The Real Science of Sport Podcast What Your Strava Fitness Score Really Means
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Jul 28, 2025 Confused about cycling metrics? The hosts break down Strava's fitness score and its underlying numbers. They explore how technology reshapes fitness measurement and training management. Discover the internal vs. external load differences and the critical role of power output, heart rate, and perceived exertion. Personal experiences illustrate the interplay of fitness and fatigue, showcasing how to optimize training and recovery. With humor and insights, you’ll understand how to navigate your fitness journey more effectively!
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Fitness Means Adaptation to Stress
- Fitness is the body's physiological adaptation to specific stressors applied during training.
- Stress drives adaptation, making you stronger or fitter after recovery.
Fitness as Load Tolerance
- Fitness represents the body's ability to tolerate a specific load with minimal physiological change.
- Being fit means you recover faster and handle the same stress with less strain than before.
Intensity Dominates Training Stress
- Training stress score (TSS) weighs intensity more than duration, reflecting the true physiological cost.
- Doubling intensity has a bigger impact on stress score than doubling duration.