TrainingPeaks Annual Training Plan (ATP) vs. Pre-Built Training Plans
29 August 2008
When first signing up for a new TrainingPeaks account, there are many different options and features available. One of the most important choices to make is deciding which training plan to use, and that choice depends on your goals as an athlete. There are two main categories of training plans available in TrainingPeaks: the pre-built training plans designed by various expert coaches, and the Annual Training Plan, or ATP Wizard, a program based on Joe Friel’s Training Bible books. While both options provide excellent solutions for athletes, they are completely separate concepts based on different overall goals.
The ATP Wizard is a 5-step application available to members of TrainingPeaks which helps you build an entire year’s worth of training and racing based on Joe Friel’s Training methods as described within his “Training Bible” series of books. This is where the Annual Training Plan fits in. Once you go through the steps, the system will suggest workouts for you to do each week throughout the entire year. The program includes a built-in recovery week every three or four weeks to optimize your progress and prevent over-training and fatigue. Although the ATP Wizard is currently only available in the classic version of TrainingPeaks, it will be coming soon to TrainingPeaks Version 3.0 Beta. For more info on the ATP Wizard, go to: ATP Wizard.
Pre-Built Training Plans, on the other hand, are designed to help you prepare for a single event and are usually between 12-18 weeks in length. When you purchase a plan, the program asks you when you want your plan to start or finish and then it injects the proper workouts into your Daily Log and Calendar pages. Subscribers to the full Training Peaks service receive a discount on all of the Training Plans we offer. Those who purchase training plans without a subscription to a TrainingPeaks account can still follow the plan, but they must upgrade to the full subscription to take advantage of our advanced features like Nutrition Tracking, Uploads from training devices (like Heart Rate Monitors, GPS Systems and Power Meters), Outlook calendar synching, Message Board use, etc. These two links often answer a lot of questions about Pre-Built Training Plans: http://www.trainingpeaks.com/trainingplans/trainingplanshowtheywork.asp or Pre-Built Training Plans.
Whatever your athletic goals may be, TrainingPeaks has a solution that will help you achieve your goals faster. Happy training!
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