Training to Failure

Training to failure has never been part of my training repertoire; nonetheless I am always getting questions about it. Good training design and implementation does set up the workout to train to failure. Each workout and each aspect of the workout has a specific objective that is reachable and achievable for the athlete. If the athlete fails on a particular set in the weight, run on the track or a set in the pool, then in all probability the intensity was too high and it needs to be adjusted. Training is a process of accumulation and constantly failing does not allow the process of adaptation to reach the optimum level. Design the workout so that the athlete can get the reps at the optimum intensity. Training to failure is failure to train the athlete to their fullest capabilities. It is simply training to fail. It is failure on the coach’s part to know the athletes capabilities.