Is it possible I am overestimating my Lactate Threshold?

Thanks for the reply, Jim.  Some good ideas about the test perhaps being skewed.  Although, I felt pretty good going into the test, and Ifelt strong as I ran.  Didn't take anything out of the ordinary, was relatively rested, hydrated and fueled (although probably not optimally so).  Also, since I am in Guatemala city and we are at 1500m altitude, it is neither very hot, nor particularly humid.  I know the altitude affects HR, but wouldn't it be the same for both the test and the other runs? 

Maybe I am just being a baby?  I guess another 30 min. time trial would be useful *sigh*

I wouldn't give up on it yet.  I did a run LT test just last week and mine is like 182.  But running in the 150's generally feels pretty easy to me. I can't keep my HR under 145 unless I walk   My new Zone 2 (155-164) definitely feels like more effort than my old zones, but I don't have to try too hard to get the HR up there.

You might just not be used to guaging effort vs. HR.  Today was my first run with my new Zones and it was definitely weird.  Use the numbers for a month and see what happens.  At least try a few more easy runs.  The day you used your zones you could have been just having a bad day.

As for test factors...if you generally run at that altitude, then you want to do the test there.  If you went down to sea level and trained there your LT would be different.  Mike Ricci explained all of this to me last week (unfortunately in the Training support thread or I'd post the link here but you can't get to it so it won't do you any good) but maybe when he gets back from Hawaii he'll be kind enough to pass on the info here as well.  I'll defer because I'd be afraid to get it wrong

Thanks for all your ideas and comments.

* The formula I used was from "Going Long" by Friel and Byrn.  It is the same formula that Mike Ricci had on one of these threads.  It calculates 5 zones with the 5th being split into 3 sections.  Not sure about the percentages.

* My last couple of runs have definitely been above a conversational pace...this is why I am worried that I am way too high.

* regarding the 60 min. TT...that sounds particularly painful.  I KNOW there is very little chance I could have held the 185 HR for another 30 minutes.  So maybe the subtracting 5% guideline will work.  That would put my LT at 176. and my zone 1 at  <148 and zone 2 at 149-159 .  This certainly sounds more along the lines of what I was expecting.  I think I may go with this for now (although it still seems high), and then when I have the gumption, I MAY attempt a 60 min. TT!

Edited by lifeisgood 2005-10-14 1:25 PM