Long-distance triathlon glossary·FTHR

FTHR : Functional Threshold Heart Rate

Load

The average heart rate you can sustain during one hour of maximal steady effort.

FTHR is the heart-rate equivalent of FTP (power). It lets you define intensity zones in beats per minute when you don't have a power meter. For example, a FTHR of 165 bpm puts your Z2 around 130-145 bpm. Heart rate is influenced by heat, fatigue, and dehydration, making it less stable than power in the short term.

In TriPaced:

In TriPaced, FTP (power) is the main reference for bike zones. FTHR serves as a complementary marker to calibrate run and swim sessions when no power measurement is available.

Related terms

  • TSS : Training Stress Score
  • CTL : Chronic Training Load (fitness)
  • ATL : Acute Training Load (fatigue)
  • TSB : Training Stress Balance (freshness)
  • Sweet spot : the efficiency zone
  • Threshold : the upper sustainable limit