21.06.2017
It is the longest and hopefully also the hottest day of the year. If you want to test your physical limits, it’s your opportunity. If you want to get the most out of one day, I hope you made a careful planning for this 21st of June. Therefore, this is the perfect day to talk about testing and planning. More specifically, we will discuss (misconceptions regarding) the mutual relationship between physi(ologi)cal testing and training schedules.
1. A training schedule is not a test, a test is not a training schedule.
This seems like an open door, but for many people this is clearly not clear. As an independent exercise physiologist since many years, I know that many cyclists and runners call me for an exercise test (with lactate measurements), whereas they actually expect a training schedule for the next 3 or 6 months. Of course, an exercise test MUST be followed by advice, which may come in the form of a schedule. However, it is my conviction that ‘guidelines’ (as concrete as possible) can be more appriopriate than a (too) rigorous and detailed plan, certainly in the absence of specific (‘S.M.A.R.T.’) goals. For clarity, a real and personalized training schedule is NOT something which is generated by pressing just one button of the keyboard.
2. Neither a training schedule nor fitness testing is useful for everyone.
Physiological testing (based on heart rate or lactate) may be more useful for the beginner as compared to the elite athlete, who knows him- or herself already very well. In contrast, careful annual planning and periodisation usually becomes gradually more important as the level of an athlete or player progresses.
In general, physical testing, to evaluate speed or strength in ball sports, is more relevant for the advanced player.
3. A test does not replace a training schedule, it is rather the other way around.
Many trainers and test centers will ask you to return every 3 months for an evaluation. This is very interesting from a commercial point of view, but this kind of follow-up only proves that they do not really follow you. More than two test occasions in one year are irrelevant for the trainer who keeps a weekly eye on your training log. The purpose of any kind of test is to evaluate whether the training intervention has had the desired effect, whether the training schedule goes according to ‘plan’, whether the schedule has to be adjusted, and, if so, to what extent. Of course, this supposes that there is any plan at all. Unfortunately, at this point, most trainers fail. Planning and periodization is very often non-existent, even for advanced athletes, surprisingly enough. However, you can not ‘out-test’ the lack of a plan. On the contrary, when working with a careful annual plan, based on general training principles (rest, progression, specificity), testing becomes almost superfluous. Most of the time, testing will confirm the schedule.
4. A test is not necessary to start a training schedule, but a test has added value.
To develop a plan (i.e. the proactive organization of the quantity and quality of training), you need to know the starting point and the goal. Therefore, it is indispensable that the trainer asks some questions before building the plan. Measurements are not strictly necessary but it definitely helps. It helps the trainer, because it leaves nothing to chance: no longer guessing. In addition, it helps the athlete or player, because it shows ‘black or white’ where he or she is standing: not seldom, this is very motivating.
5. A test is not always necessary to succeed, a training schedule is.
At a high level of competition, valid testing is very often very difficult. Nowadays, with all possible apps and tracking systems, a lot of data can be collected; the question, however, is which data are useful and if so, to what extent. Today, we can measure much more than we even want to know. Most elite athletes have much more room for improvement on the side of planning than on the side of testing. In addition, the ultimate and most important test is real competition. Finally, even the best training schedule is useless in the absence of devotion, determination, perseverance and work by the athlete or player. ‘Success is sweet, but it usually has the scent of sweat about it.’
With kind regards,
Karel
#TrainHardButSmart
PS: the above graph shows a preliminary analysis of recent data collected in our center; you can expect much more of this in my upcoming workshop. Only 9 days left for early birds !
1. A training schedule is not a test, a test is not a training schedule.
This seems like an open door, but for many people this is clearly not clear. As an independent exercise physiologist since many years, I know that many cyclists and runners call me for an exercise test (with lactate measurements), whereas they actually expect a training schedule for the next 3 or 6 months. Of course, an exercise test MUST be followed by advice, which may come in the form of a schedule. However, it is my conviction that ‘guidelines’ (as concrete as possible) can be more appriopriate than a (too) rigorous and detailed plan, certainly in the absence of specific (‘S.M.A.R.T.’) goals. For clarity, a real and personalized training schedule is NOT something which is generated by pressing just one button of the keyboard.
2. Neither a training schedule nor fitness testing is useful for everyone.
Physiological testing (based on heart rate or lactate) may be more useful for the beginner as compared to the elite athlete, who knows him- or herself already very well. In contrast, careful annual planning and periodisation usually becomes gradually more important as the level of an athlete or player progresses.
In general, physical testing, to evaluate speed or strength in ball sports, is more relevant for the advanced player.
3. A test does not replace a training schedule, it is rather the other way around.
Many trainers and test centers will ask you to return every 3 months for an evaluation. This is very interesting from a commercial point of view, but this kind of follow-up only proves that they do not really follow you. More than two test occasions in one year are irrelevant for the trainer who keeps a weekly eye on your training log. The purpose of any kind of test is to evaluate whether the training intervention has had the desired effect, whether the training schedule goes according to ‘plan’, whether the schedule has to be adjusted, and, if so, to what extent. Of course, this supposes that there is any plan at all. Unfortunately, at this point, most trainers fail. Planning and periodization is very often non-existent, even for advanced athletes, surprisingly enough. However, you can not ‘out-test’ the lack of a plan. On the contrary, when working with a careful annual plan, based on general training principles (rest, progression, specificity), testing becomes almost superfluous. Most of the time, testing will confirm the schedule.
4. A test is not necessary to start a training schedule, but a test has added value.
To develop a plan (i.e. the proactive organization of the quantity and quality of training), you need to know the starting point and the goal. Therefore, it is indispensable that the trainer asks some questions before building the plan. Measurements are not strictly necessary but it definitely helps. It helps the trainer, because it leaves nothing to chance: no longer guessing. In addition, it helps the athlete or player, because it shows ‘black or white’ where he or she is standing: not seldom, this is very motivating.
5. A test is not always necessary to succeed, a training schedule is.
At a high level of competition, valid testing is very often very difficult. Nowadays, with all possible apps and tracking systems, a lot of data can be collected; the question, however, is which data are useful and if so, to what extent. Today, we can measure much more than we even want to know. Most elite athletes have much more room for improvement on the side of planning than on the side of testing. In addition, the ultimate and most important test is real competition. Finally, even the best training schedule is useless in the absence of devotion, determination, perseverance and work by the athlete or player. ‘Success is sweet, but it usually has the scent of sweat about it.’
With kind regards,
Karel
#TrainHardButSmart
PS: the above graph shows a preliminary analysis of recent data collected in our center; you can expect much more of this in my upcoming workshop. Only 9 days left for early birds !