WattPlan tracks your anaerobic metrics over time. Here's how to read the trends and what good progress looks like.
W' Capacity Trend
What it shows: Your estimated W' (anaerobic capacity) over time.
W' CAPACITY (last 12 weeks)
25kJ │ ●───●
20kJ │ ●───●───●───●
15kJ │ ●───●───●───●
└────────────────────────────────
W1 W4 W8 W12What Good Looks Like
- Gradual increase during build phases (1-2 kJ per month)
- Stable or slight decrease during taper (normal)
- Recovery after rest periods
Warning Signs
- Declining W' during training block → possible overtraining
- Flat W' despite intervals → training may need more intensity
- Erratic swings → inconsistent training or data quality issues
Depth Tolerance
What it shows: How low your W'bal typically goes during hard rides.
DEPTH TOLERANCE (avg lowest W'bal)
│
40% │ ██
30% │ ██ ██
20% │ ██ ██ ██ ██
10% │ ██ ██ ██ ██ ██
└────────────────────
Oct Nov Dec Jan FebWhat It Means
- Going deeper (lower %) = You're pushing harder or tolerating more pain
- Staying shallow (higher %) = Conservative efforts or insufficient intensity
What Good Looks Like
- Progressively deeper during build phases (learning to dig)
- Intentionally shallow during recovery weeks
- Deep but not empty in races (good pacing)
Matches Per Week
What it shows: Total hard efforts across all rides each week.
MATCHES PER WEEK
30 │ ██
20 │ ██ ██ ██ ██ ██
10 │ ██ ██ ██ ██ ██ ██ ██
└────────────────────────────
W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7What It Means
- More matches = More high-intensity work
- Fewer matches = More endurance-focused or recovery
What Good Looks Like
- Periodized pattern: Higher during build, lower during recovery
- Consistent within blocks: 15-25 matches/week during intensity phase
- Drop before events: Taper should show fewer matches
Recovery Rate Trend
What it shows: How efficiently you recharge W' between efforts.
RECOVERY RATE
90% │ ●───●───●
75% │ ●───●───●───●
60% │ ●───●───●
└─────────────────────────────
W1 W3 W5 W7 W9 W11What It Means
- Higher % = Faster recovery between efforts
- Lower % = Slower recovery (possible fatigue)
What Good Looks Like
- Gradual improvement (60% → 80%) over a training block
- Temporary dips after hard weeks (normal)
- Quick rebound after recovery periods
Warning Signs
- Persistently low (<60%) = Accumulated fatigue
- Declining over weeks = Overreaching, need more rest
Interpreting Trends Together
Scenario: Building Fitness
W' Capacity: ↑ Increasing
Depth Tolerance: ↑ Going deeper
Recovery Rate: ↑ Improving
Matches/Week: → Consistent highInterpretation: Training is working. Anaerobic system adapting.
Scenario: Overreaching
W' Capacity: → Flat or ↓ declining
Depth Tolerance: ↓ Getting shallower (can't push)
Recovery Rate: ↓ Declining
Matches/Week: ↑ Too highInterpretation: Too much intensity, not enough recovery. Back off.
Scenario: Successful Taper
W' Capacity: → Stable
Depth Tolerance: ↓ Shallower (intentionally)
Recovery Rate: ↑ Improving
Matches/Week: ↓ ReducedInterpretation: Freshening up. Ready to perform.
Time Frames
| View | Best For |
|---|---|
| 4 weeks | Short-term response to training block |
| 12 weeks | Training phase progress |
| 6 months | Seasonal patterns |
| 1 year | Year-over-year comparison |
Action Items Based on Trends
| Trend | Action |
|---|---|
| W' declining | Add recovery, reduce intensity |
| W' flat | Add more VO2max/anaerobic work |
| Recovery rate low | More rest between hard sessions |
| Depth tolerance plateaued | Try different interval structures |
| Matches too high | Risk of burnout, periodize better |
| Matches too low | May need more intensity for goals |