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Workout Load

Former Member
Former Member over 5 years ago

Hiking/Rowing/walking - are these activities included in Workout Load. I really hope so as hiking is my nr 1 Activity. 

It seems to me only cykling and running is included, wich i also do. Maybe i need to chose "run" as Activity  when i walk/run in the woods instead of hiking?

  • 0 over 5 years ago

    Yes they are. You do however need to generate an initial VO2Max datapoint by Running (or Cycling with a power meter). Once it has this initial datapoint, it will use it to calculate TL for all other activities. You should use the appropriate activity for hiking.

    If it has no other VO2Max figures, I THINK it can generate VO2Max from Walking also.

  • 0 over 5 years ago

    If you start an activity, you should get a training load for all of those activities. However, in my experience the "training load" is pretty off: I've done the same hikes on different days and see vastly different "loads" for them. I tried logging multiple activities for up the mountain and down the mountain but will still come up with strange things like: up day 1 = 92, down day 1 = 88 down, day 2 up = 60, down day 2 = 141.

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to mcalista

    As I understand it, it takes two 10+ minute sessions of either running or cycling to get a baseline VO2Max and/or to adjust VO2Max,and walking wont do anything. 

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to SoLongAndThanksForAllTheFish

    Ok, maybe running is the best way to find the correct vo2max. I got 42 and it has not moved in a month, even With New pb 5k, cykling faster. I would think improvements would change the vo2max, but it seems thats not the case. Its based on HR during these activities?

  • 0 over 5 years ago

    Yes, all activities recorded with heart rate monitoring active are incorporated into Training Load / Load Focus data and should also produce Aerobic and Anaerobic Training Effect scores and a Primary Benefit Label (Base, Threshold, Anaerobic, etc). 

    @mcalista is a bit mistaken with the need for an initial VO2max data point for Training Load monitoring. That isn't a requirement, but it DOES help dial in the Low/Optimal/High ranges for you. Without that VO2max the analytics engine is left only with your load accumulation data from which it gathers some idea of what sort training loads you are able to tolerate. It works, but if your watch knows your current fitness level (VO2max) it works better. 

    The problem, however, with relatively low-intensity activities like Hiking and Walking is that they generate very little stress on your cardiorespiratory system. This means that they produce small loads even when performed for long periods. 

    A hard 20 minute run could easily produce a higher TL than a 2 hour walk. That said, recording those walks and hikes is a great way to fill up the Low-Intensity Aerobic bar on your Load Focus screen, which helps contextualize everything else you do. 

    Hope that helped. 

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to HermanB

    Thanks. Will V02max take inndoor rowing into account or is it only running that changes this?

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to Former Member

    Vo2max is not currently calculated during rowing activities - but they will count towards your Training Load. Personally, for rowing, I would highly recommend wearing a chest belt type monitor, because the constant grip/pull/release pattern of rowing seriously challenges the ability of optical wrist worn sensors to track HR effectively. 

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to HermanB

    Thanks. I had questions on the calculation, should the calculation normally only up the VO2max one point every 2 or so 10+ minute runs? I had a VO2max 30 appear on my new watch without any real training at the time so I assume it grabbed a walk and rated it? Since then it stubbornly will only up the VO2max by one point every 2 runs, and even though I haven't really improved much, it has risen from 30-41 and is still keeping this pattern. Is there a way to do an activity and get it to rate it independently so you can see where you are, or do you have to keep doing a couple activities per point until it gets to what its really observing? I assume its rating current activity, and if higher than current VO2max it adds one point, even if current activity calc is way higher than one point over..is this approximately what it does?

    Someone had suggested if you run longer it would up better or more, is this true? 

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to tess

    Yes I should have said low intensity walking wont do anything. But I've found that its also not true that it has to be high intensity since somehow mine set an inital VO2max when I hadn't really done anything remotely stressing myself and Ive been waiting for it to rank up point by point over months to get to a more realistic VO2max. (I'm guessing hr sensor was off somehow and recording high 70%+ hr on a slow walk with my elderly dog).