The effort estimate section, on the Plan a training page, lets you anticipate the intensity of a workout with the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) and estimate the training load that follows from it.
It lets you:
set an expected overall intensity for the workout;
anticipate the training load;
compare the effort you estimated with what your athlete actually felt;
look at the gap between what you planned and what was done.
📌 Good to know
By default, the perceived exertion is not visible to your athlete.
1. The estimated rate of perceived exertion (RPE)
The estimated RPE is the overall intensity you expect from the workout, on a scale of 1 to 10:
1: very easy;
10: maximum effort.
You set that value when you plan the workout.
Show rpe to athlete
The Show rpe to athlete option makes the estimated perception visible on their workout card. Useful to give them an intensity marker before they head out, and to help them understand what you expect from the session.
Leave the option off and the value stays on your side only.
2. The estimated Coggan load
The Estimated Coggan load anticipates the training load attached to the workout. It is expressed in arbitrary units (AU) and is calculated in two ways:
from the values entered in the workout (power, heart rate, duration);
or from the rate of perceived exertion.
Estimating the Coggan load from the RPE
When you turn that option on:
the load is estimated from the duration-RPE equivalences defined by Joe Friel;
no power or heart rate data is needed.
Without the option, the load is estimated from the usual formulas based on power and heart rate, when that data is available.
💡 Tip
Estimating from the RPE suits sports where you have neither a power meter nor a heart rate strap: swimming, conditioning, team sports.
3. Comparing with what your athlete felt
Once the workout is done, your athlete can fill in their own perceived exertion. You can then compare estimated and felt effort, look at the gap, and adjust the sessions that follow.
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