macrocycle

Definition

The longest training phase in periodization, typically lasting several months to a year, encompassing multiple mesocycles. The fitness equivalent of a five-year business plan that nobody follows perfectly.

Example Usage

My macrocycle runs from January to December with three distinct training phases.

Origin

Periodization terminology from Soviet sports scientist Lev Matveyev in the 1960s.

Fun Fact

Olympic athletes structure macrocycles around the four-year Olympic cycle, making adjustments based on qualification timelines.

Source: Sports science and periodization terminology

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