I often get asked questions by athletes, some very specific and some more general. Questions range from What type of training plan should I get? to Which FTP test is best? In the following short videos, you will find useful training advice to questions you may also have. Check out my training plan videos for help on specific plan advice; my training videos for workout, training, and testing guidelines; and my videos with Favero Electronics that answer all kinds of gear, training, and analysis questions.
Training Plan Videos
How Do I Add Strength Training to a 5-2 Plan?
Joe suggests the best days to do strength work when you’re using a 5-2 training plan.
Plan Details for Athletes Over 50
Joe has a couple of options for plans for over-50 athletes depending on their weekly schedule and lifestyle.
When Should I Start My Base Plan?
Depending on when your A-priority race is, here are some guidelines for when to buy and start a Base period training plan.
What Plans to Look for if You're New to the Sport?
Here are some tips for what to look for if you are new to a sport or new to all sports.
What Are the Differences in Training Plans?
What is the difference between an Over 50 or Under 50 training plan, and why is there an age distinction?
What Is a 5-2 Training Plan?
Joe explains what 5-2 means and how that fits with polarized training.
Training Plans: Heart Rate vs. Power
If you have both a heart rate monitor and a power meter on your bike, what kind of plan should you be looking for?
Base Period Plans for Upcoming Races
What are the most important things to know when looking for a Base period plan?
Training Videos
The following videos address some of the top training questions I get asked by endurance athletes.
Should HR and Power Zones Agree?
When should your heart rate and power zones agree, and when is it good for them to separate?
Should I Use Power or Pace or Heart Rate?
Joe explains the differences in FTP and FTHR to help us understand what is needed to measure what in workouts.
Brick Workouts
Learn the best approach to combined bike-run workouts, known as bricks.
Why Long Runs on Sat. and Long Rides on Sun.?
Most triathletes put their weekend workouts in race order, with the long ride on Saturday and long run on Sunday. See why Joe suggests the opposite order.
What Days Should I Strength Train?
Joe walks us through the ideal times to strength train in the Base and Build periods.
The 5-2 Training Routine
Joe explains his 5-2 training method, and how athletes can implement easy and high-intensity workouts in a week.
Which FTP Test Is Best?
Joe highlights a few common tests that measure Functional Threshold Power (FTP).
Lifestyle Tips for Athletic Success
There’s so much more than just training that goes into athletic success. You’ll also want to consider these lifestyle components.
Confidence on Race Day
You can get to the race day starting line with confidence. Here’s how.
Goals Vs. Wishes
A goal and a wish are two very different things. Joe explains how a goal requires a plan and offers some key ingredients you’ll need to consider for that plan.
Consistent Training for Athletic Success
Consistency is not the same thing as repetition. What’s a realistic view of consistency that leads to success?
What Is the Base Period?
The Base period is different from the Build period in that it’s when you do your general training. Learn what this means and what you can expect.
How Can a Coach Help?
One of the best ways to improve as an athlete is to find the right coach. Here are some tips on what to look for.
The Best Athletes I've Coached
Here are a few reasons why some athletes find success with a coach and others don’t.
Small Things to Improve Performance
There are a lot of little things that can help your performance. Here are a few I’ve found that have the biggest impact.
Internal Qualities for Success
Some of the things that make athletes the most successful are how they handle setbacks and stay mentally tough. Learn how you can be successful internally.
What Is Tapering?
Tapering has to do with freshness and form. Learn more about this important part of your race training.
Favero Videos
Check out my Q&A videos with sponsor Favero Electronics as I answer athlete questions on various aspects of training.
Polarized Vs. Sweet Spot for Time-Crunched Cyclists, Base Miles, Ramp Test Vs. 20-Minute Test, and More
Qs: What is more effective for a time-crunched cyclist with 4–6 hours a week—polarized or sweet spot? / Is a pedal-based power meter better than a crank-based power meter? / Is the ramp test better than the 20-minute FTP test? / Are base miles still as important as we once thought, or can intervals cover base too?
Heart Rate Vs. Power, Can Intervals Replace Base Miles, L/R Leg Discrepancy, and More
Qs: If your L/R balance is not 50/50 when pedaling, what can you do about it? / How has thinking on base miles evolved? Can high-intensity intervals accomplish the same thing in terms of fitness? / For indoor training sessions, is it better to use ASSIOMA pedals or the indoor trainer as the power source? / Over long distances, is it better to rely on power or heart rate?
How to Train to Lose Weight, Best Way to Improve FTP, and More
Qs: What data would you suggest to display on your head unit when riding with ASSIOMA pedals? / How do you train to lose weight? / What’s the best way to improve your FTP?
Intervals for Triathlon, Heart Rate Zones Vs. Power Zones, and More
Qs: Do you need short interval or sprint training in Ironman triathlon? / What power do we need to consider while training—Normalized Power or average power? / How closely should heart rate training zones overlap with power training zones?
Power Meter Accuracy, FTP Vs. Short Efforts, Hill Repeats, and More
Qs: Is there a big difference in accuracy between power meters? / Is your FTP the most important measure, or is it the ability to do short efforts? / What’s the best hill workout session? / How can you correct a left/right leg imbalance?
Oval Chainrings and Performance, Best FTP Test, 5 Watts/kg on 5 Hours a Week, and More
Qs: Do oval chainrings improve performance? / How many hours a week do I need to train to get to 5 Watts per kilogram? / If I have two bikes, do I run UNOs on both or use existing Stages power meter on one and DUOs on the other? / What’s your opinion on the ramp test vs. 8-minute test vs. 20-minute test vs. 60 minute-test?
Best Way to Recover from Training, Overtraining, Training as You Get Older, and More
Qs: What’s the most efficient way to recover from a hard ride? / How do you know if you’re overtrained? / When will the ASSIOMA SPD SL version be available? / How should I train after reaching 60 years of age?
Getting Faster on 5 Hours a Week, Losing Weight Vs. Increasing Power, and More
Qs: Without much structured training, can I get faster on 5 hours of structured training a week? / Should I concentrate on lowering my body weight or upping my FTP? / What are the best 3–4 data fields to display on my bike computer?
