How much training is enough? The secrets to making long-term fitness progress

The key to making progress is to do just the right amount of training and no more. Hannah Reynolds sets out on a mission to quantify ‘enough’

(Image credit: @CYCLINGIMAGES)

"The secret to endurance training is doing enough, but not too much."

This gold nugget of training advice comes from physiologist Dr Jamie Pringle, head of science and technical development at the Boardman Performance Centre. But with it he poses a question: how much is enough? Or, to put it the other way round, what’s too much? For an individual athlete, whether or not you have a coach, this question is at the very heart of making consistent progress.

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Hannah Reynolds

Hannah Reynolds interest in cycling began while studying for a degree in Sports Science at the University College Chichester and surrounded by elite level cyclists. She is now undertaking a PhD at Sheffield Hallam University investigating the use of e-bikes by older people. 


A committed dabbler whose passion outweighed her talent Reynolds has competed across all disciplines of cycling bar BMX. In the very distant past she has been south-east road race champion, southern cyclo-cross champion and finished third in the European 24hr Solo mountain-bike champs in 2011. She was also the Fitness Editor of Cycling Weekly for 15 years. 


Hannah Reynolds is author of several cycling books, France-en-Velo a guide to the ultimate 1000 mile cycle route from the Channel to Med; Britain's Best Bike Ride. LEJOG1000; A 1000 mile journey from Land's End to John o' Groats and 1001 Cycling Tips