Performance testing is the foundation of effective and efficient athletic training and coaching. Joe Vigil, former coach of Deena Kastor (USA Olympic Bronze Medalist in the marathon, 2004 Olympics) and one of the most effective and successful collegiate track coaches of all time, said, Its important for every athlete, no matter what sport, to develop the highest aerobic base and VO2max that s/he can in any given calendar year.
Research is now indicating that even in speed races, energy derived from the aerobic component is greater than first thought. A second important consideration is that every athlete needs to be tested to find out his or her lactate threshold. Once this threshold is established, whether in swimming, cycling, or running, the coach can tailor workouts to challenge the lactate threshold to improve fractionalization. This is an objective of every endurance athlete.
quote used with permission from Joe Vigil.
The highest quality training programs are developed from having both VO2max and Lactate Threshold as measured baseline parameters.
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Lactate Threshold testing
photo: Susan Morning
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