Embrace the suck.  I'm well into it here, and would tap out at the 280 watt tier.

The first 12 week TrainerRoad AI-coached plan is complete! 

I started this training plan back in May with a very conservative ftp of 155. 

At the end of month 2, I did the ramp test and scored 188 watts. TR's AI detection gave me an ftp of 172 and I went with that (I'm wary of injury).

To close out the third and final month (and to celebrate my 20 week streak in Zwift), this morning I did the ramp test and scored 205 watts!  I tapped out about halfway through the 280 watt tier. Afterwards, TR's AI ftp detection gave me an FTP of 178. 

I distrust both numbers.

• The 205 is likely overstated. I have a history of being 'good' at the ramp test. I'm tall and have a lot of leverage. I know that I can diesel up short hills like the Titan's Grove KOM.  For the ramp test, if I can keep my HR under control and keep a reasonable cadence early, I will have headroom to really push the test. 
• The 178 is perhaps understated. TR is basing this on all my workouts, and those workouts are limited by my prior FTP.  I don't have races or other workout history where I am 'allowed' to really flex and push, therefore TR has no upper limit history from which to draw. 
• Although it bothers me that the difference between my AI predicted and tested FTP continues to grow, I'll stick with the 178 and see how it feels. I can always make an individual workout harder. 

All that being said, I'm happy! I truly didn't enter this plan with a specific FTP in mind, and a 15% increase from 155 to 178 over that span is somewhat impressive.  

More fundamentally, my goal is to be able to ride with the 1.5/1.6 watt/kg bot basically indefinitely.  I'm pretty close to this goal.  Recently I replaced a 90 minute workout with the 1.5 bot and was able to hang with the peleton for about an hour. Although I had a little gas left in the tank, I could feel the death spiral starting and saved myself from being dropped in favor of restarting with the 1.1 bot and completion of the 90 minutes. 

What's next?  I'll take a few days off for Gencon and will start the next 12wk plan on Monday.