Vekta Load, Fatigue & Dynamics
1. Why Long-Term Metrics Matter
Vekta Volume and Intensity provide a clear picture of each session, showing you how much work you did and how hard it was. But training doesn’t happen in isolation. It’s cumulative.
That’s why we built Vekta Load, Fatigue, and Dynamics - rolling metrics that smooth daily variation and reveal deeper patterns in your training.
2. The Problem with Legacy Load Models
Most long-term metrics today (like CTL®/ATL® from TSS®-based models) are constrained by the same limitations as the single-number scores they’re built on:
They don’t separate intensity from volume
They assume intensity scales linearly
They overlook individual physiology
They don't account for environmental or contextual strain
This means important signals, like sudden intensity spikes or accumulating fatigue, can get buried in the averages.
3. The Vekta Approach
Just like we separate Volume and Intensity on the session level, we separate them in long-term tracking and apply exponentially weighted moving averages (EWMA) to give you responsive, yet stable signals.
4. Vekta Load
Definition: 16-week EWMA of Vekta Volume
Purpose: Tracks long-term training demand and overall aerobic workload
Why it matters:
Load gives you insight into your aerobic base development, chronic training stimulus, and how much cumulative strain your body has adapted to over time.
Use it to:
Build toward peak events with long-term base work
Identify dips in load due to missed training or tapering
Compare season-over-season workload trends
5. Vekta Fatigue
Definition: 1-week EWMA of Vekta Volume
Purpose: Measures short-term accumulation of training demand
Why it matters:
Fatigue reflects recent training strain, helping you understand when recovery is needed, or when you're ready for more.
Use it to:
Detect when you're pushing into overreach territory
Guide deload weeks and recovery blocks
Spot high-volume training spikes that need monitoring
6. Vekta Dynamics
Definition: 2-week EWMA of Vekta Intensity
Purpose: Measures the recent intensity profile of your training
Why it matters:
Dynamics highlights how sharp or stressful your recent training has been, independent of volume. It reveals the punchy, neural, high-stress sessions that often cause disproportionate fatigue.
Use it to:
Ensure you're hitting race-specific efforts
Periodize properly — block high Dynamics weeks with care
Detect when high-intensity work is stacking too quickly
7. How They Work Together
Metric | What It Tracks | Time Frame | Analogy |
|---|---|---|---|
Vekta Load | Total training demand | Long-term (16 weeks) | Your training bank account |
Vekta Fatigue | Recent volume-based stress | Short-term (7 days) | Your current spending |
Vekta Dynamics | Recent high-intensity stress | Mid-term (14 days) | Your risk exposure |
The Bottom Line
Vekta Load, Fatigue, and Dynamics are purpose-built to give athletes and coaches a clearer picture of long-term training effects, built on modern physiology, not legacy metrics.
Training Stress Score® (TSS®), Acute Training Load® (ATL®), Chronic Training Load® (CTL®), Training Stress Balance® (TSB®) are registered trademark terms owned by TrainingPeaks, LLC.