[radu.diaconu]

Hi,

In the past, I have done a few lactate tests (at the recommendation of my former coach Scott Semple) using a 3min step protocol and stepping off the treadmill while actually taking the blood measurement (~60sec of being off the running belt). Since I’ve done these test alone this protocol worked very well and as Scott said “if it’s good enough for Michael Phelps it is good enough for us”.
Since then I’ve read/listened to a lot of information on different lactate tests protocols and it looks like there is a lot of debate on the proper step duration and how this might influence the lactate values. Also, I’ve been playing around with a device that claims that it can measure VT1 and VT2 using the ventilation data captured by wearing a special shirt with a sensor.
My question is: how much does the fact that I’m stepping off the running treadmill (3:1 effort/rest) influence my lactate measurements? And if it is that significant, what would be a better test protocol recommendation?

Thank you very much.

Radu

[Scott Johnston]

Radu:

I use the same protocol with Tom Evans who is self-testing during some of his workouts (not for zone determination). As long as the protocol is close to the same each time you test you will be comparing apples to apples as they say. You do not really care what the absolute Lactate number is, you care what it is relative to you and the last time you did the same effort. If the protocol is the same I think you are wise to accept the number. I’ve no experience with the shirt you mention. I think nose breathing is an amazingly accurate ventilation test and pretty cheap compared to a fancy shirt with sensors. 😉

I hope that helps,
Scott

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