Since the training plans are pretty generic in terms of race types, are there suggestions for incorporating specific workouts that better match the type of races I’m doing? Gravel racing with long sustained climbs and super steep punchy single track climbs doesn’t really fit into either an XC MTB or All Day Road race in my mind…
Not sure I entirely agree but happy to be proven otherwise. I’m assuming you’ve explored the Workout Wizard options @mtnphotog ? Your thoughts @SimpleEnduranceCoach ?
Hi @mtnphotog, I generally use the all day road race for my gravel events and those of my athletes. Athletica uses the time I have to give me a variety of workouts, including long rides. I do change up the Athletica workouts sometimes, especially adding in longer aerobic endurance days when I have the time. In the Build phase, I get threshold workouts to mimic the long climbs, strength endurance for bigger gear work on the tough gravel, and the 30/30s to hit the hills.
So I’d try the All Around Single Day Event for your gravel races.
Let me know if that helps and if you have more questions.
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Okay, thanks. So you would train your athletes doing a Gran Fondo with 1500 feet of climbing the same way you would train someone doing a 55 mile 6,800 foot of climbing with a couple of 7 mile plus climbs?
Yes - not too differently in fact. I found this strange also when I entered the New Zealand Olympic Triathlon program. I asked the same question to the experience Olympic coaches. “So you would train your athletes doing Ironman the same way you would someone doing an Olympic distance triathlon?”. The reply: “not too differently in fact”.
Why?
Because from an engine building standpoint the principles are the same. You’re aiming to optimize or lift the capacity of the aerobic energy system for either your Gran Fondo or Gravel race. Athletica (built of course on the HIIT Science principles) delivers consistent blends of sessions that work towards the race specific demands of both using
- Low cadence strength endurance session (arguably more specific to the Gravel ride - emphasize)
- Short interval VO2max sessions (enhance cardiac output and fatigue resistance of larger motor units)
- Race pace efforts (race specific for both; simulates 7 mile climb)
- Aerobic development (fat burning and fatigue resistance)
The only key tweak I would do personally is, like with the XCO MTB, ensure you have race specific terrain sessions if you can get them. I.e., for your long rides, hit some gravel with hills if you have it; for SE session, again try to do these on gravel. Otherwise, for me, you have all the pieces of the puzzle to develop your capacity. But please let me know if you feel something is missing.
@SimpleEnduranceCoach we should probably work on a Gravel specific plan as the popularity grows.
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That’s exactly how I would handle it as well. Make sure you get the some climbing in during some of the long rides. For example, several of my athletes and I are training for gravel nationals in the states in September. We’re preparing with a combination of 30/30s, longer threshold intervals, tempo strength endurance rides, and lots of long aerobic endurance.
And yes, @Prof, we could use a gravel specific program. The only thing I’d change is getting some longer miles with some tempo work. But that is dependent on the athlete’s available time.
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Awesome. Thanks for the explanation! Based on your explanation, you could probably save yourself some grief just by duplicating the plans and giving them different names that address peoples different goals just because it gives us the feeling that we are following a plan designed for what we are doing…. 
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