In threads where training philosophy comes up, discussions of TRIMPS and TSS and other training models occasionally intrude. These models are not very well known, and even more poorly understood, so probably SolarEnergy, qbrain and I are just talking to each other and killing threads in those conversations. In any case, I figured I would present a brief overview of what it is that we're talking about when this terminology starts showing up.
Best case, this will introduce these models to the subset of swimmers (or coaches) who would be interested enough to use them, but didn't previously know enough to do so.
Plus, even if you're not the type to be interested in quantifying your training, it can be useful to think about workouts in this general framework.
And, at the very least, this might serve as a place to discuss some of the details without worrying about driving those other threads too far off-topic.
For example in your own training, does your % of below threshold and above threshold yards vary significantly from one week to the next?
Week to week? Probably not, other than random fluctuation. But over the course of a season it very well might change (eg, early in the training cycle might have more of an aerobic component than later in the season).
I assume you are referring to a statement I made (or frequently make) that overall yardage is not a sufficient metric of training load. I stand by that statement, though I agree that for a given club there may be a pretty significant correlation between high-intensity work (eg race-pace training) and overall yardage. But if you want to compare across clubs then the correlation will be significantly less.
I have swum with two different workout groups in the last 5 years. With my current group, my yardage has increased a little (maybe 15%) but the amount of high-intensity training we do has increased tremendously (2-3X as much). The positive impact on my performance has much more to do with the latter factor than the former, in my opinion.
In other words, a statement from a person that they do (say) 15000 yards/week, by itself, is not sufficient to given an idea of their training load. At least, in my opinion.
But I do agree with the general idea that, for an individual person, if there is a strong correlation between the two factors, you might as well use total yardage, since that is pretty easy to determine.
For example in your own training, does your % of below threshold and above threshold yards vary significantly from one week to the next?
Week to week? Probably not, other than random fluctuation. But over the course of a season it very well might change (eg, early in the training cycle might have more of an aerobic component than later in the season).
I assume you are referring to a statement I made (or frequently make) that overall yardage is not a sufficient metric of training load. I stand by that statement, though I agree that for a given club there may be a pretty significant correlation between high-intensity work (eg race-pace training) and overall yardage. But if you want to compare across clubs then the correlation will be significantly less.
I have swum with two different workout groups in the last 5 years. With my current group, my yardage has increased a little (maybe 15%) but the amount of high-intensity training we do has increased tremendously (2-3X as much). The positive impact on my performance has much more to do with the latter factor than the former, in my opinion.
In other words, a statement from a person that they do (say) 15000 yards/week, by itself, is not sufficient to given an idea of their training load. At least, in my opinion.
But I do agree with the general idea that, for an individual person, if there is a strong correlation between the two factors, you might as well use total yardage, since that is pretty easy to determine.
