Masters plans are an alternate version offered for most TrainerRoad training plans. These alternate plans are designed to prioritize recovery with no more than two days of Sweet Spot, or higher-intensity workouts each week. We believe that masters plans, especially when combined with Adaptive Training, can offer a highly effective training experience for any athlete who needs extra recovery.
While master's training is typically associated with older athletes, these plans are designed for any athlete seeking additional recovery in their training. This plan will be automatically recommended to you if you are older than 50, but we also think that if you have a high-stress job, are a new parent, shift worker, or someone dealing with an irregular sleep routine you can also greatly benefit from these plans.
How do Masters Plans Work?
Masters Plans are based on the standard non-masters TrainerRoad training plans. They utilize the standard plans' structure and volume. Opposed to their counterparts they have no more than two days of higher-intensity workouts each week as they replace the midweek workout with an endurance ride. This endurance workout will be the same length as the original plan’s workout to preserve the volume of the plan.
Tuesday and Saturday workouts will typically remain unchanged in the masters plan in comparison to the non-master versions. In some cases, however, these days might be slightly rearranged to prioritize the most important stimulus. This helps ensure that the workouts are structured to achieve the plan’s goal.
How Can I Get a Masters Plan?
Masters Plans are available for most cycling and triathlon Base, Build, and Specialty plans. Maintenance plans, Time Crunch plans, Polarized plans, or Traditional Base plans.
When a Masters plan has become available for your current plan you will automatically be prompted with a modal to adjust your plan. Alternatively, you can manually add available Masters plans to your calendar via Plan Builder, the TrainerRoad training plan library, or by swapping out the individual phases in your current plan for their masters' versions.
Adding a Masters Plan Through the Masters Plan Modal
If you are on a custom plan with a Masters equivalent a Masters plan announcement modal will automatically pop-up when a master's equivalent is available for your current training plan. If you are following a custom-built plan this modal will include a button giving you the option to switch your current plan to the Masters version. If you are following TrainerRoad ad-hoc plans this modal will prompt you to build a custom Masters plan with Plan Buider.
This pop-up will only appear when you reach the first week of a new training phase. If you aren't seeing this pop-up it is either because your current training phase doesn't have a Masters equivalent, you are part way through a training phase, or Plan Builder is not automatically recommending the Masters plans.
If you'd like to adjust your training plan sooner you can follow the directions below to build a new plan with Plan Builder, add an individual Masters phase to your Calendar, or manually adjust your current plan. In most cases, we recommend waiting until you've finished your current training phase before making any adjustments. Waiting until the start of your next phase will typically be the most optimal for your current training phase and will help avoid disruptions to your existing plan.
Mobile Apps
How to get a Masters Plan through Plan Builder
Step 1: Make sure you are on the latest version of the TrainerRoad mobile app.
Step 2: Select the Training Plans tab from the left-hand navigation menu.
Step 3: Choose Plan Builder.
Step 4: Follow Plan Builders steps until you reach the Schedule step.
Step 5: If a Masters version is available a Masters toggle switch will appear on the Schedule step. Toggle this on to build your plan with Masters phases.
Step 6: Finish building your plan.
How to get an Individual Masters Plan through the Plan Library
Step 1: Make sure you are on the latest version of the TrainerRoad mobile app.
Step 2: Select the Training Plans tab from the left-hand navigation menu.
Step 3: In the Individual Training Phases section there will be Masters options for Base, Build and Specialty below the standard training phases. Choose the Masters phase you would like to add to your Calendar.
Step 4: Add to your Calendar.
How to Change Your Current Plan to a Masters Plan
Step 1: Make sure you are on the latest version of the TrainerRoad mobile app.
Step 2: Select the Calendar tab from the left-hand navigation menu.
Step 3: Scroll to the beginning of the training phase that you would like to change.
Step 4: Select the annotation of this phase.
Step 5: Choose your current training plan type from the annotation pop-up.
Step 6: Select the Masters phase you'd like to change your training phase to from the drop-down.
Step 7: Hit 'Save'
Step 8: Repeat these steps for any other phases on your Calendar that you would like to change.
Desktop Apps
How to get a Masters Plan through Plan Builder
Step 1: Make sure you are on the latest version of the TrainerRoad desktop app.
Step 2: Select the Training Plans tab from the left-hand navigation menu.
Step 3: Choose Plan Builder.
Step 4: Follow Plan Builders steps until you reach the Schedule step.
Step 5: If a Masters version is available a Masters toggle switch will appear on the Schedule step. Toggle this on to build your plan with Masters phases.
Step 6: Finish building your plan.
How to get an Individual Masters Plan through the Plan Library
Step 1: Make sure you are on the latest version of the TrainerRoad desktop app.
Step 2: Select the Training Plans tab from the left-hand navigation menu.
Step 3: In the Individual Training Phases section there will be Masters options for Base, Build and Specialty. Choose the Masters phase you would like to add to your Calendar.
Step 4: Add to your Calendar.
How to Change Your Current Plan
Step 1: Make sure you are on the latest version of the TrainerRoad desktop app.
Step 2: Select the Calendar tab from the left-hand navigation menu.
Step 3: Scroll to the start date of the training phase that you would like to change.
Step 4: Select the annotation of this phase.
Step 5: Choose your current training plan type from the annotation pop-up.
Step 6: Select the Masters phase you'd like to change your training phase to from the drop-down.
Step 7: Hit 'Save'
Step 8: Repeat these steps for any other phases on your Calendar that you would like to change.
Web
How to get a Masters Plan through Plan Builder
Step 1: Make sure you are logged in to www.trainerroad.com.
Step 2: Select the Training Plans tab from the left-hand navigation menu.
Step 3: Choose Plan Builder.
Step 4: Follow Plan Builders steps until you reach the Schedule step.
Step 5: If a Masters version is available a Masters toggle switch will appear on the Schedule step. Toggle this on to build your plan with Masters phases.
Step 6: Finish building your plan.
How to get an Individual Masters Plan through the Plan Library
Step 1: Make sure you are logged in to www.trainerroad.com.
Step 2: Select the Training Plans tab from the left-hand navigation menu.
Step 3: In the Individual Training Phases section there will be Masters options for Base, Build and Specialty. Choose the Masters phase you would like to add to your Calendar.
Step 4: Add to your Calendar.
How to Change Your Current Plan to a Masters Plan
Step 1: Make sure you are logged in to www.trainerroad.com.
Step 2: Select the Calendar tab from the left-hand navigation menu.
Step 3: Scroll to the start date of the training phase that you would like to change.
Step 4: Select the annotation of this phase.
Step 5: Choose your current training plan type from the annotation pop-up.
Step 6: Select the Masters phase you'd like to change your training phase to from the drop-down.
Step 7: Hit 'Save'
Step 8: Repeat these steps for any other phases on your Calendar that you would like to change.
FAQ
Why did TrainerRoad create Masters Plans?
While Adaptive Training has dramatically improved how we recommend intensity, most plans still include 3 hard workouts each week and some athletes feel this is too much. Additionally, science suggests fewer intense workouts each week may benefit some athletes, especially in the face of inadequate recovery.
What standard TrainerRoad plans don't have Masters versions?
Master plans are not available for Maintenance plans, Time Crunch plans, Polarized plans, or Traditional Base plans.
How will I know if my plan is a Masters Plan?
Masters plans can be recognized in your TrainerRoad Calendar by the addition of “Masters” to the plan name. For example, a Sustained Power Build Masters plan will display as Masters Sustained Power Build Low Volume.
Why can't I change my plan to a Masters Plan?
If you aren't able to swap your training plan to a Masters plan or add a Masters plan to your Calendar you might be trying to add a phase that doesn't have a Masters alternative. Master plans are not available for , Maintenance plans, Time Crunch plans, Polarized plans, or Traditional Base plans.