[FONT= calibri]Hi[/FONT]
[FONT= calibri]This is my first post but I’ve been reading this forum for a few months.[/FONT]
[FONT= calibri]To give you a quick overview of myself I’m a 3rd[/FONT] Cat rider from UK. Just turned 40, weigh 60kg, FTP of 260W and average about 9-10 hrs training per week. I race crits and shortish RR of 50-60 miles.
[FONT= calibri]I got a pm this summer but did not really start using it to train until I started my base training around September. In terms of my strengths and weaknesses, I would say my weakness is absolute max power and anaerobic power with my 5s, 30s and 1 minute profile strongly sloping down compared to 5 minute and 20 minute.[/FONT]
[FONT= calibri]Anyway, my focus since having a pm has been to try and increase my threshold power with a plan to work on that up until about 8 weeks before racing starts then focus on shorter intervals and anaerobic stuff. I have been doing this by doing SST or slighly higher intervals of around 20-25 minutes and incorporating them mainly into my longer rides. My schedule since sept has been:[/FONT]
[FONT= calibri]Mon – 1.5 hrs - indoor Velodrome track session: hard endurance focus – roughly 130TSS[/FONT]
[FONT= calibri]Tue – Rest[/FONT]
[FONT= calibri]Wednesday – 1.75hrs - 2X20 on the road 100TSS[/FONT]
[FONT= calibri]Thursday – 3-3.5 hr hard group ride. No specific Z4 work but key ride with high calibre riders 200-220TSS[/FONT]
[FONT= calibri]Fri – Off but have been thinking of adding a fifth ride.[/FONT]
[FONT= calibri]Sat – Off[/FONT]
[FONT= calibri]Sun – 3.5 hr solo incorporating 2 or 3X20 with Z2 in between. – 220-240TSS[/FONT]
[FONT= calibri]Total weekly TSS has gone from around 560 September to 680 now and my current CTL is 78.[/FONT]
[FONT= calibri]My issue is that although I have trained very consistently and am strong on the group ride I don’t think my threshold has increased at all (maybe a few watts) and am now starting to question my training program. [/FONT]
[FONT= calibri] Basically, I never really feel fresh and thus never feel ready to push new ground during any session. I have started thinking I am doing too many hard rides, shouldn’t be incorporating my Z4 efforts into my long rides etc. I’m now thinking of backing off and trying to be as fresh as possible for 2 key rides (Mon and Wed). Thursday would remain hard but Sun and any other rides would be just easy/steady. [/FONT]
[FONT= calibri]I’m conscious that my racing season doesn’t start until March and it feels early to back off knowing this will reduce my weekly TSS and CTL. However, I also know that my threshold is not going up and i'm also starting to suffer on the track.[/FONT]
[FONT= calibri]Any suggestions much appreciated and sorry for the long post.[/FONT]