Simplifying Endurance Training Reviews for Better Results

We have come a long way since training diaries were a written log book of miles/rep times with some handwritten notes on how the session went. While the wealth of data now available can be valuable, it's easy to get lost in complex analysis or fixate on certain numbers and lose sight of what really matters.

The key to effective training reviews lies in being able to pick out the important things, keeping it simple and consistent. By focusing on a few essential elements and reviewing them regularly, you can make better decisions and achieve your goals without getting bogged down in complicated data analysis or fixating on one thing to the cost of what really matters.

Here are few things to think about when reviewing your training:

Framework Simplicity Beats Analysis Complexity

When it comes to training reviews, less is often more. Instead of trying to track every possible metric, identify a handful of key elements that are most relevant to your goals. These might include factors like sleep quality, workout completion rate, or how you feel during long sessions. By consistently tracking these essential elements and reviewing them on a regular basis, you can spot meaningful trends and make informed adjustments to your training plan.

Training Data Should Inform, Not Dictate

Modern training devices and apps provide an impressive array of metrics, but it's important to remember that these should be used as supporting information rather than the sole basis for decision-making.

For example, just because an app's "fitness" number is not increasing does not necessarily mean you are not getting better. This number is often time biassed so in a VO2Max block of training where you are doing short hard sessions, this figure may not move much buy you will be getting faster.

The skill to using data lies in being able to combine what the data is telling you with the whole picture. So if an app tells you you are ready to train but you feel very tired and cannot hit the powers in the warm up then that important information overrides what the app is telling you.

Equally if you feel great, are well rested and an app tells you you had a bad night's sleep and should take it easy you can start your workout and see how you feel; if you are hitting the powers and feel good in the warm up you can use that information to decide to go ahead and do the workout.

Training Notes Have Newfound Value in the AI Era

Those brief comments you jot down after each workout, whether about how you felt on a hill or why you cut a session short, can be a goldmine of valuable information. By systematically recording these notes, you can uncover patterns and insights that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Modern AI tools can help analyze months of training comments to identify trends without adding complexity to your daily routine. Incorporating this qualitative data alongside quantitative metrics can provide a more comprehensive picture of your progress and help you make better-informed decisions.

Questions to Ask Yourself for Your Next Review

1. What are the most important indicators of your training health right now? Take a moment to reflect on which factors have the greatest impact on your performance and well-being. You could use an AI tool to review your notes to help you.
2. How can you make your workout comments more systematic to spot patterns? Consider developing a simple template or rating system to help you consistently record your post-workout thoughts and feelings. Our traffic light system is a good way to do this.

Real-World Example: Race Recovery

A great example of how intuition and data can be used effectively with some careful thought is post-race recovery. I began working with one athlete just after her first half marathon race. She had been following an off the shelf plan and the half marathon had been an 'add-on.' She was feeling a lot of fatigue post race making her doubt her ability to do a her A event, a 30km trail race, in two weeks time. She was particularly worried that she had not done the distance in training.

We decided to focus on two things:

1. Recovery - despite her form showing as positive, her fatigue levels and performance showed that she had not recovered from the half marathon; she needed to do this in order to benefit from the fitness she could gain from a hard run and be ready for her next race.
2. Race nutrition - while we didn't have much time to practise, we could have a good race nutrition plan which would be crucial to help her go for longer for her 30km A race. This is something we could do without compromising her recovery.

By focussing on what was important (recovery) and where she could make the most gains over a long distance event in the time she had between the races (nutrition) we were able to make the most out of the fitness she had and get her to her season's A race in great shape. She nailed it!

This work also provided a great basis for future recovery plans from races; we now have a pattern we can return to and perfect after races to optimise recovery before beginning quality training (or racing) again.

Conclusion

In the pursuit of athletic excellence, it's easy to get caught up in the complexities of data analysis or to focus on the wrong thing. However, by focusing on a few key elements and reviewing them consistently, you can make better decisions and achieve your goals without getting overwhelmed or trapped down a rabbit hole.

Remember that data should inform your decisions, not dictate them, and don't underestimate the value of your own intuition and experience. By combining quantitative metrics with qualitative insights from your training notes, you can develop a more comprehensive understanding of your progress and make adjustments that lead to real results.