to provide functionality that nearly all users will benefit from. The more knobs, options, choices, dates we add, the fewer people will benefit because it becomes unwieldy. Alternatively, it would be good to provide sufficient flexibility so that those with a more complex, multi-event season can still adapt what we provide. I think a good balance will be key. One thing I firmly believe in is that the training schedule needs to be flexible because working adults lead busy lives and will miss workouts. Also, they should not feel like they need to miss out on group rides because it doesn’t fit into their training schedule. Hence providing ways that will allow it to adapt to a given situation could also be used to handle changes mid-season. Not everything has to be set in stone from the beginning. Beside, if someone really wants to optimize outcomes for multiple events using the highest structure, perhaps a coach would be a better option.