Help me understand Periodization

Frequency is how many times a week you actually workout. That might be 1 workout per day or whatever. Volume is how much time you actually put in with all the workouts combined. Could also be seen as miles or meters in the pool. Hope that helps?

Imagine you were studying for a midterm exam. You obviously will not study the most hours from the get go..your hours will most likely go from a minimum and slowly build until you reach a peak (in which you will take the exam) and reduce thereafter.

This article is all in reference to weightlifting, but I think it's pretty clear and easy to translate to tris: www.stumptuous.com/periodization.html. (BTW, this whole site http://www.stumptuous.com/weights.html is just awesome for weight lifting stuff).

Thanks everyone, I get it now.

the key to the whole thing is "Periodization" breaking the training year up into manageable chunks with set goals.

Now you know what frequency, volume and intensity are you are in a position to put together a plan where you start off putting a "base" together, the first month of training is usually low intensity, moderate frequency, low to moderate volume to get you back into the swing of working and helping you develop your aerobic capacity and strengthen joints and connective tissue.

then onto base2 or what is a natural progression in volume and frequency with some increase in intensity in key areas like weaknesses or sport specific strength training. etc. etc.

and so on throughout the rest of the plan.


I would reccommend looking at the triathletes training bible (if you haven't already) for more information....


hope this helps

regards kevin