Achieving a Training Load Balance

𝐀𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

Training Load Scores, calculated for each workout, represent each workout’s metabolic stress.

You can use these scores to model the shorter-term and longer-term impacts from each workout.

Combining these, you can obtain a Training Load Balance (TLB), indicating whether your training is ‘productive’.

Training Load Balance at also known as Training Stress Balance (TSB) or Running Stress Balance (RSB) but the word ‘Stress’ may be confusing, implying mental stress rather than physical or metabolic stress. Load (rather than Stress) helps remove potential confusion, and is the term used by Steve Palladino in his article library.

Training Load Balance is also known as ‘form’ in heartrate-based models.

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠

How does your TLB help ensure your training is productive?

Your TLB is the difference between the longer-term impacts and the shorter-term impacts (TLB = CTL – ATL):
A very positive balance indicates detraining or a lack of any meaningful training.
A positive balance may indicate tapering or a missed workout.
A negative balance indicates productive training – enough load to encourage adaptations, but not so much that there is a greater risk of injury or over-training.
A very negative balance may indicate over-training, with a greater risk of injury.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞?

You can use your TLB to monitor your training, but be aware that:
You need 80+ days of workout data for your TLB to be accurate (because of the way the model works)
You should track your scores and compare them to how you actually feel to build your experience of what your TLB represents (for you)

Your Training Load Balance is a useful and straightforward way to monitor whether your training is productive.

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

❓ Questions?
📖 Getting Started

For more information on Training Load Balance, see:
🔹 Running Training Load Metrics in the Palladino article library

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐨𝐚𝐝
⏩ What is Training Load?
⏩ Training Load – a two-sided coin!
⏩ Achieving a Training Load Balance
⏩ The danger of ramping up too quickly
⏩ Race-specific training