tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915222980782433094.post4031572179503706168..comments2024-03-15T03:34:26.390-07:00Comments on Alan Couzens: Periodization vs. The Basic WeekAlan Couzenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07123240819644335101noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915222980782433094.post-1362626578906259732008-12-23T15:10:00.000-08:002008-12-23T15:10:00.000-08:00I wasn't that tired :-) Your point on insurance is...I wasn't <I>that</I> tired :-) <BR/><BR/>Your point on insurance is a good one and definitely worth adherence when the athlete throws down a week bigger than 'the norm'.<BR/><BR/>As a coach, I'm finding some advantage in knowing what an athlete's 'norm' (long term load capacity) is. Often if athletes know thay have a rest week in the works, they are tempted to really 'hit' 1 or 2 weeks. If I tell my athletes not to expect a rest week for a couple of months, they seem to be a little more cautious when it comes to exceeding the mean. This doesn't mean that I won't throw a multi-day recovery break in there if needed, but sometimes the threat of no rest is enough :-)<BR/><BR/>Good stuff.<BR/><BR/>ACAlan Couzenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07123240819644335101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915222980782433094.post-62820844797039869942008-12-23T12:34:00.000-08:002008-12-23T12:34:00.000-08:00REST WEEKS -- interesting what you write. A numbe...REST WEEKS -- interesting what you write. A number of coaches that I have worked with use that technique -- rest when you need to. <BR/><BR/>One risk is that highly motivated athletes in impact sports have the capacity to break something (biomechanical failure) prior to physiological give out. <BR/><BR/>As well, if we get unlucky then the athlete can totally nuke themselves and write off weeks/months/years. So while recovery weeks might not be strictly required by the model, I view them as a form of insurance. <BR/><BR/>As well, it is only the genetic freaks that have the capability to survive, say, an olympic level Aussie swim program -- so there is survivor bias in the data. <BR/><BR/>Good stuff, <BR/>gGordo Byrnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03794373462790192089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915222980782433094.post-4068980452024216842008-12-04T18:00:00.000-08:002008-12-04T18:00:00.000-08:00Thanks CV!Right back at ya. Your last blog piece w...Thanks CV!<BR/><BR/>Right back at ya. <BR/><BR/>Your last blog piece was really interesting to put your philosophies together into a "rubber meets the road" program. <BR/><BR/><BR/>Best regards,<BR/><BR/>ACAlan Couzenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07123240819644335101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915222980782433094.post-28255175895438669242008-12-04T17:54:00.000-08:002008-12-04T17:54:00.000-08:00Hey Brandon,I haven't played around with the first...Hey Brandon,<BR/><BR/>I haven't played around with the first format you suggested, although, I was a little surprised at what the model suggested regarding structure of the macrocycle. Backs up traditional swim/run formats with peak load early-mid cycle. <BR/><BR/>Regarding your second question, significantly backs up hard-easy training with a 7-10% difference vs. flat loading. <BR/><BR/>I'll probably write some more blog pieces on optimizing the microcycle and the macrocycle.<BR/><BR/>Best regards,<BR/><BR/>ACAlan Couzenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07123240819644335101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915222980782433094.post-36700727855884086592008-12-04T16:31:00.000-08:002008-12-04T16:31:00.000-08:00Any blog that starts out with a quote from Derek Z...Any blog that starts out with a quote from Derek Zoolander is alright by me!<BR/><BR/>AC, I feel as though I should have to pay to read your blog, so useful is its content. Don't get any ideas now though.<BR/><BR/>-CVChuckie Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738989108681024384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7915222980782433094.post-43866347479679238892008-12-04T15:07:00.000-08:002008-12-04T15:07:00.000-08:00Alan,Those %age differences are similar to some th...Alan,<BR/>Those %age differences are similar to some that are in one of the Swimming Even Faster books.<BR/><BR/>To ask another question. Do you have to pick one or the other for the working athlete or the pro/flex-time age grouper?<BR/><BR/>In other words, how would the model differ if a periodized phase was preceeded by a basic week phase?<BR/><BR/>What would be the implications of periodizing the workouts and the intensity within the basic week structure? Or is that what the periodized model with various TSS/day values shows?-Brandonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17714430665391991075noreply@blogger.com