how to gauge workload intensity, and fitness changes: as it now is, in the ST log, there are two methods of gauging intensity: you tell the training log what your intensity is; and you log in your HR. but there is no method for determining absolute intensity via logging your HR, because we have no input for ave HR x amplitude of HR during the curve of the workout.
when we start accepting file uploads, we’ll have that ability, plus the ability (ideally) of looking at addn metrics that are intensity-specific: power; speed; total elevation gained; grade of elevation; and then one can also add weather to the mix, if you consider heat and humidity accretive to intensity.
algorithms and schemes to parse the data and come up with an intensity gauge will come later (except for our “aerobic points” accumulator which we offer now).
my imminent goal is to crack the nut of data input. once i get the data in there, i can determine later what are the best ways to use it; or, the athlete and his coach can determine for themselves how to use it.
but it’s the social aspect of the training log that’s of most interest to me. here’s an example: we have a 90ish mile loop here in the L.A. area, it’s all in the mountains, about 11,000 vertical feet of climbing, and the compound here is right on the loop. i envision a virtual almost-century around this loop, on a particular day, maybe in a couple of months, where a bunch of slowtwitchers ride the loop, starting wherever on the loop is proximate to them. so, there will be a bunch of us riding, but we’re all starting/stopping at a different point, and going in both directions, depending on what suits each person. i think it might be fun for everyone to upload their GPS files, like a digital race report. what would we do with the data? i don’t know. among other things, perhaps it might be fun to see what the min and max distance and altitude gains are, so we can see whose GPSs are recording the data “correctly” and whose units are outliers.
in general, tho, our log is always going to trend toward furthering one notion: the virtual enclave. personally, i think what a lot of athletes are missing in their training are partners. for example, we had bjorn and jordan up here for a couple of weeks at the same time. i think they did maybe one swim together. that was it! now, me, i think that was an opportunity missed. but each had a coach, and each coach had workouts for these guys, and both coaches were either very disciplined; or just plain silly by not seeing the opportunity that each athlete had to use each other to take both to a higher place.
since most people are limited as to how they can change their “enclave paradigm” i’d like the training log to help them. if i go out and ride the angeles crest loop by myself, then it’s just me. but if i know i’m one of 50 people riding it that day – even if we’re all riding alone – we’ll all be out on the loop, and we’ll all compare our stories. i’m more likely to go out and ride the loop that day; and to ride it with vigor. our training log will always consider the virtual enclave its #1 mission. that’s why “challenges” were an early priority for us.
“routes” are important to us also, and i’d like to create a library of favorites, so that people can incorporate “hidden treasures” into their own list of routes. if we can get people to borrow routes, instead of everyone creating identical routes over and over, then we can generate a list of best performances on those routes. all, of course, is designed to aggregate people into a virtual enclave.
to that end, it’s always going to be a goal to generate a training log that’s as inclusive as possible. so, when we create a client side app that uptakes data from devices, it ought to be one that handshakes with as many devices as possible. hence the poll you see on side of the forum right now. i’d like to know how tough this is going to be; whether that app needs to absorb data from both suunto and garmin, for example, and how hard or easy that’s going to be to build.