TSS

In the general surgery world, TSS = Trauma Severity Scoring. It is a method for quantitatively summarizing injury severity and helps predict outcome of trauma. Several scoring systems exists depending on the type of trauma: the Glascow Coma Scale, the Penetrating Abdominal Trauma Index, Sequential Organ Failure Score (the acronym is SOFA--I wonder organ fails with the inability extract one's butt from the couch). The 2 basic outcomes measured are death or survival.

When I heard that WKO+ had a way of measuring how much work was done during a bike ride called TSS, I had to chuckle. So was a 15 mile ride at zone 1 equivalent to getting a wet willy from your older brother? Was a 3 hour hilly hammerfest with the local Cat 2 roadies the same as getting run over by a bulldozer? Are the 2 basic outcomes death by IF that was too high or survival to train again tomorrow?

After some thought, I realize that the 2 TSS's were quite alike. Though the outcomes differ greatly in degree of gravity, both basically help to figure out just how much a person can take. I'm not surprised that the variables are similiar given the subject is a person under a given amount of stress. Obviously for both training and trauma, the person's physiologic age, state of health will determine how well they recover. Also, the type and amount of stress/injury also determines how well a person survives it and the length of recovery.

When looking at IM training plans, the varieties and philosophies are numerous. Many involve building a "base" with gradual increases in training volume at low intensities then some build phases with moderate increases in intensity before the race day. The EN model starts with building speed/"fast" with higher training intensities at lower volumes then adding increasing training volume closer to the race day. Other training models emphasize training different systems of physiologic performance such as neuromuscular, endurance, speed.

Simply speaking, I think that in order to complete an IM triathlon you gotta do some work. What kind of work and how it's parcelled over a given period of time is expressed in all those training plans and coaching philosophies. I think the real mystery is how much work does a certain individual need to do over a season or seasons, in a given month/week/day to achieve their IM goal. Too little work = maximal athletic performance is not realized. Too much work = the all too familiar injury/illness/ burnout. Imagine there was a TSS calculator where you'd enter your fitness parameters and IM goal then bing! (the universal calculator noise) a number would be spit out that would be how much work you need to do to achieve that goal. Then the next mystery would be how to parcel all that work over time so as to avoid injury and achieve maximal athletic performance--a daily TSS calculator!

That being said, I think most AG'ers will likely never achieve their maximal athletic potential because of time constraints of work and family. The limited time isn't just to train, but time to rest, sleep, get a massage, tend to psychological issues of training and competing. I'm okay with this truth. Triathlon isn't my job, doesn't put dinner on the table---Amen to that! We'd be eating day old bread and water every night if our livelihood was dependant on my triathlon prowess. The reality of this hobby (and that's really ALL it is) and most facets of life is that we need to work within our limitations and be grateful for the opportunity.

Back to my magical TSS calculator: another helpful feature would be what kind of work/training would be done--basically, a set volume and intensity level of each workout. Not every TSS point is created equal. Of course, the higher intensity work will have a higher cost of recovery than a lower intensity one. I agree with Gordo in that the risk of injury is lower at lower intensity training compared to higher intensity training. However, the gains are also lower and the time investment is quite a bit higher. It's less efficient but with lower risk.

So which training plan is the best one? The one that prescribes the right amount of work that will fit into your life in a way that will minimize risk of injury and maximize athletic potential with what you've got. I'm quite sure no coach or athlete on the planet has a Sooper Dooper TSS calculator. I am quite sure that many professional athletes have the physiologic resilience to be overworked and still perform well. Many AG'er follow these athletes and their training programs into a brick wall with their work and family life suffering as well.

For me: the data geek part of me would love to know exactly how much work I should/could do and accomplish that work flawlessly in order to fulfill a numerical expectation. The realistic part of me know that even if I knew exactly how much work to do, I wouldn't do it unless I wanted to. So while the mathematical mystery may be the amount of work to be done, the struggle is really with motivation. Right now I'm very motivated. I just PR'd a bike test, have great confidence in Coach Rich and Patrick and a great community in EN, and have good health. So where's the struggle? The fear of blowing up, test anxiety, wanting to not let any woman wearing makeup at a race beat me, wanting/trying to be "good enough".

So what I think I really need more than a TSS calculator is a slack line...for balance.