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2011-11-16 5:46 PM

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Subject: VO2 & Lactate Testing

I have a local sport instituite which offers a testing facility for VO2 & Lactate (plus lots of other tests like metabolic etc.).

I'm just getting back into training after a few month stint with minor training.

Would it be best to get a month or so of training under my belt before I do the tests just incase theres some major change since I've been stagnant.

Also, since I don't have lots of cash lying around I can't get tests for both biking and running. What would be more beneficial to test? My training regime will be fairly balanced with sbr



2011-11-16 6:19 PM
in reply to: #3904785

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Champion
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Subject: RE: VO2 & Lactate Testing
I would save your money and do field tests instead of paying for lab tests. Cheaper, repeatable and will give you the information you need to guide your training.

If you do choose to get the testing done, then I would ask what type of equipment they will be using and how they calibrate it; if they say that there is no need to calibrate it, again, save your money.

Shane
2011-11-16 6:37 PM
in reply to: #3904785

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Champion
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Subject: RE: VO2 & Lactate Testing

Yeah, I think you should do the field tests.  They are not easy to get right, but you learn a lot by working on getting them right.  Early on, you should retest often (partly because you are learning to get it right, and partly because your fitness is changing a lot).  Later, you can wait longer between tests.

2011-11-16 8:03 PM
in reply to: #3904821

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2011-11-16 8:27 PM
in reply to: #3904850

Expert
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Scottsdale, AZ
Subject: RE: VO2 & Lactate Testing
Experior - 2011-11-16 5:37 PM

Yeah, I think you should do the field tests.  They are not easy to get right, but you learn a lot by working on getting them right.  Early on, you should retest often (partly because you are learning to get it right, and partly because your fitness is changing a lot).  Later, you can wait longer between tests.

Question- should the field tests (running) be done on a relatively flat circuit or does it not matter too much?  I'm finally going to run through this tomorrow morning but if I do it straight out my front door I'm going to be running ever so slightly downhill the entire way.  If so I'll just drive to the fields and loop the soccer pitch for the full duration.

2011-11-16 9:51 PM
in reply to: #3904785

Extreme Veteran
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Victoria
Subject: RE: VO2 & Lactate Testing

Thanks for the input, however, lets say they calibrate it and use good equipment what would your answers be for my original questions?

 



2011-11-16 10:35 PM
in reply to: #3904941

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Subject: RE: VO2 & Lactate Testing
thebigb - 2011-11-16 8:27 PM
Experior - 2011-11-16 5:37 PM

Yeah, I think you should do the field tests.  They are not easy to get right, but you learn a lot by working on getting them right.  Early on, you should retest often (partly because you are learning to get it right, and partly because your fitness is changing a lot).  Later, you can wait longer between tests.

Question- should the field tests (running) be done on a relatively flat circuit or does it not matter too much?  I'm finally going to run through this tomorrow morning but if I do it straight out my front door I'm going to be running ever so slightly downhill the entire way.  If so I'll just drive to the fields and loop the soccer pitch for the full duration.

Consistency matters most, but I would take the flatter loops around the field(s) than the slight downhill you described.

2011-11-17 5:31 AM
in reply to: #3905020

Champion
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Subject: RE: VO2 & Lactate Testing
ubersteiny - 2011-11-16 11:51 PM

Thanks for the input, however, lets say they calibrate it and use good equipment what would your answers be for my original questions?

 



If you are determined to spend the money, then here are my thoughts for your questions.

Definitely spend a month or even two months getting back into shape; you want to be prepared to give a really hard effort and having some recent solid training under your belt can help you be prepared to give a good effort.

Do you have a powermeter for the bike? If so, and assuming the facility can also give you power numbers, I would test the bike and use a standalone run race for a run test. OTOH if you aren't training with power, I would do a run test and field test for the the bike.

However, I still think your best bet is to forgo the lab testing and field test/race in order to get numbers to guide your training.

Shane
2011-11-17 6:29 AM
in reply to: #3904785

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Subject: RE: VO2 & Lactate Testing
I agree with Shane.... Lab testing will give you one set of numbers, under one set of controlled conditions, at one point in time - and it sounds like that point will be fairly early in your training, so it's likely that the data you get from your testing will be irrelevant in 6 months or a year. Field testing on your own will allow you to re-test periodically and adjust your training accordingly. I suppose you could use your lab testing numbers to establish a baseline, then field test on your own beyond that, but if it were me, I would choose not to spend the money on lab testing...
2011-11-17 9:55 AM
in reply to: #3904785

Extreme Veteran
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Victoria
Subject: RE: VO2 & Lactate Testing

Thanks for the replies, the one issue with the field testing is that there's  not much of nice continous bike ways out here. my flat MUP that's near my house has a lighted busy intersection every 5 minutes(ish).

And I don't have a power meter yet, I'm going to wait for the Vector I think.

Is it frowned upon to do a bike field test on my KK road machine?

2011-11-17 10:20 AM
in reply to: #3905568

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Subject: RE: VO2 & Lactate Testing
ubersteiny - 2011-11-17 10:55 AM

Thanks for the replies, the one issue with the field testing is that there's  not much of nice continous bike ways out here. my flat MUP that's near my house has a lighted busy intersection every 5 minutes(ish).

And I don't have a power meter yet, I'm going to wait for the Vector I think.

Is it frowned upon to do a bike field test on my KK road machine?

I used my KK and trainerroad and did the 8 minute test (actually an hour long) and it gave me results, not sure how accurate it is but it gave me a baseline that I can work off of. I like the virtual power it better fits my price range. I already had the HRM and cadence sensor so all I did was buy a Ant+ stick and hooked up an old computer downloaded the proper programs and away I went.



2011-11-17 10:49 AM
in reply to: #3905568

Master
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Subject: RE: VO2 & Lactate Testing
ubersteiny - 2011-11-17 9:55 AM

Thanks for the replies, the one issue with the field testing is that there's  not much of nice continous bike ways out here. my flat MUP that's near my house has a lighted busy intersection every 5 minutes(ish).

And I don't have a power meter yet, I'm going to wait for the Vector I think.

Is it frowned upon to do a bike field test on my KK road machine?

I do it like that. I have a powermeter, so can use the numbers elsewhere too.



Edited by brigby1 2011-11-17 10:53 AM
2011-11-17 11:05 AM
in reply to: #3904785

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2011-11-17 11:19 AM
in reply to: #3904785

Expert
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Savannah
Subject: RE: VO2 & Lactate Testing
Why lab test for your baseline if you're going to field test after that?  For consistency sake I'd use the same testing protocol throughout whether it be lab or field testing, keeping the "unit of measurement" closer to the same.  Personally I'd field test and not even get the labs done.

Edited by mktoson 2011-11-17 11:21 AM
2011-11-17 2:44 PM
in reply to: #3905763

Extreme Veteran
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Victoria
Subject: RE: VO2 & Lactate Testing

mktoson - 2011-11-17 9:19 AM Why lab test for your baseline if you're going to field test after that?  For consistency sake I'd use the same testing protocol throughout whether it be lab or field testing, keeping the "unit of measurement" closer to the same.  Personally I'd field test and not even get the labs done.

If I were to field test I wouldn't lab test.

 

Are you able to accurately do a vo2 max test in the field though?

2011-11-17 2:57 PM
in reply to: #3906153

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Subject: RE: VO2 & Lactate Testing
ubersteiny - 2011-11-17 3:44 PM

mktoson - 2011-11-17 9:19 AM Why lab test for your baseline if you're going to field test after that?  For consistency sake I'd use the same testing protocol throughout whether it be lab or field testing, keeping the "unit of measurement" closer to the same.  Personally I'd field test and not even get the labs done.

If I were to field test I wouldn't lab test.

 

Are you able to accurately do a vo2 max test in the field though?

 

What are you hoping to get from a vo2 max test that will help you with training?



2011-11-17 3:15 PM
in reply to: #3906175

Extreme Veteran
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Subject: RE: VO2 & Lactate Testing
qrkid - 2011-11-17 12:57 PM
ubersteiny - 2011-11-17 3:44 PM

mktoson - 2011-11-17 9:19 AM Why lab test for your baseline if you're going to field test after that?  For consistency sake I'd use the same testing protocol throughout whether it be lab or field testing, keeping the "unit of measurement" closer to the same.  Personally I'd field test and not even get the labs done.

If I were to field test I wouldn't lab test.

 

Are you able to accurately do a vo2 max test in the field though?

 

What are you hoping to get from a vo2 max test that will help you with training?

To retest in 8 weeks when my program finishes that I'm doing to start and see if I raised my VO2 max.

2011-11-17 3:28 PM
in reply to: #3906197

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Subject: RE: VO2 & Lactate Testing

The reason I asked was because vo2 max in of itself is not an indicator of anything. It is trainable to an extent but not by much.

You are not going to base training intensity off of vo2 max.

On eof the best examples of that is Derek Clayton, former marathon world record holder (2:08/9 range) had a vo2 max of 69 when the range expected of elite runners is 60 - 80. Clayton was obv on the low end, but was the world record holder.

Figuring out your lactate threshold would be more valuable from a training standpoint.

Think of VO2 max as an athletes aerobic potential and the lactate threshold as the marker for how much of that potential they are tapping.

2011-11-17 3:37 PM
in reply to: #3906227

Extreme Veteran
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Victoria
Subject: RE: VO2 & Lactate Testing
qrkid - 2011-11-17 1:28 PM

The reason I asked was because vo2 max in of itself is not an indicator of anything. It is trainable to an extent but not by much.

You are not going to base training intensity off of vo2 max.

On eof the best examples of that is Derek Clayton, former marathon world record holder (2:08/9 range) had a vo2 max of 69 when the range expected of elite runners is 60 - 80. Clayton was obv on the low end, but was the world record holder.

Figuring out your lactate threshold would be more valuable from a training standpoint.

Think of VO2 max as an athletes aerobic potential and the lactate threshold as the marker for how much of that potential they are tapping.

I'd be basing my training and pacing off of my LT but would like to track both to see if I'm increasing my potential as well. 

2011-11-17 3:44 PM
in reply to: #3906254

Runner
Subject: RE: VO2 & Lactate Testing
ubersteiny - 2011-11-17 4:37 PM

I'd be basing my training and pacing off of my LT but would like to track both to see if I'm increasing my potential as well. 



Maybe it's a terminology thing, but how can you really increase your potential?

I guess maybe I'm not completely understanding what your goals are.
2011-11-17 4:34 PM
in reply to: #3906270

Extreme Veteran
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Subject: RE: VO2 & Lactate Testing
Scout7 - 2011-11-17 1:44 PM
ubersteiny - 2011-11-17 4:37 PM

I'd be basing my training and pacing off of my LT but would like to track both to see if I'm increasing my potential as well. 

Maybe it's a terminology thing, but how can you really increase your potential? I guess maybe I'm not completely understanding what your goals are.

sorry, potential being VO2 max. 



2011-11-17 4:36 PM
in reply to: #3904785

Extreme Veteran
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Victoria
Subject: RE: VO2 & Lactate Testing

So I won't be basing my training plan off what my VO2 max value is but I would track it to see if it's increasing along with my LT.

I'm about to start an HIIT(high intensity interval training) program which has you above LT a lot of the time. So it'd be nice to know if I'm raising my roof and ceiling so to speak.

2011-11-17 6:38 PM
in reply to: #3906153

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Montague Gold Mines, Nova Scotia
Subject: RE: VO2 & Lactate Testing
ubersteiny - 2011-11-17 4:44 PM

Are you able to accurately do a vo2 max test in the field though?


If you want to have a number (i.e. 55mL/kgmin) then not really. However, the number itself is pretty meaningless but you can do field tests that will allow you to see if pace/power at VO2 max is improving. 3-5 minutes all out in any of the three sports done as a field test will give you an idea of whether you are improving your ability in this area.

Shane
2011-11-17 11:56 PM
in reply to: #3906452

Extreme Veteran
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Victoria
Subject: RE: VO2 & Lactate Testing

gsmacleod - 2011-11-17 4:38 PM
ubersteiny - 2011-11-17 4:44 PM Are you able to accurately do a vo2 max test in the field though?
If you want to have a number (i.e. 55mL/kgmin) then not really. However, the number itself is pretty meaningless but you can do field tests that will allow you to see if pace/power at VO2 max is improving. 3-5 minutes all out in any of the three sports done as a field test will give you an idea of whether you are improving your ability in this area. Shane

Makes sense. A friend of mine works at this facility so I'll ask him some questions and see if he knows anything about the equipment used.

2011-11-18 7:24 AM
in reply to: #3906345

Runner
Subject: RE: VO2 & Lactate Testing
ubersteiny - 2011-11-17 5:36 PM

So I won't be basing my training plan off what my VO2 max value is but I would track it to see if it's increasing along with my LT.

I'm about to start an HIIT(high intensity interval training) program which has you above LT a lot of the time. So it'd be nice to know if I'm raising my roof and ceiling so to speak.



But, see, that's the thing; you can't really raise it a significant amount, even through training.

Besides, VO2Max isn't really the limiter for the majority of people; it's simply time and dedication to training.
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