A point during exhaustive, all-out exercise at which lactic acid builds up in the blood stream faster than the body can remove it. Lactic acid is a by-product of the anaerobic energy pathway, a process which provides energy to muscles by partially breaking down glucose without the need for oxygen.

Anaerobic metabolism produces energy for short, high-intensity bursts of activity (lasting no more than a few minutes) before the lactic acid build-up reaches a threshold where it can no longer be absorbed and, therefore, accumulates. This point is known as the lactate threshold and is usually reached between 50 to 80% of a athlete's VO2 max.

Athletes often use their lactate threshold to determine how to train and what sort of a pace they can maintain during endurance sports. Because the lactate threshold can be increased greatly with training, many athletes and coaches have devised complicated training plans to increase this value LT Training or Creating Training Zones

VO2 max, or maximal oxygen uptake, is one factor that can determine an athlete's capacity to perform sustained exercise and is linked to aerobic endurance. VO2 max refers to the maximum amount of oxygen that an individual can utilize during intense or maximal exercise. It is measured as "milliliters of oxygen used in one minute per kilogram of body weight."

This measurement is generally considered the best indicator of an athlete's cardiovascular fitness and aerobic endurance. Theoretically, the more oxygen you can use during high level exercise, the more ATP (energy) you can produce. This is often the case with elite endurance athletes who typically have very high VO2 max values.

Lactate threshold (LT) training is a popular method of improving high intensity endurance performance. While V02 Max may indicate an athlete's genetic potential and natural ability, their lactate threshold can be increased substantially with the right training program. Athletes often use their lactate threshold to determine how to train and what sort of a pace they can maintain during endurance sports. Because the lactate threshold can be increased greatly with training, many athletes and coaches have devised complicated training plans to increase this value

Lance being Tested by CTS

Lance-Armstrong-Lactate-Thresho

Cost for Test Series: $135.00. This includes 2 test's 5 weeks apart on either the Track Running or Biking on the Computrainer. You receive a detail breakdown describing your Lactate Performance Curve showing your mmol/l (Lactate Production) based on Heart Rate, RPE, Wattage & Speed (on Bike)

Run test: You are first tested at resting (no warm-up). Then you start your run, testing every three to four minutes as you increase your speed (time) on the track.

Bike Test: I mount your bike on my Computrainer and test at resting. You then start to pedal at a Low Wattage. I increase your Wattage every 5 minutes and Test every five minutes also.

NOTE: On both test's when you Lactate (mmol/l) acid increase's substantially during the testing and I determine that your mmol/I has risen (the curve is now headed upwards) the test is complete.