Specialist training platform TrainerRoad has introduced Masters Plans, which are targeted at older athletes and those looking to dial down training intensity.
Master training plans are available in the training plan section on trainerroad.com and in the platform’s apps. They are also available in Plan Builder.
With a focus on cycling, Masters Plans are not available for triathlon at this time. Masters Plans are limited to two days of intensity per week, and each cycling training plan on TrainerRoad now has a Masters Plan version.
TrainerRoad notes that… ‘Masters cycling is bike racing organized by age group, generally open to athletes 35 years or older. Because most masters athletes have day jobs, families, and external obligations, masters races tend to be safer and less chaotic than category-based racing.’
Reportedly a long-requested feature from the TrainerRoad community, the new plans feature only two intense days per week, with the rest of the plan being endurance riding.
By default, the intense days are Tuesday and Saturday, but riders can switch that around in Plan Builder as required.
TrainerRoad recommends the Masters Plans for older athletes or anyone else who might have poor recovery…. ‘This could be new parents, shift workers, athletes with high-stress jobs, or athletes with sleep issues.’
To get started, those already on a plan will receive a popup notice at the beginning of the next training phase asking if they would like to switch to Masters Plans.
Alternatively, riders can switch a current phase on the TrainerRoad calendar to a masters version. This can be done by clicking the phase name in the upper right corner, then selecting the appropriate masters plan block in the dropdown.
TrainerRoad riders are told to be careful when doing this – due to Base Plans changing from 6 to 4 weeks in length, a rider could potentially cut off a recovery week.
For Masters Plans, TrainerRoad has renamed ‘Sweet Spot Base’ to ‘General Base’. It was felt that Sweet Spot Base wasn’t descriptive of what was encompassed in the plan, and could lead to confusion.
TrainerRoad has also changed the work-to-recovery ratio from 5:1 to 3:1. This means those on a Masters Plan get a recovery week every fourth week in the General Base plan.
Sunday rides in both Masters Plans and normal plans have switched from sweet spot rides to endurance rides. This gives athletes less intensity and the opportunity to extend the duration of their Sunday aerobic ride if they’d like.
