TrainingPeaks is a powerful tool, not just a digital training diary. As a Mindful Runner coach, it offers an array of functionalities to simplify your coaching process, allowing for an efficient and effective ATP creation and adjustment. It’s instrumental in the construction of well-structured training plans and facilitates an effective long-term follow-up.
Customizing the ATP
Automated vs Manual ATP Creation
TrainingPeaks offers two ways to create an ATP – the automated ATP and the manual ATP. The automated ATP function streamlines the process of planning, adhering to the traditional periodization model. It’s an excellent feature for creating a structured training plan quickly, particularly for coaches and athletes new to periodized planning.
While the automated function can be a time-saver, it may not always offer the granularity required for more complex training plans. For those instances, you have the manual ATP. Though this method might be a bit more hands-on, it gives you the freedom to completely tailor your ATP to your athlete’s specific needs.
Fine-Tuning the ATP
Whether you use the automated or manual method, TrainingPeaks enables you to adjust the ATP to align with your athlete’s unique requirements and aspirations. With intuitive user-interface elements like ‘click and drag’, you can manipulate the phases’ duration to suit the athlete’s target events and the progression of their fitness.
Intensity and Volume Adjustments
In alignment with the intensity distribution model you opt for – be it 80/20, pyramidal, or polarized – TrainingPeaks allows you to set specific TSS, hours, or distance for each week or phase. This precise control helps provide a more effective training stimulus that accurately reflects the athlete’s expected exertion.
Event Prioritisation
TrainingPeaks seamlessly incorporates the categorization of A, B, and C events into your ATP. By designating these event priorities, you can ensure that the intensity and volume peak appropriately ahead of these key races, optimizing race day performance.
Monitoring and Adjusting the ATP
Tracking Progress
With the Performance Management Chart (PMC), TrainingPeaks offers an integrated solution for monitoring your athletes’ development. By correlating these metrics with your athletes’ feedback and race results, you can gain insights into their training load response, guiding informed decisions about their ATP.
Dynamic Adaptation
Life can be unpredictable, and it’s not uncommon for training to veer off the planned path. TrainingPeaks allows for flexible ATP adaptation in response to factors like injury, illness, or changes in an athlete’s schedule. This adaptability encourages a more realistic and achievable training plan, boosting motivation and adherence.
Long-term Evaluation
TrainingPeaks’ comprehensive historical data storage becomes invaluable when it comes to long-term athlete follow-ups. By comparing different training cycles or years, you can spot patterns, gain a deeper understanding of your athlete’s strengths and weaknesses, and progressively refine the ATP for continuous improvement.
Embracing TrainingPeaks can vastly improve the efficiency of your ATP development and adjustment processes. It’s not just about building an ATP but fostering a mindful running experience. With every run, remind your athletes to set their INTENT and FOCUS, forging a holistic connection with the sport for lifelong running success.