Whats the point of interval training if its just going to result in temporary improvements to muscle activation? I mean, if Im putting in the time and effort to incorporate interval training into my cycling routine, I want to know that its going to lead to long-term changes in my muscle physiology, not just a fleeting increase in power output.
Is it possible that interval training is just a fancy way of saying fartlek training with a structured approach, and that the only real benefit is the increased intensity of the workouts, rather than any actual changes to muscle activation patterns? And if thats the case, then why are we still talking about interval training like its some kind of magic bullet for improving cycling performance?
And what about the role of muscle memory in all of this? If Im doing interval training regularly, am I simply reinforcing existing patterns of muscle activation, rather than actually changing the way my muscles are fired? And if thats the case, then how can I be sure that Im not just wasting my time with interval training?