[dominicpnw]

It seems as if the facilities in my area that offer testing are using  Korr Cardio Coach to conduct assessments. From what I gather it uses oxygen uptake to assess VO2max and from that it determines your training zones. Does anyone have any experience with the Korr units, and do they provide accurate AeT?

[Scott Johnston]

Dominic;

I’m sure the Cardio Coach will provide accurate data.  What is much more important is the test protocol and what you hope to learn from the test.

A standard maxVO2 test usually involves a rapid ramp-up in intensity which zooms through the low-intensity aerobic realm to get you to your highest output before you fatigue;  Because the aerobic metabolism is somewhat slow to respond to changes in intensity, it will lag in time, and IMO will not provide you with the information you seek to set zones.  A maxVO2 test is good for testing maxVO2.

If you want to find AeT and AnT I recommend you use the tests explained in this article https://evokeendurance.com/our-latest-thinking-on-aerobic-assessment-for-the-mountain-athlete/.  These tests will give you the information you need to set your zones.  They are free, and you conduct them anytime you want as you see improvements that occur during your training progression.

If they can test you using 3-4 minute stages so the intensity is ramped up slowly, there is a good chance that the data will show AeT (RER=.75), but you or they would need to see the raw data to see that point.  They’ll give you an AnT (what they may call lactate threshold (LT)) form this test, but our ANT test is more actionable and is an actual performance test rather than using a proxy like the gas exchange test does.

I hope this is helpful.
Scott

 

 

[Author]

Posts