[AdamasPR]

I have recently done a lab lactate test on a treadmill. I had purchased one of the mountaineering plans two years ago and done consistently aerobic training for the past 18-20 months. Initially, I did an HR drift test and estimated my AeT to be 135 bpm. I train on an incline treadmill, not running, and on average I trained for 3-4 hour per week, each session being 50-60 minutes. These are the results of my lactate test.

HR     Lactate

81       0.8
93      0.8
104    0.8
117     0.9
130    1.6
141     2.4
152     4.1

So is it correct to say that the AeT is between 117 and 130? In the past months, I mostly aimed for  an average of 125-130 HR during the session, but sometimes it drifted to 135 later in the workout. Should I scale back and train at an HR closer to 120? After 18 months, I was expecting to see an increase in AeT over my initial estimate of 135 based on a HR drift test, but maybe I overestimated because of wishful thinking…

[Scott Johnston]

Part of the problem is that you used two different tests to determine your AeT.  I would recommend repeating the same drift test as you did 18months ago.  I would also recommend re-doing the drift test more frequently or anytime you see an increase in pace for the same HR.  Or you could use this lactate test as the base line and re-test with lactate every 4-6 weeks of consistent training.  Lactate is heavily affected by what you have eaten in the few hours before.  Also it is important to be consistent to see improvement in AeT (as it is with any training). If you have had breaks from consistency in the past 18 month that can explain a lack of progress.  We normally will see quite significant gains in either HR or pace during 18months of consistent aerobic base training (on the order of 10-30%).

I hope this helps,

Scott

 

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