Top Endurance

Determining training zones is a common reason for performing testing with athletes. Coaches and athletes use a variety of methods to categorize training zones. Coaches must ensure that their athletes have a clear understanding of the zones used in their training programs. This will help prevent confusion if athletes compare training programs with other athletes or if they read about training programs or recommendations in magazines. For example, for training programs created at the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine, training zones are defined using heart rate ranges, RPE ranges, and power or pace ranges. This method provides multiple reference points that the athletes can use to evaluate how hard they are working. Because multiple formats are provided, athletes can choose the method that is most convenient or helpful to them.

This text includes chapters that cover specific training programming. In each of these chapters, the training zones used in the programs are identified so that the coach and athlete will have a clear understanding of how training intensities are defined. This will go a long way toward reducing confusion and misunderstanding about program execution.

Each method of measuring training intensity has advantages and disadvantages. Athletes and coaches will want to determine which method works best for each individual athlete. Whatever method is chosen, the important thing is that the athlete and coach can communicate using a common terminology. This will help ensure that both the coach and the athlete understand the goals and expectations for the training program.