What’s the best way to calculate Threshold Power?

Multiple runners sprinting - above Threshold Power
Multiple runners sprinting - above Threshold Power

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫?

This is a common question for runners new to power and wanting to ensure an accurate Threshold Power.

You can use any of the three most commonly used models.

Why?

Your threshold is a ‘phase transition’ over a narrow range of intensities, with lots of metabolic changes occurring at different rates and in parallel. And your Threshold Power is an intensity that’s within (or close to) the phase transition.

In this context, any of the three most commonly used models can produce a usable Threshold Power.

𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐮𝐬𝐞?

The answer typically depends on the app you’re using to review your power metrics:
🔹 Using WKO? You’ll most likely use auto-calculated FTP.
🔹 Using Stryd PowerCenter? You’ll most likely use Auto-CP.
🔹 Using another app? You’ll most likely use CP tests.

𝐃𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭?

No.

It’s likely that each will give a slightly different result, although the Threshold Power numbers are usually within 2-3% of each other.

And if you have multiple Threshold Power numbers to choose from, choose the lowest.

This means your training targets will err on the side of under-training, rather than the side of over-training (and an increased risk of injury).

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

Questions?
📖 Getting Started

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫
What is Threshold Power?
Identifying your Threshold Power
Using Threshold Power
Threshold Power vs VO2max
What’s the best way to calculate Threshold Power?

Threshold Power vs VO2Max

Multiple runners sprinting - above Threshold Power
Multiple runners sprinting - above Threshold Power

𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐯𝐬. 𝐕𝐎𝟐𝐦𝐚𝐱

Threshold Power is different than VO2max.

VO2max is a measure of your body’s maximum aerobic capacity.

Threshold power is the highest intensity you can maintain without rapidly fatiguing and needing to slow down or stop.

Think of VO2max as ‘the size of your engine’, and Threshold Power as ‘your highest cruising speed’. A bigger VO2max means you could go further and faster, but it doesn’t mean you’ll use that capacity effectively; a higher cruising speed means you can travel faster for a sustained period of time.

Both are important, but of the two, threshold power is more actionable, and a more direct and practical predictor of performance.

𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐯𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬

Threshold Power is a sport-specific metric.

Your running threshold power is unrelated to your cycling or swimming (or rowing) threshold power, even if the numbers appear similar and even though they’re based on your physiology.

This is because different sports use different muscles and limb movements, have different elastic energy contributions (from your tendons being tensioned and released) and use different power meters.

You should calculate and track threshold power separately for each sport – don’t mix and match.

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

Questions?
📖 Getting Started

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫
What is Threshold Power?
Identifying your Threshold Power
Using Threshold Power
Threshold Power vs VO2max
What’s the best way to calculate Threshold Power?

Using Threshold Power

Multiple runners sprinting - above Threshold Power
Multiple runners sprinting - above Threshold Power

𝐔𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫

Your Threshold Power is an important measure of your running fitness. It’s used to …

… 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬

Training targets are a percentage of threshold for all types of workouts (long runs, intervals etc.)

The percentages depend on the purpose of the workout and the ability of the runner. But they all have one thing in common – they are based on your threshold, which means:
🔹 they are based on your current running fitness – what you can achieve right now (without over- or under-training).
🔹 your workout targets self-adjust if your threshold changes

… 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝

Training stresses your body and, if done correctly, encourages it to adapt.

Running with Power uses Training Load Scores to monitor your training load. Training load scores represent the physical and metabolic impact of each workout.

Training load scores are relative to your threshold, so that if your threshold power changes, your scores stay aligned to your threshold and to your ability to cope with the training.

… 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞/𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬

Your threshold is a key measure of your running fitness. On race day, your finish time will depend to a large extent on your running fitness.

To plan your race-day target power based on your race-day fitness, it’s essential to know your current fitness – your threshold power.

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

Questions?
📖 Getting Started

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫
What is Threshold Power?
Identifying your Threshold Power
Using Threshold Power
Threshold Power vs VO2max
What’s the best way to calculate Threshold Power?

Identifying your Threshold Power

Multiple runners sprinting - above Threshold Power
Multiple runners sprinting - above Threshold Power

𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫

Threshold Power is an important representation of your running fitness.

You can use it to track improvements as you train for an event.

Identifying Threshold Power uses specific models and test protocols. These rely on regular maximum effort runs, which you should include as part of your training.

𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐬

The three most commonly used models are a Critical Power test (CP), modelled Functional Threshold Power (FTP) and Automatically calculated Critical Power (Auto-CP).

The models differ but are similar in their approach and purpose – they:
🔹 use the results from two or more maximum effort runs at differing durations
🔹 identify a power level that’s close to (or within) your threshold
🔹 do not rely on lab tests – instead, they are field-based

𝐌𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐦 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐬

The models rely on maximum effort runs. These are runs at the highest average effort you can achieve over a specific duration.

For example, your 3-minute maximum effort is the highest average power you can achieve over 3 minutes (elapsed).

𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫

There may be times when maximum effort runs won’t be possible, for example if you’re new to running or you’re recovering from injury.

In which case, you can estimate your threshold power using easy runs, but you should only do this until you can complete maximum effort runs.

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

Questions?
📖 Getting Started

For more information on the CP, modelled FTP and Auto-CP protocols, please see A Compendium of CP and FTP Resources, part of the Palladino Article Library.

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫
What is Threshold Power?
Identifying your Threshold Power
Using Threshold Power
Threshold Power vs VO2max
What’s the best way to calculate Threshold Power?

What is Threshold Power?

Multiple runners sprinting - above Threshold Power
Multiple runners sprinting - above Threshold Power

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫?

Running power provides numbers that represent your effort – your running intensity.

The intensity domains (Moderate, Heavy, Severe, Extreme) showing Threshold between the Heavy and Severe domains

At lower intensity levels, your body achieves a metabolic steady(ish) state and you can sustain your effort for an extended period. Researchers call these domains ‘moderate to heavy.’

At higher intensity levels, you can’t achieve a metabolic steady(ish) state. You’ll fatigue much more rapidly and need to slow down or stop. Researchers call these ‘severe to extreme’ domains.

The change from heavy to severe doesn’t happen at a precise point – it’s a ‘phase transition’ over a narrow range of intensities, with lots of metabolic changes occurring at different rates and in parallel.

There are many names for this phase transition – Anaerobic Threshold, LT2, VT2, Critical Power and more.

𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫

Threshold Power is an intensity that’s within (or close to) the phase transition from heavy to severe.

It’s a foundation metric – one that’s used by many other power metrics.

Threshold Power:
✅ is highly correlated with speed in endurance events – from 5k through marathon and beyond
✅ can be identified using field-based tests – no need for lab-based testing
✅ can be improved with training – improve your threshold, and you’ll improve your performance
✅ is an important representation of your running fitness – you should track it as part of your training

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

Questions?
📖 Getting Started

For more information on intensity domains and the phase transition, see Burnley, M., (2020) Exercise intensity domains and phase transitions: the power-duration relationship

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫
What is Threshold Power?
Identifying your Threshold Power
Using Threshold Power
Threshold Power vs VO2max
What’s the best way to calculate Threshold Power?

How do I start Running with Power?

A runner 'Running with Power'
A runner 'Running with Power'

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐈 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫?

I’m glad you asked!

Running power provides numbers that represent your effort.

To use those numbers, you’ll need equipment & apps, and to learn about power concepts.

𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

Power numbers come from a power meter.

If you have an Apple Watch or a recent running watch, your watch may include a power meter.

If not, the Stryd footpod is compatible with a wide number of watches.

𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐬

Apps work with your power numbers to:
🔹 Plan your runs – to build workouts with power targets
🔹 Execute your runs – to run within your planned targets
🔹 Review your runs – to review individual runs vs. targets, and to calculate multi-run metrics (like your training load)

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐬

You’ll need to learn about power concepts like: Threshold Power; Training Load; Training Balance; Running Effectiveness.

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐈 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞?

You have a few choices:
🔸 Books. ‘Running with Power – Getting Started’ contains all the above (and more)
🔸 Facebook groups. ‘Palladino Power Project’, ‘Stryd Community’ and ‘from1runner2another’ are great places to learn and ask questions
🔸 Research. Try the Palladino Article Library

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

Questions?
📗 Get Started

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫=𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭
What is power?
Does Power measure effort?
Is Power better than Pace, or HR?
Is Power just for elite runners?
How do I start Running with Power?

Is power just for elite runners?

A runner 'Running with Power'
A runner 'Running with Power'

𝐈𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬?

No.

In fact, non-elites may benefit more from power than elite runners.

Why?

Running power provides numbers that represent your effort – how hard you’re working when you’re running.

Elite runners have usually spent years training and competing.

Which means they’ve developed a very good feel for how hard they’re working when they run, and how long they can maintain race-winning efforts.

They have a well-developed 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 feel for their effort.

Power provides an 𝑜𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 measurement of effort that, while useful for elite runners wanting to fine-tune their running, may not provide an enormous benefit.

𝐒𝐨, 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐧-𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬?

⚡ Any runner can use power, but non-elite runners may get the biggest benefits.

Benefits like:
✅ maintaining a consistent effort over hills or in windy conditions
✅ using the instant feedback from power for precise interval training
✅ minimising injury risk by monitoring accumulated training load from completed workouts
✅ assessing whether drills or form adjustments are improving their ability to convert effort into speed
✅ using power to train your feel for when you’re running too hard or too easy

As one runner commented, “I honestly think it helps weaker/slower/newer runners even more than experienced fast runners. It’s like having a coach in a pod!”

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

Questions?
📗 Get Started

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫=𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭
What is power?
Does Power measure effort?
Is Power better than Pace, or HR?
Is Power just for elite runners?
How do I start Running with Power?

Is Power better than Pace or Heart Rate?

A runner 'Running with Power'
A runner 'Running with Power'

𝐈𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞?

It depends…

Running power provides second-by-second numbers that 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡 your effort – your running intensity.

By doing this, power solves issues associated with other measures of intensity:
🔸 Heart Rate (HR) ‘lags’ when you change effort levels, and it can ‘drift’ on longer runs.
🔸 Pace is affected by hilly or windy conditions, and it’s very easy to choose a goal time that isn’t based on your current fitness – leading to training injuries and bonking or ‘hitting the wall’.
🔸 Perceived effort can take years to develop – a luxury most recreational runners don’t have.

That said, there are a few things that are different about running with power:
🔹 It’s individual – your targets are based on what you can do right now.
🔹 It includes maximum effort runs – to track your current fitness.
🔹 You’ll need apps – to calculate consolidated metrics.
🔹 It’s new, and the concepts and supporting apps aren’t always easy to use.

𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫?

Like any new approach, there are some things that take some getting used to.

However …

⚡ After running and coaching with power since 2018, I think it’s the most effective way to train and race.

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

Questions?
📗 Get Started

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫=𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭
What is power?
Does Power measure effort?
Is Power better than Pace, or HR?
Is Power just for elite runners?
How do I start Running with Power?

Does running power really measure your effort?

A runner 'Running with Power'
A runner 'Running with Power'

𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭?

No.

Running power provides numbers that 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡 your effort.

𝐈𝐟 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭, 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 – 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐢𝐭?

No, as long as the numbers are repeatable and valid:
🔹 Repeatable? The same effort under the same conditions gives the same result.
🔹 Valid? The numbers correlate (align) with an existing ‘gold standard’.

The Stryd footpod has been independently validated (at least 10 times). It produces repeatable numbers that are highly correlated with oxygen consumption – a gold standard for measuring exercise energy consumption (effort).

Wrist-based power built into the latest running watches has not been independently validated (that I’m aware of). However, I ran my own (N=1) study during 2024/2025 comparing wrist-based power from Garmin, Coros and Apple to Stryd and found they produce repeatable numbers that, for most recreational runners, are correlated to the Stryd footpod.

𝐒𝐨 𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬?

Far from it.

⚡ Running power numbers CAN be used as a measure of how hard you’re working when you run.

And once you can measure your effort, that’s when the real magic begins.

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

Questions?
📗 Get Started

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫=𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭
What is power?
Does Power measure effort?
Is Power better than Pace, or HR?
Is Power just for elite runners?
How do I start Running with Power?

What is Power?

A running 'Running with Power'
A running 'Running with Power'

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫?

Power is a relatively new metric for runners.

It’s not running with a powerful stride or looking powerful when you run.

Instead, power is just another name for ‘effort’ – at least, that’s the simplest way I’ve found to describe it.

⚡ Second-by-second as you run, power provides numbers representing your effort.

Run harder, and the numbers increase; run easier, and they decrease … whether you’re running on the flat, over hills, or on a windy day.

Power shows how hard you’re working.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐭?

If you can already feel your effort when you run, why use power?

Because power provides numbers … and there’s magic in the numbers.

Once you can measure your effort, all sorts of things become possible – you can:
✅ assess your running fitness (and re-assess it) at any point in your training plan.
✅ ensure your training stays productive by setting self-adjusting workout targets based on your improving fitness, rather than on a hopeful goal time.
✅ reduce your risk of injury by using completed workouts to manage your training load.
✅ personalise your race-day targets to achieve the best result you’re capable of on the day.

𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬?

Your training and racing are 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑒𝑑.

They’re based on 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 fitness and capabilities.

The enable you to achieve your 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑏𝑒𝑠𝑡.

⚡ There really is magic in those numbers ⚡

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

Questions?
📗 Get Started

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫=𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭
What is power?
Does Power measure effort?
Is Power better than Pace, or HR?
Is Power just for elite runners?
How do I start Running with Power?