Hey everyone! There’ve been some questions around the new Wahoo training metrics and I thought it may help to give you some Helga insight. Below I have addressed some of the most frequent questions being asked. If you have any more please ask in the comments!
What is DTL? The simplest explanation for this is that Dimensional Training Load (DTL) is a new and improved way of tracking strain from an activity. The higher the number, the larger the load. Additionally, it shows you the dimensionality of your activity - meaning you can see exactly what 4DP dimension was strained. This is ideal for athletes looking to train in a specific area. It’s also used to calculate fitness score and training capacity. Remember this uses your 4DP as a base so if that’s not accurate, none of the Wahoo metrics will be. I suggest taking a full frontal fitness assessment to get the most accurate results.
Why do I see my Fitness Score dropping when I am ramping up activity? Fitness doesn’t change directions overnight, it changes based on the balance between your training and recovery. Training Capacity is faster to react to changes from one day to the next. Your Fitness Score is a combination of your long term load (your last 6 weeks of training) and your training capacity (how much fatigue the past week of workouts have contributed). So, if you start ramping up activity after a period of less activity, your training capacity will decrease quickly, but your long term load takes more time to build which will lead to the situation where overall fitness is dropping since you are fatigued. This doesn’t mean you are not making progress, in fact, you are! But, you don’t build fitness overnight and these numbers reflect that. As you keep building, resting and recovering you will start to see your fitness score increase.
Why is Wahoo’s fitness score different from other traditional metrics? There’s a lot that’s different but the biggest difference is that it takes into account rest. All athletes understand that rest isn’t optional, it’s required to get fitter and stronger. Traditional metrics equate more work = more fitness, and the moment you take a rest day you get “dinged”. Wahoo metrics account for rest, so during periods of recovering, you are maintaining or even increasing fitness.
How do I interpret my Training Capacity? Treat your training capacity as your readiness to train each day. This number looks at your most recent training and today’s mental capacity to give you a complete understanding of your training readiness. The more in the orange you are the more fatigued you will feel. Remember, being in a fatigued state is not always a bad thing - periods of heavy training and fatigue are needed to build fitness.
I hope this helps! Please comment below for further questions I may not have answered.
Additionally, here are a list of resources that may help inform further:
