Now we have completed the 3 first stages and as you probably already discovered there are many intensive rides. Actually you are going to train high intensity intervals much more often than you are used to. A rule of thumb says you have to train hard every second day if you want to become stronger. If you do it more often you will get over trained. In some cases that could be right, but it certainly doesn’t have to be!
Frequency, duration and intensity
Let me give you a reminder of what impacts your overall training load: Frequency, duration and intensity. E.g. if you train more frequent, ride with a higher intensity (more races, more intervals) or simply just ride more, you will force your body to adapt to these challenges. This way you can reach a higher level of fitness, but your body will not allow you to increase the total workload too fast. Good cyclists make use these buttons to turn up and down the workload all the time. Remember that it is the consistency that makes you a strong cyclist, not just one hard week of biking. With small adjustments over time, you can configure a more challenging training program that will make you a better cyclist.
In the VO2 Max Booster program we decrease the duration of each ride which means your body needs less recovery time before the next hard training session. When we do frequent intervals (but not too many of them) it is possible to train high intensity intervals every single day. Actually you could train twice every day if you did some proper planning. It’s clear that the risk of over training gets bigger if you train that often, but this example is also just to show you that the classic 2 interval days and 1 race day per week is common but definitely not the only way to achieve great results.
Day 4
Total time: 1hr training
20min incremental warm up
6 x (40+20sec) 95% / 50% of your VO2 Max test result
4min easy rolling
6 x (40+20sec) 95% / 50% of your VO2 Max test result
4min
6 x (40+20sec) 95% / 50% of your VO2 Max test result
14min easy rolling
Keep up the good work and enjoy your extra free time!
Next step: Day 5 – Intervals as Active Recovery (Did you miss Day 3?)
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Thanks for the workouts, I usually hate riding the trainer because I am usually just doing steady state endurance rides. I like getting on the trainer and having a workout – makes the time fly by.
Good day, Jesper!
I have a question.
I’m a cross-country racer and when I do intervals I do it in uphill.
Is it right?
And if its right – in what kind of uphill its better to do workouts?
Steep or gentle?
PS. As I feel its a different work. May be in steep hill its more power work, in gentle hill its more speed work. Which is correct for your intervals?
Thanks in advance.
xcrider>
In this case a power meter mounted on your MTB would probably give you the answer. Also you would notice how difficult it is to maintain a wattage in the target zone.
If you don’t have a power meter, I would recommend you to do the intervals on sligthly uphills with not-so-technical tracks.
Still it is possible (and a good choice once in a while) to perform the intervals in the enviroment you compete in.
Jesper
Just wanted to get a better understanding of how the 14 day V02 max increase booster program works. When I read it, it says for example on day four what does tghe 6 x (40+20 sec) 95% of your VO2 max actually mean what are these numbers could you pleae break it down a step futher. thank you very much.
All interval intensities refer to your VO2 max test on Day 1. Thus, if you performed 350W on average during the 5min test, then
100% = 350W
80% = 280W
50% = 175W
etc.
Read more about intervals here:
http://www.training4cyclists.com/what-does-3×3-minutes-vo2-max-mean/
I think they were asking about how you translate this: “6 x (40+20sec) 95% / 50% of your VO2 Max test result”
Is that 6 sets of 40seconds @ 95% Vo2, with 20seconds @ 50% Vo2?