Long-distance triathlon glossary·OTS

Overtraining syndrome (OTS)

Load

Persistent performance decline despite rest, resulting from chronically excessive training load without adequate recovery.

Overtraining syndrome (OTS) occurs when the load-recovery balance is chronically disrupted. Unlike non-functional overreaching (NFO, reversible in 2-4 weeks), OTS requires months of rest. Symptoms: unexplained performance drop, persistent fatigue, sleep disturbances, irritability, chronically low HRV, reduced appetite. It differs from overload (planned overloading) which is intentional and followed by planned recovery. Prevention: respect recovery weeks, monitor HRV, adjust volume at the first signs.

In TriPaced:

In TriPaced, recovery weeks (roughly 1 in 4) and TSB management aim to prevent overtraining. The engine's physio guard blocks overloads that exceed physiological ramp rate limits.

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