𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭?
This is a common question for runners new to power and wanting to ensure an accurate Threshold Power.
𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫?
Any of the three most commonly used protocols.
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 protocols 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 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐬 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 erring on the side of over-training (and an increased risk of injury).
𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?
