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Testing VO2max and lactate threshold
July 30, 2009By Alex Hutchinson
This week’s Jockology column in the Globe and Mail compares the benefits of VO2max and lactate threshold testing:
The question
What is VO2max and should I have mine tested?
The answer
VO2max is a term that surfaces whenever feats of great endurance are in the news, such as the gruelling Tour de France that wrapped up last weekend. It refers to “maximum oxygen uptake,” the amount of oxygen you’re able to deliver to your muscles when you’re exercising at your hardest.[read on...]
I’ve been tested a couple of times, once as part of an exercise physiology study and once purely for interest because a friend of mine, Dr. Gerald Zavorsky, offered to test me. But I’m not sure how many people take advantage of the commercial services offering testing. I’d be interested to hear from anyone who’s done it — why they did it, what they got out of it and so on.
Alex Hutchinson
Alex Hutchinson is the author of "Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights? Fitness Myths, Training Truths, and Other Surprising Discoveries from the Science of Exercise," published in 2011 by McClelland & Stewart (http://CardioOrWeights.com). He is a senior editor at Canadian Running, and a regular columnist on the science of fitness for the Globe and Mail. Alex competed for the Canadian national team in track, cross-country and road running between 1997 and 2008.
Also by Alex:
- Commuting calories: walk, run or bike?
- Running for your eyes
- How to improve your running economy: pay no attention to your form
Want to read more?
Go to Alex's archive
