Lactate Threshold a Garmin

Hi. I apologize if this is not the correct forum to post this. I have a Fenix 5 (after a 735xt and a F620). I'm 47, and mi MaxHR is set to 185. G Connect and my Garmin watches detected a LTH of 164 BPM, sometimes 167 (when I feel better). Since I have the Fenix 5 I've logged into Training Peaks, Premiun because I still am in the promotional period. I went out today to do threshold work (2x20 minutes, 4 minutes rest between them) and the training peaks have detected a Lactate Threshold of 176. How reliable is this? Why can it be so different from Garmin?

Thanks

0 FreekSchepers over 8 years ago

Lactate

I think it depends quite critically on the accuracy of your max heartrate and possibly also on the watch having learnt your VO2max. Lactate is normally measure in the blood and garmin (firstbeat) has a method to estimate it from heartrate, heartrate variability (I think) and speed. But that method is relies on the HR being accurate (strap better than optical) and the max hr being accurate.

Freek

0 Markyz85 over 8 years ago

Hi, I'm not yet very expirienced with garmin devices. But here is some my findings.

At the beggining of this year my lactate treshold was marked at 173bpm(in sport lab). I had two runs able to detect LTH, first was at 175 and second at 171 which I find very good result.

One off topic last year in spring I also was on VO2max test in lab was 44, this spring with garmin it says about 49, which I find again very, very good.

Hope it helps.
Martin

0 diki. over 8 years ago

How to view tha Lactate Threshold on fenix 5

How to view the lactate threshold in fenix 5? I did see the lactate threshold after my first run a few days ago, but now I cannot find the way to view it again. I tried in the performance widget (VO2max, Recovery advisor, training effect, race predictor), It's not there.

0 Agepi7o over 8 years ago

I will have my Lactate threshold tested next thursday so I'll be able to see how accurate is Garmin's data. I'm 47, my current VO2Max is 56 (but with my F735xt was 59 a month ago) and my lactate threshold is 164 (from the 735 because de F5 didn't´t delivered a value yet).

0 Darre80 over 8 years ago

I will have my Lactate threshold tested next thursday so I'll be able to see how accurate is Garmin's data.

Let us know how it goes

0 Jan502 over 8 years ago

I run 5 times 10 km low than 5 minutes per km and still show me 5:22 threshold.strange and vo2max increase from 48-52

0 mloose72 over 8 years ago

I ran a Marathon relay today as a starter. Went 16,3 km in 1:16 h which is a steady 4:32 m/km pace and an average HR of 166bpm. Strange enough my watch still shows up my 2nd run from last week as my lactate threshold which was a 11,5km up and down run (Threshold 5:43 m/km and 164bpm). Why is the watch not updating the theshold? I ran the 16k with nearly identical splits per km. Trainingpeaks on the other hand noticed a new threshold right after the race (4.31 m/km and 166bpm).

0 hskagerlind over 8 years ago

I ran a Marathon relay today as a starter. Went 16,3 km in 1:16 h which is a steady 4:32 m/km pace and an average HR of 166bpm. Strange enough my watch still shows up my 2nd run from last week as my lactate threshold which was a 11,5km up and down run (Threshold 5:43 m/km and 164bpm). Why is the watch not updating the theshold? I ran the 16k with nearly identical splits per km. Trainingpeaks on the other hand noticed a new threshold right after the race (4.31 m/km and 166bpm).

Lactate threshold detection on Garmin devices requires a run with a variation, and "significant time spent" in each HR zones during the run. A "steady pace" run will therefore most likely NOT be able to measure and detect lactate threshold.

0 --Fred-- over 8 years ago

I did a full lab test last week (lactate, VO2, DEXA, the works), the Lactate treshold my F5 pulled from a half marathon paced tempo run (i.e. just below LT) the day after was spot on!
The VO2 max on the watch is a little overestimated but I'm not surprised because as a high mileage marathoner I'm more efficient than average at aerobic runs, which provide the bulk of the data the calculation is based on.

0 mloose72 over 8 years ago

Thanks hskagerlind, was not aware of this. So if I would have run a warm up before, then the race and then a cool down I probably would have reached a new threshold, right. Seems strange but anyway.