Watts Doc #61: Quantifying Diminishing Returns

About this episode

The episode analyzes data from nearly 15,000 individuals to explore the concept of diminishing returns in training and its implications for athletes.

We walk through an analysis done on almost 15,000 people with data up to nearly 7 years in length and after finding similar trends in Kolie's client and personal data, we apply what we can learn about diminishing returns to our training expectations, season planning, stimulus and recovery needs, our ultimate potential, and what it means for interpreting scientific literature.

People in this episode

Hosts: Kolie, Empirical Cycling

Topics covered

• diminishing returns
• training expectations
• season planning
• stimulus and recovery
• scientific literature

Keywords

• diminishing returns
• training
• data analysis
• athlete potential
• season planning

More episodes of Empirical Cycling Podcast

• Ten Minute Tips #77: How Not To Break Up With Your Bike This Season · June 9, 2026 · 1h 22m
• Watts Doc #64: A Replication Crisis Is A Crisis Of Confidence · May 20, 2026 · 1h 35m
• Watts Doc #63: Confronting Uncertainty In Training And Data · April 29, 2026 · 1h 48m
• Ten Minute Tips #76: Building Race Fitness · April 16, 2026 · 1h 11m
• Ten Minute Tips #75: The Art Of Autoregulation (Training To Vibes) · March 26, 2026 · 1h 20m
• Perspectives #41: Macros, Determining Energy Needs, Nutrient Timing, with Tim Podlogar · March 18, 2026 · 1h 41m