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TrainingPeaks Setup, Use, and Transition Guide

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Helpful links, tips, and guidance on getting set up in TrainingPeaks (click to jump to each section):

 

NEW/UPDATED FAQ

GENERAL SETUP

 

 

DOWNLOAD THE TRAININGPEAKS APP

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CONNECT YOUR DEVICES AND SERVICES

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LINK VELOCITY TO TRAININGPEAKS

  • Open Velocity (app.vqvelocity.com/home or open the app on an iPad)
  • Click on your name on the top right corner and select “Connect Apps”
  • Click the Connect button next to TrainingPeaks and follow the prompts

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ESTABLISH YOUR THRESHOLDS/ZONES

  • Navigate to Settings > Zones (NOTE: This must be done on a desktop/browser, NOT in the app)
  • Enter your threshold values in the Threshold Values section of Run Heart Rate (you may need to click Add Activity > Run if you don't see this)
  • In the Auto Calculation area:
    • Select Lactate Threshold for "Choose Type" drop-down
    • Select PPF Heart Rate Zones for the "Choose Method" drop-down
    • Click CALCULATE to get your zones
  • Repeat for: 
    • Bike Power
    • Bike HR
    • Run Pace
    • Run Power (100% optional -- we do not build runs around power)
    • Note: we do not use specific zones for swimming.
  • Click Save & Close at the bottom of the window

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MANAGE YOUR ALERTS AND NOTIFICATIONS

TrainingPeaks sends a variety of email/mobile app notifications to you. If you'd like to manage what notifications you receive, click here. 

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CONFIGURE FUELIN

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UNDERSTANDING TSS, CTL, and ATL SCORES IN TRAININGPEAKS

You will see several build-in metrics in TrainingPeaks including TSS, CTL, and ATL. To be honest: if we could turn these off, we could. You do not need to focus or leverage these metrics to be successful in our program. A bit of additional context:

  • The prescribed TSS will not be accurate for a given workout because of the way we program our sessions to incorporate variations (time-rich/time-starved, etc).
  • We do not develop any individual session around TSS, CTL or ATL. Our workout structure and progressions are designed independent of these metrics. Therefore, you should not be basing your training progress around these values.
  • These metrics do not take into account important elements of training as a time-starved athlete, and can be misleading or distracting for those looking to integrate sport into life in a sustainable way.

Our recommendation is that you approach training through a broader lens, focusing first on organizing your week leveraging the Sunday Special and adopting the key basics habits that support health and training effectiveness. Trust in the Purple Patch methodology, and trust in your own instinctive assessment of effort. If you aim to execute the intent of the session as prescribed -- rather than chasing a specific number -- you will get the training stimulus you need from the program, and will make progress.

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WHAT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT? WHAT WILL BE THE SAME?

While the interface is slightly different, most core components will be very familiar with you:

  • You can access training from web or mobile
  • Your account settings will be in the top corner of the platform, where you can access settings and more
  • Adding your own workouts and/or events to your calendar is nearly identical: hover over the race date, then click the + button and select select the desired workout type or event.
  • Squad athletes:
    • You will have access to an optional workout library and race build library that they can drag-and-drop right into their training calendar. Builds will behave the same way:
      • You will drag-and-drop the build onto the desired START date (e.g. if it is a 7-week build, you'll drop it 7 Mondays before your race date)
      • Baseline will automatically stop loading the first day of your build, and automatically pick up at the end of your build.
    • Baseline will still load at least 12 days ahead on a rolling basis. Due to slight differences with TrainingPeaks in how Baseline sessions are added to your account, this will range from 12-16 days ahead.
    • Structured run power files will function slightly differently in TrainingPeaks:
      • You will no longer see the "HIT LAP TO START" interval.
      • All intervals will automatically advance.
      • Power files are built by default to the time-rich version. If you prefer to shorten to the time-starved version, simply hit LAP to move to the next interval. You'll also see that in some cases, we have simplified the powerfile to provide flexibility in how you execute the workout. For example, if we've scheduled a 30-minute run where you can incorporate 6x30sec strides somewhere in the session, we will not program the strides in as their own intervals. This allows you to decide when and where to add that in, based on how you're feeling and the terrain you're on.
  • If you delete all the sessions from a date that has loaded, TrainingPeaks will NOT automatically replace the default sessions at midnight like Today's Plan did. If you accidentally delete a session and want it back, just email us at info@purplepatchfitness.com and we'll replace it for you!

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WHAT TO DO IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A COACH ATTACHED TO YOUR TRAININGPEAKS ACCOUNT

  • BEFORE Monday, February 19:
    • Login to your TrainingPeaks account
    • Navigate to Settings > Coaches by clicking your name on the top right corner
    • Locate your current coach under Coaches and click the REMOVE button
  • Purple Patch needs to be set as your main coach for proper functionality. Once we generate your account on February 19, you can add your other coach back as a Shared Coach:
    • Wait until Purple Patch is set as your current coach
    • Return to Settings > Coaches
    • Enter your alternate coach/resource’s email in the Shared Coaches field and click ADD
    • Once your other coach accepts the share request, both training plans will appear in your calendar

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WHAT TO DO IF YOUR TRAININGPEAKS ACCOUNT IS A COACH ACCOUNT

We cannot link to coach accounts. If you have a Coach account under the same email address used for Purple Patch, we will plan to generate a separate athlete account under that email address. You do NOT need to take any action here.

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TRAININGPEAKS USER GUIDE

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HOW TO LINK/UNLINK FILES

  • Did your Garmin accidentally upload to the wrong workout? Or didn't get paired with the right session? No problem!
    • Unlink a session: Click the three dots in the top right corner of a workout > select Unpair (you’ll get a prompt confirming you want to unpair)
    • Link a file to a prescribed workout: Click on the completed workout file in the training calendar and drag onto the desired prescribed session (might take a few seconds – you’ll get a prompt confirming you want to pair)

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TURN COMPLETED WORKOUTS GREEN (OR HIDE COMPLIANCE COLORS ENTIRELY)

By default, a workout will turn GREEN if the synced file is within 80% of the prescribed duration. However you might complete a workout in a way that doesn't fall within that 80% range (for example some time-starved options, and many outdoor weekend rides, will fall outside this range). In these cases your workouts will turn yellow or red, which we know can be frustrating!

  • To make a workout GREEN, simply click into the workout and adjust the planned DURATION so it matches the time you actually did it. Then SAVE the workout changes.
  • Alternatively, athletes can turn compliance colors OFF completely (Settings > Layout > Calendar > Compliance) so that there is no red/yellow/green at all

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MARK A WORKOUT AS COMPLETE WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A SYNCED FILE

Forget your watch or don't use one? You can still easily mark workouts as complete:

  • Mobile app: Open the workout click the “Completed as Planned” button
  • Desktop/browser: Open the workout, put a time in the COMPLETED DURATION field and click save

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TRACK CONSUMABLES

If you want to add equipment into your TrainingPeaks account to track mileage or wear, go to Settings > Equipment and add whatever you need. Then when you complete a workout you can assign specific equipment to that session, or go back into Settings > Equipment to see total mileage/time.

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RESTORE A DELETED SESSION OR DEFAULT BASELINE STRUCTURE

If you've moved workouts around or deleted them and want to go back to the original structure, just email us at info@purplepatchfitness.com and we will replace them for you! 

(Unlike Today's Plan, if you remove all workouts from a day in your calendar, the defaults will NOT reload at midnight.)

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PUSH WORKOUTS TO YOUR CALENDAR

To sync workouts to your Google, Outlook, or iCal calendar, navigate to Settings > Calendar and then copy the .ics link into the settings of your calendar program. Instructions are also here!

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PRINTING WORKOUTS

To print a session, you can open a workout and click the hamburger menu (three lines) in the top right corner, then select "Print" (you can also right-click in the text of the workout and select "Print" from the menu there). The formatting of this may not be ideal for printing however. If you prefer a more compact format for the text of the workout, we recommend pasting the workout text into a word or Google doc, or else printing the emailed version of the workout, as this tends to be a little cleaner!

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