Z3 Cooldown, what is the point?

General
1

Hello,
This is the first time I’ve seen cool-downs starting with Z3 (when there’s Z2 before). What’s the point of this, please? I find it a bit hard after a HIIT session to go back to Z3 for 5-6 minutes when it’s supposed to be the “cool-down.”
Thanks

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2

I have the same problem, and what I do is in whatever trainer software I’m using I adjust the intensity percentage down until it matches the recovery target. Would be nice not to have to do that though

3

Could you please share screenshots of the workout details from your athletica training calendar showing prescription?

5

I mean, all my bike workouts with CD are like that (but not my running workouts)

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6

Just turn off ERG mode for warmup and cool down. Listen to your body and pedal at whatever power best gets your HR up or helps it come down.

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7

IF you click on that Star - you can see the workout builder. I just want to see that it is not set to zone 3 there. Also let me know what plan and week you are in.

8

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9

I could, but it should be easy to calibrate a cooldown properly, no ?

10

It’s not anything Athletica is doing that’s causing the ramp. It’s whatever platform you’re using that is interpreting a “cool down between x watts and y watts” as a ramp down from x to y. If you look in the .zwo file you’ll see what I mean. Just shut off ERG. Do the whole workout without ERG. It’s better that way.

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11

The instruction is to move from zone 2 to zone 1, so I think that’s where it comes from.
My issue is that it starts at the top of zone 2, not cool for a cooldown

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12

If you find it is hard to cool down starting from top of zone 2:

  1. evaluate whether your zones are set a little too high
  2. use common sense and start cooling down a little lower power target. It is ok to deviate from the plan a little bit.

Prescription is correct there: it should cool down from zone 2 to zone 1.

Happy training,
MJ

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