Why Does My CTL Plateau Towards Race Date?

A slight plateau in Chronic Training Load (CTL) as race day approaches is normal and expected. Here’s why—and why it’s okay.

Understanding Training Phases

• Build Phase: High-volume, tough workouts to develop muscular and anaerobic endurance.

• Peak/Taper Phase: Focus shifts to race-specific quality rather than total volume.

Why CTL Plateaus

• CTL favors volume: During build weeks, high-volume sessions increase CTL.

• Tapering reduces volume: Race prep prioritizes intensity over accumulating more stress, so CTL stops rising.

A plateau here is normal—it doesn’t mean you’re losing fitness. Your body is peaking for performance, not just accumulating training stress.

Focus on What Matters

• Threshold improvements: The best sign of actual fitness gains.

• Energy and confidence: How you feel in training and on race day.

• Race-specific sessions: Sharpening skills and pacing for peak performance.

Bottom Line:
CTL is a guide, not the goal. A plateau during peak weeks is a sign your training is working as intended—your fitness is peaking at the right time: race day.

Read this article to understand more about TrainingPeaks metrics and your performance.

Copyright MyProCoach® Ltd © May 2018. All rights reserved