So, Ive been digging into the whole increasing zone 2 power thing, and Ive come across some pretty conflicting advice. It seems like every coach, blogger, and self-proclaimed expert has their own magic formula for boosting power in this zone.
Ive seen some people swear by the polarized training approach, where youre doing a ton of low-intensity work and just a few high-intensity intervals. Others claim that the key is to focus on building your aerobic capacity through longer, steady-state rides. And then there are those who insist that its all about incorporating strength training and explosive intervals to improve your muscular power.
But heres the thing: Ive been doing all of these things, and Im not seeing the gains I was expecting. Ive been training with power for years, and Ive got a pretty solid understanding of my own physiology and training needs. So, Im starting to wonder if the whole zone 2 power thing is just a myth - or if Im just not doing it right.
So, Ill ask the question: is it even possible to significantly increase your zone 2 power through training? Or are we just chasing a pipe dream here? Ive seen plenty of studies that suggest that aerobic capacity is largely determined by genetics, and that theres a limit to how much we can improve it through training.
And even if it is possible to increase zone 2 power, whats the best way to do it? Is it really just a matter of putting in the miles and waiting for your body to adapt, or is there something more to it? Ive heard some coaches claim that you need to be doing specific types of intervals and workouts to target the right energy systems and muscle fibers. But is this just bro-science, or is there actually some evidence to back it up?
Im not looking for any fluffy advice or generic training plans here. I want to know what the science says, and what the most effective training methods are for increasing zone 2 power. So, lets get into it - whats the real deal on increasing zone 2 power, and how do we actually do it?
Ive seen some people swear by the polarized training approach, where youre doing a ton of low-intensity work and just a few high-intensity intervals. Others claim that the key is to focus on building your aerobic capacity through longer, steady-state rides. And then there are those who insist that its all about incorporating strength training and explosive intervals to improve your muscular power.
But heres the thing: Ive been doing all of these things, and Im not seeing the gains I was expecting. Ive been training with power for years, and Ive got a pretty solid understanding of my own physiology and training needs. So, Im starting to wonder if the whole zone 2 power thing is just a myth - or if Im just not doing it right.
So, Ill ask the question: is it even possible to significantly increase your zone 2 power through training? Or are we just chasing a pipe dream here? Ive seen plenty of studies that suggest that aerobic capacity is largely determined by genetics, and that theres a limit to how much we can improve it through training.
And even if it is possible to increase zone 2 power, whats the best way to do it? Is it really just a matter of putting in the miles and waiting for your body to adapt, or is there something more to it? Ive heard some coaches claim that you need to be doing specific types of intervals and workouts to target the right energy systems and muscle fibers. But is this just bro-science, or is there actually some evidence to back it up?
Im not looking for any fluffy advice or generic training plans here. I want to know what the science says, and what the most effective training methods are for increasing zone 2 power. So, lets get into it - whats the real deal on increasing zone 2 power, and how do we actually do it?
