Data informing the training process – but don’t forget the context!
Long time ithlete user Coach Chris Kilmurray recently shared these insights on Twitter. This is an excellent example of how many coaches use ithlete as an overview of how the athlete is coping with training and other stresses and then as a tool to dig deeper when needed.
ithlete and its role in a great athlete-coach relationship
Given that we have seen a lot less of each other in the past 10 months, it strikes me that these metrics have become an even more important part of the coaching relationship.
Lockdown Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
by Jan Birkmyre According to my daily heart rate variability (HRV) readings from ithlete, it is very clear my body loves this lockdown. On reflection, I suppose, that should not come as a complete surprise but even so, the magnitude of the improvement is a shock....Overreaching in trained cyclists – Update Spring 2019
How two different approaches to training camps in quick succession drove results, impacted wellness and how all of this is shown in HRV.
Better is Better
Like so many coaches out there, I’ve coached a fair share of athletes who subscribe to the “more is better” mindset. Over my years in the endurance world, I’ve definitely learned to subscribe to the “more is not better; better is better” philosophy. Why? Because...HRV case study data from elite athletes
Coaches of elite athletes share some of their ithlete HRV data and observations which illustrates useful feedback on how they were adapting to training and other stresses.
HRV guides trained cyclists to new performance highs
Who, what & why In a previous post we covered studies that show using HRV to be significantly better than a standard training program in improving the performance of club and recreational runners. Now, a new study by researchers from the Universities of Alicante...The effects of overreaching on trained cyclists
Most endurance athletes are familiar with the term ‘overreaching’. That’s when you do high volumes of intensified training to cause supercompensation. But what actually happens to your body and what measures can you use to identify when overreaching has gone too far and become unproductive?
Notes from a high-volume cycling training camp
Simon Wegerif shares his experience and tips following this years week long cycling training camp in Tenerife in the Canary Islands. The excellent paved roads extending from sea level to the main crater of Mt Teide at 2100m give continuous climbs of 18 – 48 km i.e. some of the longest in Europe.
HRV: It knows me better than I know myself
By Coach Laura Henry I started taking daily Heart Rate Variability (HRV) readings last February when my coaching company, Team MPI, partnered with ithlete. I hadn’t ever heard of HRV before, and I was curious to see what it was about. I was interested in learning...Science and Cycling 2017 Dusseldorf – Our Highlights
Science and Cycling is an annual event, held near to the start of the Tour de France. The event enables sports science researchers and top-level practitioners to mix informally, and to listen and participate in a formal program of high quality peer reviewed...To train or not to train – one ithlete user’s journey through recovery
My biggest mistake: When the neuro surgeon told me my recovery would take two years my first reaction was shock and disbelief. Then I said silently to myself: I’ll show them I’ll do it in less. Recovery Training from illness, injury or surgery, is not just about...Simon’s Tenerife Training Camp
The plan The main objective of this camp was to get in some good base miles with an emphasis on climbing in preparation for my second year of the Mallorca 312 challenge. Living in the New Forest in southern England, the terrain barely meets the criteria for...Training Blog: Andy Dolphin – November
The 1st October was the start of a progressive training plan to lead me up to a few events next year…
Training Blog: Andy Dolphin – October
Following the post-holiday blip, HRV has been fairly stable even considering my cold in mid-September. Mood and stress though have been an issue, particularly mood, most notably post holiday (expected) but also through the most part of September.
A Daily Training Cycle
Andrew Tamplin has created and shared a great infographic giving us an insight in to his daily training cycle and decision making process.
‘The morning recovery test effects all other aspects of the daily cycle, the simple fact is that if you are not recovered sufficiently from your previous workout, work or other life stress then you are not going to be training effectively.’
Training Blog: Andy Dolphin – July
End of June is a scheduled recovery week, so not much during the week other than a 75 minute tempo ride on the 30th. Then on the weekend 2nd July was a group ride 2 hrs 30 mins, 56% in heart rate zone 2 and 38% in zone 3. On the 3rd it was Hill repeats at...Training Blog: Andy Dolphin – June
Having spent 6 months building up to the 300 mile ride, it was time for backing off a little…
Science and Cycling 2016 – Summary of presentations
Science & Cycling is an annual gathering of researchers, expert practitioners and team performance managers arranged a couple of days before, and close to the start of the Tour de France. It was our first time attending and exhibiting and turned out to be one of...Research Summary: Cumulative fatigue in Elite cyclists during the Tour of Spain
Who, what & why? The three week long cycling Grand Tours (Italy, France, Spain) are well known to be amongst the hardest multi day endurance events in the World. But for most of us that will never experience one, how fatigued do the riders actually become, and...Training Blog: Andy Dolphin – May
This month see’s Andy and his team take on the much anticipated 300 mile Charity Ride!
Mallorca 312 – Event and post race recovery
In summary, I think the preparation for this event was a success – especially the many hours of MAF endurance training, and the aerodynamic improvements to both my position and the bike itself. I think diet was the only area I didn’t get quite right, and perhaps I need to gain confidence that I can perform on a low(er) carb diet on a 100m event first.
Training Blog: Andy Dolphin – April
Week 14 This week culminates in a long training ride for our charity event (see footer). So the week would focus on low volume with HIIT, and introduces the first build phase of the training plan; 5th April – 65 minutes inc w/u, endurance based with 6 x 60 seconds...Training for the Mallorca 312. The final month.
I have now begun my taper, with just a week to go before the 312km event in Mallorca next Saturday. I’m already in the centre zone of the Pro Training Guide, and expect to move rightwards during the week as my recovery continues to improve.
Training Blog: Andy Dolphin – March
Hopefully this is a sign of improved fitness and my body getting used to the increasing workload, adaptation, and therefore recovering quicker.
Training for the longest ride…pt 2
Simon is well under way preparing for the Mallorca 312, increasing volume and adjusting diet are in focus in this post.
Coaching the TORQ Women’s Track Cycling Team
I had been using ithlete for several years as part of my own training monitoring and found the basic data helpful as an additional weapon in my armoury. So when I was given the opportunity to use an ithlete Team App in conjunction with my coaching role for the TORQ Track Team I was keen to see what it could bring to the table.
Training Blog: Andy Dolphin – Febuary
Training weeks 5 through to 7 incorporate a number of group training sessions ahead of a scheduled rest week starting late February. How will this effect the HRV? Read on to find out.
Preparing for the longest ride…
By Simon Wegerif Every year I have to do something that tests the limits of my endurance. Two years ago it was the Haute Route challenge of cycling from Geneva to Nice in 6 timed stages across the Alps, and last year it was the Etape TdF stage with 4500m of climbing...Training Blog: Andy Dolphin – January
The start of the year sees a return to a training plan. 4th Jan was the first session, which was endurance based with 2 x 10min tempo included, 60 mins, repeated on the 6th (although this suggested HIIT, I stayed with the schedule). 8th Jan strayed from the plan when...Training blog: Andrew Tamplin – May
May saw Andrew Tamplin take on base training using ithlete Pro as his coach. A wise choice!