sRPE: Session RPE for Training Load Monitoring

Session RPE multiplies session duration by perceived effort to quantify daily training load.

Key takeaways

Formula: minutes × RPE (1–10) = sRPE in AU
Captures internal load (effort) not just external work (kg)
Feeds into ACWR for injury-risk monitoring
Rate the session 30 minutes after finishing for accuracy

Definition

Session RPE (sRPE) is a single-number daily training load calculated as: session duration in minutes × session-level RPE (1–10). The result is expressed in arbitrary units (AU).

Foster et al. (2001) validated sRPE against heart-rate-derived training impulse (TRIMP) and it has since become the standard load metric in team sports, endurance and strength.

Why sRPE matters

sRPE captures internal load — what the athlete experienced — rather than just external work (kg × reps). This makes it sensitive to fatigue, illness, sleep and emotional stress in ways volume-load alone cannot.

It is the input metric for Acute:Chronic Workload Ratio (ACWR), which is widely used to monitor injury risk in team sports.

How to apply it

Ask the athlete to rate the entire session 30 minutes after finishing using the CR-10 scale. Multiply by total session minutes and log it. Roll up by week to track weekly load and weekly load progression.