Despite training, my assessment performance has dropped. Why?

This is a very common experience, and it's both natural and expected. A dip in assessment performance is not a sign that your training isn't working, and it's usually not a cause for concern.

Here are the main training-related reasons why this can happen:

• Your training is focused on your main goal, not the assessment. Your plan is designed to prepare you for your goal race (e.g., a marathon in several weeks). Improving your 6-minute assessment time today may not be the most effective route to that long-term goal. The system prioritises what is most beneficial for your main objective.

• Training fatigue is part of the process. Performance is heavily influenced by how rested you are. You may have been in a much more recovered state for your previous assessment. Your latest assessment might have fallen after a block of hard training when your body is carrying cumulative fatigue. This fatigue is a necessary part of building fitness, even if it means you can't perform at your absolute peak on any given day.

Remember to consider the context of your training. A single assessment is just one snapshot in time, not the full measure of your improving fitness.