Better TRIMP for Interval Training and Swimming

[Patsch]

Hi,

I’m writing to suggest a potential improvement to the current training load calculation for swimming activities.

Most swimmers train primarily in interval session, which the current method often underestimates. A steady state swim will have a far higher load even though the sRPE is lower. Interval workouts, with their high-intensity burst and recovery periods, are underestimated because the single mean HR fails to capture these variations.

A promising approach would be the modified TRIMP method known as TRIMPc. This method calculates the training load by considering each exercise and recovery interval separately, weighing them by their duration and heart-rate derived intensity. This approach seems to have a stronger correlation with sRPE and seems to be better for interval training.

I believe that implementing TRIMPc at least for swim workouts (or even HIIT workouts) could provide a bit more accurate way of estimating load.
This would probably help make intervals.icu more viable for swim coaches (like me).

Since intervals.icu already accurately identifies the intervals, integrating TRIMPc should be possible. Maybe TRIMPc could be added to the current HR Training Load methods.

Thank you, and please let me know if this or a similar approach has already been tried.

Patsch

link to the study:
Training load quantification in elite swimmers using a modified version of the training impulse method by Amador Garcia Ramos
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262099043_Training_load_quantification_in_elite_swimmers_using_a_modified_version_of_the_training_impulse_method

[Patsch]

I added a custom activity field, if anyone wants to try it.

[Sonntex]

Hey again. Where do i find your custom activity field? (TRIMPc)? I see what you mean about the average HR being meaningless when it coumts the rest betweens intervals too. Need to exclude rests and only have the calculation done on actual sets

[Patsch]

Hi, glad somebody is interested.
To use go to the “custom” activity fields (left of the camera icon) in your last swim and search for one of those two:

TRIMPc (cumulative) adds a field on top, that shows you the load number calculated by this method.
TRIMPc override, overrides your normal load. You won’t have the normal TRIMP anymore, and it will show in your graphs too.

! Carefull: The calculated numbers of TRIMPc are usually higher. This means if you are a triathlete or someone that does mutliple sports, use it for everything or have an inconsistent chart.

Other things to be aware of. You need to have auto-intervals activated with your watch.
Your intervals activity should look like this:

If you do not have the intervals mapped out like this, it will just be like the normal TRIMP

Please do not exclude the rest intervals. Heartrate spikes after some time, and in some training methods (like RST) they are incredibly important for the calculation.

Hope this helps.

(One last thing for actual competitive swimmers. Ask your coach if it is okay for him if you use a watch. On top of that always hit the wall first, then stop. The quantificaton of you training should NEVER be more important then the training.)