Lactate Threshold Testing

When I was on the Resident Team 10 years ago, we used it ALL the time. Sometimes we'd do test sets and get our fingers (or ears) pricked and get an instant readout of how tired we were. For example, I would do a 2,000 LCM *** and find out how high my lactate levels were. We did this test every other month, I think. Every time, my lactate level decreased, which meant I was getting better at maintaining a good speed for that distance. We also did it for sprinting. Used mostly to judge my rate of recovery. I'd get blood taken in the middle of the set, at the end and five minutes later to judge recovery. After a while, you don't feel the needle puncturing your skin. I don't know how much they cost for "ordinary" people. I'm sure USA Swimming got them for a bargain. And I don't know what kind we used, but it looked like the diabetes monitors that you see on TV, only they measured lactate, not sugar. Jeff did you mean 2000 or 200. I mean, just curious, I can do a mile of "old style" ***. I tried to do a 50 fly after 800FR and 5x 100 BR and I died...totally. First time ever I failed to get to the wall (I'm no flyer). I guess I hit the muscle groups a lot, but I definitely just ran out of power. I'd be curious to test myself.

We used to do lactate testing in college. It was sort of a big production at the time. We'd do it a couple times a season and they'd bring in an entire staff of people to take blood samples. We didn't get the results back for quite a while. If the process is such that it can be done quickly and relatively cheaply I think it would be worth doing.

George Thanks for the numbers. How are they derived? Like most heart rate and RPE models it seems there is wide variation for the targets among athletes . Hence my interest in blood lactate levels. It takes out all the subjectivity of RPE and the inherent variables in HR based workouts. The other thing about lactate testing is that it supposedly identifies each persons efficiencies and lack thereof in terms of the different metabolic systems. One of the things I am interested to learn is what to do with my workouts once I get some data. Keep the info coming it is very interesting. Many Thanks Spudfn

My brother Thurlow (he is 76 and not well) developed this computer program. I put the numbers in it spits it out. He gave me the program it comes in 5 floppy discs. I have put it onto a CD. He is the one who took the blood samples, he said he was able to read these and tell if the person training was just putting in time or giving it a good try. All I do is add a name, age and resting heart rate. The blood stuff I do not know about just what the program says, but it is very accurate and gives variables. Being a sprinter I only do my Max Vo2 workouts up to 75 meters. The program will spit the workouts for any distance any stroke. The workouts come out telling you what heart rate you should have while doing them. You have to tell the program what time you want to swim eg 22 sec 50 or 5 min 400m. Thurlow is the guy who went to the swimming hall of fame pool with his team and had his kids do 100 X 100.

I have a natural low lactate threshold. To get fromt he poo to the lockerroom where I swim during the summer, I have to walk up a hill. It about kills me. I stagger up the hill. I look like I'm drunk. When I get cramps during a workout, they don't really bother me. Right now my calves are doing spams.

I have a natural low lactate threshold. To get fromt he poo to the lockerroom where I swim during the summer, I have to walk up a hill. It about kills me. I stagger up the hill. I look like I'm drunk. When I get cramps during a workout, they don't really bother me. Right now my calves are doing spams. Our poo room is in the locker room near the showers.:lolup::lolup::lolup::thhbbb::thhbbb:

There are many ways to train, we have max V02 not to be done more than twice a week. Where people go wrong is that it they consider that Max V02 is to swim at lactate threshold. Lactate threshold should only be done once a month if ever. Max Vo2 is done at a lower HR than lactate threshold swimming. I will have to go into my wife's computer as mine does not have Quattro Pro I need it to read my brother's program. I will get the standards and post the differences later her computer is in for repairs. George, what you are calling lactate threshold training is what most people call lactate tolerance training and is the fastest effort your brother's progrma lays out. By contrast what most people call lactate threshold training is what you, or your brother Thurlow call anaerobic threshold training. This lactate threshold training is aimed at increasing the speed you can hold without having lactate accumulate in the blood. It's the highest steady state you can theoretically maintain. Lactate tolerance training is aimed at your ability to keep swimming when it hurts, BAD. Although it is not a definite line where you cross form one adaptation to the other, it's all a sliding scale.

If you have a goal to swim 50 yards or 50 meters in 22 seconds. Lac Tolerance 10 X 50 at 23.98 sec start a 50 every 1 min. Max Vo2 15 X 50 at 25.1 sec start a 50 every 44 sec Aenerobic Threshold 30 X 50 at 27.7 sec start a 50 every 35 sec. Lac Tolerence should read Lac Threshold my mistake. This may help www.rice.edu/.../anaerobic.threshold.html

Our poo room is in the locker room near the showers.:lolup::lolup::lolup::thhbbb::thhbbb: I am laughing my a** off right now! :rofl: - -

Fastjack is a really fast swimmer and a comedian too.