Baseline
athlete intelligence

Blog

Honest writing on training, data, and the tools we build.

Training

How to use RPE: why subjective effort sometimes beats data

Rate of Perceived Exertion is the oldest training metric and still one of the best. Here's when to trust your gut over your power meter or heart rate monitor.

Liam·19 May 2026·7 min read
Recovery

Sleep and athletic performance: what the research actually says

Sleep is the most underrated training tool. Here's what the science tells us about sleep duration, quality, consistency - and what you can actually do about it.

Liam·18 May 2026·9 min read
Training

Critical Power vs FTP: what's the difference and when to use each

FTP (Functional Threshold Power) and CP (Critical Power) both describe your sustainable power. Here's why they differ and which one to use for training.

Liam·17 May 2026·8 min read
Training

Cycling power zones explained: Coggan's 7-zone system and how to use it

From Z1 recovery to Z7 neuromuscular - here's what each power zone means, how to train in it, and how to check you're getting the distribution right.

Liam·16 May 2026·9 min read
Comparisons

Year in Sport vs Strava Recap: what Baseline does differently

Strava's Year in Sport is a marketing moment. Baseline's annual review is a genuine analysis of your training year. Here's the difference, ahead of our launch.

Liam·15 May 2026·7 min read
Training

Training load explained: CTL, ATL, TSB - what they mean and how to use them

The three numbers every serious athlete should track: Chronic Training Load, Acute Training Load, and Training Stress Balance. Here's how they work, in plain English.

Liam·14 May 2026·10 min read
Wearables

Best running watch 2026: honest buyer's guide

Garmin, Apple Watch, Coros, or WHOOP? A data-focused comparison of the best running watches for serious athletes in 2026. No sponsorship. No fluff.

Liam·13 May 2026·12 min read
Comparisons

Strava analytics vs Baseline: what's different and why it matters

Strava's analytics are good for what they are. Baseline does what they don't - cross-source insights, geographic depth, and a dashboard built for athletes who want to see the whole picture.

Liam·12 May 2026·8 min read
Comparisons

Migrating from TrainingPeaks to Baseline: What You Keep and What Changes

Thinking of leaving TrainingPeaks for Baseline? Here's exactly what data transfers, what doesn't, what Baseline does better, what it doesn't do yet, and a step-by-step migration guide.

Liam Scanlon·8 May 2026·14 min read
Recovery

The Overtraining Warning Signs Your Data Shows Before You Feel Them

By the time you feel overtrained, the damage is done. Here are the data signals - HRV, RHR, sleep, TSB, and readiness - that predict overtraining 7–14 days before symptoms appear.

Liam Scanlon·7 May 2026·11 min read
Product

How Baseline Uses AI (Without Being a Chatbot)

Every training platform is slapping AI on their landing page. Baseline does something different - here's exactly how we use AI, why it's not a chatbot, and what your data privacy means.

Liam Scanlon·6 May 2026·12 min read
Wearables

Garmin vs Apple Watch for Cycling: Power, GPS, and Battery Life Compared

Cycling demands more from a watch than running does. Power meter compatibility, GPS accuracy on winding roads, battery life for centuries, and navigation - which watch actually works for cyclists?

Liam Scanlon·5 May 2026·14 min read
Comparisons

Baseline vs Intervals.icu: an honest comparison from the people building Baseline

Intervals.icu is a great free tool with a loyal following. Baseline is newer, paid, and built for a different kind of athlete. Here's a fair comparison.

Liam·4 May 2026·10 min read
Recovery

How to interpret HRV: a complete athlete's guide

HRV is the most useful number on your wrist - and the most misread. Here's how to actually use it for training decisions, in plain English.

Liam·4 May 2026·9 min read
Nutrition

Nutrition Tracking and Training Load: What Your Body Weight and HRV Are Telling You

Your morning HRV, resting heart rate, and body weight trends reveal whether you're fuelling properly. Here's how to read the signals of low energy availability before it hurts your training.

Liam Scanlon·4 May 2026·11 min read
Training

Polarised training explained: the science of going easy and hard

80% easy, 20% hard. Why the simplest training distribution in endurance sport keeps beating fancier prescriptions - and how to actually implement it without overthinking.

Liam·4 May 2026·11 min read
Wearables

WHOOP vs Garmin recovery in 2026: which one should you actually trust?

Both score your recovery 0–100. They use different sensors, different algorithms, and they often disagree. A practical comparison from someone who's worn both for years.

Liam·4 May 2026·12 min read
Wearables

Apple Watch vs Garmin for Runners in 2026: An Honest Comparison

Should you run with an Apple Watch or a Garmin in 2026? GPS accuracy, battery life, training metrics, and which watch serves your actual running goals better.

Liam Scanlon·3 May 2026·13 min read
Training

What's TSS and Why It Matters (Even If You're Not a Cyclist)

Training Stress Score is the foundation of modern training load analysis. Here's how TSS works, what it gets right and wrong, and how to use it across running, cycling, and swimming.

Liam Scanlon·2 May 2026·12 min read
Running

Running Form Metrics That Actually Matter: Cadence, Vertical Oscillation, and Ground Contact Time

Running dynamics from Garmin and WHOOP can overwhelm. Here's exactly what cadence, vertical oscillation, and ground contact time mean, what good looks like, and when to ignore the numbers.

Liam Scanlon·1 May 2026·10 min read