Got some good feedback on yesterday’s post concerning my Performance Management Chart in WKO+. I think there was some misunderstanding about my discombobulation. Today I’ll show an updated map and explain further about yesterday’s piece.
One comment I received was from Boyd Johnson. He is one of our local pros with the DLP team as well as a Total Cyclist coach. He has given me advice in the past and when I Twittered about needing some advice, I kind of figured Boyd would come through for me.
Modified Performance Management Chart
He instructed me to change some of the settings on the chart. First, I needed to get more time so I could get a better feel for how I’ve progressed. What I was looking at yesterday was not enough to build an accurate trend. Second, he told me to change the ATL and CTL starting values to 30 each. Hmmmm, I figured out what ATL and CTL were yesterday (they are not airport codes), but what are the starting values for?
I wasn’t able to get back with Boyd for the answers so I dug around a little bit. Basically, what you are doing with the chart is tracking your fitness and your freshness – how in shape are you and how much work have you been doing training. These things are measured by numbers.
Of course, I didn’t start using WKO+ when I first started riding, so obviously the numbers I started with were not zeros. The performance chart allows you to “jump” into the system by adding starting values greater than 0. This will make a difference with the chart in the long run.
It did, as you can see, the chart is certainly trending upward with the CTL (fitness). I still need to work a little to understand the TSB and ATL – what the chart is telling me about them. As you can see, as my CTL trended upward the two other lines flip-flopped. I’ll let you know what I find out.
Now, as for the other comments and emails I received. Most were intended to encourage me. The recurring theme was, “Don’t get hung up on the numbers. Just listen to your body and enjoy the ride.”
That is some great advice. Only, the funny thing is my body was sending me the negative messages and my numbers were sending me more positive ones. If I was listening to my body right now, I’d hang up my spidey suit and not show up Thursday night. Looking at the numbers gives me some objective encouragement to counter my feelings.
The other thing is that for some of us, the numbers are half the fun. Don’t worry, anyone who would take a look at my training regimen would not think I am letting the numbers control my riding! However, it is fun to grab the information off the Garmin and see what my Quarq CinQo collected during the ride.
In the end, tomorrow evening will be the judge. It doesn’t matter what my numbers are if there are a bunch of guys faster than me. Also, heart does enter into it. You can train (and I use that term loosely for me) all you want, but it can all change when the competitive juices of an actual race start to flow.
I finished 11th during the last POA Cycling Summer Series race at Municipal Stadium. My goal is to better that for this attempt. Oh yeah, I’m also going to have fun! As much as I can in a criterium. I’ll let you know what my numbers are when I’m done. 
