AI just detected another FTP bump for me and i fear the next Sweet spot session tomorrow where I need to do 5x12 min SS.
I’m really trying to have TR as the only training platform I pay for. Currently I do just fine with Z2 endurance where I can watch Movices and Z5+ where it’s just loud music.
However Tempo, SS and Threshold work with longer intervals like next SS session is killing me. I’m not able to focus on movies (perhaps a bit with tempo work), and loud music is not enough to distract the pain during those long intervals looking into a graph…
Previously I used Zwift on Apple TV but having TR control the resistance from my laptop + loud music. That works, but too expensive.
Any suggestions is much appreciated. I know this have been brought up in other posts, stating people also just watch movies at SS and threshold work, but when I do these I really need to focus on surviving, so hope for other tips as well.
my mistake. It’s 5x12 min with 1 min recovery in between. Just find them really hard and boring, but perhaps my FTP is set too high by AI if all the rest of you can easly focus on movies
There are two ways to cope with pain: distract vs embrace. For long term coping strategy, you might be better off with learning and enjoying it.
If you still want to distract yourself, approach each interval separately, 12min can be divided many ways (1x12, 2x6, 3x4, 4x3, 6x2, 12x1) and fill each slot differently (changing hand positions, different cadences, pedal strokes quadrants, breathing tempo, drinking under pressure, standing/seated, etc). Also, you can find workout alternatives that have slight variations in power during each interval (Geiger +2, for example)
I sometimes overlay the TR workout player over a podcast or race. In the past I used RGT but that’s no more. I prefer a race as I can zone in or out as my effort/ concentrationn allows and often start counting in my head (concentrating, or at least trying to concentrate, on numbers seems to distract me from the pain).
Sweet Spot has always been too hard for TV/ Podcasts for me. I generally have a race on TV, and music going. A lot of those intervals have climbing drills, and if they don’t I do them anyway!
YouTube videos. Search “cycling motivation” or “cyclocross motivation” which are basically just highlight clips from races. I mute that and listen to music, upbeat rock or metal, sometimes electronic or house music.
For threshold intervals I couldn’t watch anything else than the ongoing TR workout. Even with sweetspot / tempo intervals I get the agony of how long will the harder part last. So only with endurance stuff I can watch races, cx stuff etc.
Yep, this for me as well - VO2 max and long threshold / sweet spot intervals I tend to zone out from actually watching anything properly so I’ll listen to music and watch cycling videos, cyclocross etc on YouTube
And break up the interval into more manageable chunks, drink after each 5 minute chunk etc
I can watch some some series or youtube while doing sweetspot but after I have almost no memory of what I’ve watched. Usually it’s just zwift and music.
Music or a live or nearly live race (cycling, skiing, biathlon etc.) on Eurosport. I like watching the whole event, but it’s a waste of too much time. This justifies it and also means I look forward to the session.
I use TR in conjunction with Zwift so I have something to look at. Like you, my attention isn’t kept by looking at graphs. I also am unable focus on anything like movies that require concentration. I use AirPods with noise cancellation and listen to music, or put something on the tube that I needn’t focus on.
I should add, it’s generally moving wallpaper than really following. Although was somewhat following Will Barta hanging on during yesterdays sweet spot!
