CTL is a guide that helps us monitor consistency and training trends rather than an absolute 'metric'. Everyone has different lifestyles and pressures and we all handle training load differently. Generally speaking endurance sports ( tri, cross country ski, running, bike racin etc) all require volume of training to develop fitness so CTL CAN BE a strong indicator or predictor of perfomance but conversely simply chasing a high CTL can be a stick that drives us to stagnation. My fav analagy of this is our local 'paperboy'. He has been pedalling round the whole town a long as I have lived here and must be in his mid to late 40's. If he had a CTL it would definitely be over 100 but I am doubtful he'd win any bike races. Maybe the 45-50 paperboy worlds. We use CTL then as a 'consistency' marker not as TP labels it as 'fitness'. If you are say an 'aspirational Mutley medal' age grouper then you can do well on around 70 - 80 ( as long as we have the right mix of stimulus and recovery in your training). Over the years our youths have snagged multiple Scottish champs at that level ( aye the joys of yoof). We then use it as one marker to help us see trends and alonside your 'feel', 'feedback', 'mental state' and the real progression in metrics such as power, speed, HR etc we can then use all of that to assess how we build the training plans from week to week. So back to the original thread - LD such as Celtman the stats on CTL tell us a story so if we set an annual plan with a big distance race in mind the software will ask for a target CTL for race day...for most we shoot for what we can deliver. If we get there, chances are you will have a great day. If we don't then chance plays a greater role. Consistency is dull, its not sexy but it works...pretty much every time.