Rate of Perceived Excertion (RPE)

Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) is a subjective scale—commonly 6 to 20 or 1 to 10—where athletes rate their effort and fatigue during exercise. RPE is correlated with heart rate and lactate threshold and allows athletes to train at appropriate intensities when objective metrics (power, pace, HR) are unavailable. RPE is used by coaches to prescribe workouts: easy rides at RPE 3–4, tempo intervals at RPE 6–7, and all-out sprints at RPE 9–10. Monitoring RPE on a regular basis enhances self-awareness, pacing, and recovery management skills, ensuring that how hard athletes perceive they are working is congruent with training objectives and physiological capabilities.