[Seth Keena]

Hi Betsy,

Thanks for writing in.

I can offer some imperfect advice and experience, but there is no one solution here.

It is entirely possible that your AeT per the drift test is 117bpm. Your legs clearly have the muscular endurance to handle a lot of volume above this threshold. It’s common to have the legs ‘above’ the cardio like this. I have seen many folks ‘feel’ AeT to be 10-15beats, sometimes more, above their metabolic AeT, proven from both MET and Lactate tests. OK, your metabolic AeT is relatively low. Here’s some ides for the way forward.

Count backwards from this OLY hike.

For all but the final 3weeks: Aim to do nearly 100% of your volume at 117, and do a  lot of volume. Supplement low-/no-impact machines to avoid injury. There will be some slow uphill walking here. Do not add weight to uphill unless it’s for strength workouts. Consider doing some workouts fasted https://evokeendurance.com/fasted-training-a-nuanced-view/ During this period, train specific strength (hiking ME) and let this count as your AnT volume as well.

For the final 3weeks: Do about 50% of your volume at 117bpm (or, if you retest and find a higher AeT, whatever your AeT is) and the remainder of the volume by feel. Keep the ME volume going.

After your trip, go back to the goal of lifting AeT (ie 100% volume at AeT, retesting every ~4weeks, maximal strength workouts, ~5% volume in Z3)  This is the ‘at a certain point’ method; at a certain point the training needs to pivot from addressing aerobic deficiency and point towards the reality of the event.

Again, this is one way to approach this situation. I think you will have good odds of success going this way.

Best of luck and stick with it!

-Seth