Supertraining

"W.G. 'Bill' Johnson" wrote:
>
> I can see again whenever I doubt that it can be done. Wottle peaked at
> just the right moment, but based on my experience, I can't explain how
> or why? He was racing against the best in the world, why couldn't they
> do what he did?

I posted this info here on the ST forum before and was very surprised that it 
generated no 
comments at all.  FWIW, here it is again, but this time I'll include a 
quotation along with the 
link:

"Knowledge of the relationship between the volume and intensity of training on 
the one 
hand and the resulting improvements in performance on the other is obviously 
critical 
when attempting to design the optimal training program, i.e., one that 
maximizes an 
individual's performance ability at the time of key events while also avoiding 
illness, 
injury, or overtraining. To understand this relationship, most coaches and 
athletes rely 
upon some combination of tradition (i.e., knowing what has worked previously 
for others), 
empiricism (i.e., trial-and-error experimentation), and the application of 
basic training 
principles (e.g., the overload principle). In a number of scientific studies, 
however, this 
relationship has been investigated in a more direct, quantitative manner (see 
Bibliography). These studies have used a wide variety of mathematical 
approaches, ranging 
from simple linear regression to complex neural networking. By far the most 
common 
approach, however, has been to use what is typically referred to as the 
impulse-response 
model. First proposed by Banister et al. in 1975, this model, and/or variations 
thereof, has 
been repeatedly shown to accurately predict training-induced changes in 
performance 
(both positive and negative) in a wide variety of endurance and non-endurance 
sports (see 
below). The impulse-response model has therefore been successfully used to 
design 
theoretically-ideal training programs, optimize tapering regimens, evaluate the 
effects (or 
lack thereof) of cross-training in triathletes, etc. As will be discussed, 
however, this model 
also has a number of inherent limitations, which tend to limit its usefulness 
outside of a 
laboratory setting. The purpose of the present article is therefore to describe 
a somewhat 
simpler approach, termed the Performance Manager, that was developed by the 
present 
author, and in particular to explain the etiology of this idea in the context 
of the impulse-
response model."

Full article is at this URL:

http://www.cyclingpeakssoftware.com/power411/performancemanagerscience.asp

The definitions for the various abbreviations such as TSS and IF are on this 
page:

http://www.cyclingpeakssoftware.com/power411/defined.asp

For those interested in applying these concepts to runners, there's at least one
person working on it:

http://www.physfarm.com/newsite1/index.php?
option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=33

(The URL probably has to be copied and pasted due to the way the yahoo groups 
software 
works.)

With regard to the author of the articles found at the first two URLs (Andrew 
Coggan, 
Ph.D.), those who are curious/skeptical about his credentials may find it worth 
searching a 
database like PubMed for the author "coggan ar".  For those whose skepticism is 
piqued by 
the fact that those articles are found on a web site dedicated to selling a 
product, consider 
this:  he published all of that info, free, on at least one internet chat forum 
before the 
product hit the market.  All that, and he's been on the podium at USCF Masters' 
Nats at 
least once, so he doesn't just "talk the talk."

Regards,

John Stevens
Ardmore, PA