Hi everyone,
I’ve been cycling for years, mostly for fun and without any structured plan. However, this winter I decided to take things more seriously and started training with a goal in mind. I just finished a short cycling plan on TrainerRoad (I didn’t realize you could create longer plans at first!) and am about to start a new 16-week plan focused on increasing my FTP.
My main objective is to build a strong FTP for summer so I can join local social rides confidently without worrying about being dropped.
That said, I’d also like to start incorporating some running and swimming into my training—not as a main focus but as something fun to do on the side and to eventually set the foundation for a triathlon (though I don’t have a specific timeline or event in mind yet).
I did look at the triathlon plans on TrainerRoad, but they seem to prioritize running and swimming too much for my current goal, which is still primarily cycling-focused.
So here’s my plan:
- Stick to the TrainerRoad cycling plan for my main training.
- Add in a couple of basic running and swimming workouts during the week (nothing too intense).
- Use intervals.icu to monitor metrics like Form and ACWR to ensure I’m not overtraining.
My questions:
- Will this approach work for balancing cycling, running, and swimming without sacrificing my primary goal of increasing FTP?
- I’ve read that training load should increase by about 10% week to week (except during recovery weeks). Should I apply this to the intensity/volume of my running and swimming sessions, or just let the cycling plan’s TSS drive the progression?
I realize this might be a lot to unpack, and I’m open to hiring a coach for a few sessions if that’s the best way to get on track. Any advice or resources would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!