Trimp vs. ECO: breaking two important methodologies to quantify the training load

Trimp (Training Impulse), by Dr. Eric Banister:

History: Trimp was conceived by Dr. Eric Banister in the 1990s as a response to the need to objectively quantify the training load, combining the intensity and duration of a session. At TrainerPlan, we call it Effort and each activity is assigned a value that will later serve to calculate the physical state of the athlete.

Application in practice: Imagine a marathon runner named Carla. During training, do a 30-minute high-intensity interval session with an average heart rate of 85% of your highs. Using TRIMP, Carla can calculate a value that reflects the load of this session and compare it with a 90-minute resistance training session with 65% of her maximum heart rate. Although the sessions are of a different nature, Trimp allows Carla to have a quantitative perspective of the relative load of each one.

Advantages:

  • universality: Trimp can be applied to virtually any sport or activity.
  • objectivity: Based on heart rate, it offers an objective measure.
  • Simplicity: It is easy to calculate and apply in training planning.

Disadvantages:

  • FC Dependency: It depends a lot on the heart rate, which can be influenced by external factors, such as temperature or altitude..
  • non-specific: It may not fully capture the complexities of multidisciplinary sports such as triathlons.

ECO (equivalent to objective load), by cejuela-anta & was-launched:

History: The ECO was proposed by CEJUELA-ANTA & ESTERA-LAO specifically for the triathlon, meeting the exclusive needs of triathletes who compete in swimming, cycling and running.

Application in practice: Let’s get John, a triathlete. During training, you spend 40 minutes swimming in the areaaet, 50 minutes by bicycle in the areabeforeand 30 minutes running in the zoneaet-ant. Using the ECO, Juan can calculate a specific value for each segment and gain a quantitative understanding of the total load of his combined training, allowing him to adjust his training based on his goals and his recovery.

Ventajas:

  • Specificity: Designed for triathletes, taking into account the particularities of triathlon.
  • Integral: Consider a wide range of factors.

Disadvantages:

  • Sports limitation: Designed primarily for triathlons, it may not be as applicable to other sports.
  • Complexity: It may require more data entries, which makes it a little more complex to calculate than other methods.
  • not universal: It cannot be applied universally to all types of sports or activities with the same effectiveness.

Expanded conclusion:

TRIMP and ECO offer different but complementary approaches to quantify the training load. Although Trimp, created by Dr. Eric Banister, offers a universal and objective tool, ECO, proposed by Cejuela-Anta & Estev-Lao, offers a more subtle and specific approach to triathletes. The choice between the two will depend on the specific needs of the athlete or coach and the context in which you are training.

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