Lactate test - impossible to complete (asks me to run for 3 min between 170-179 in the last part)

Hi everyone, quick question: I tried a guided lactate threshold test today, but was (physically) unable to complete it.

I went through all the (increasingly harder) stages. For the last stage, it asked me to run 3 min at a heart rate between 170 and 179. However, I simply couldnt maintain this for three minutes at all. The 3 minute before that the target was 160-169, which was fine - but it was impossible to go above 170 and stay there. Zone 5 is defined as 160-178 for me, with 178 being my maximum heart rate according to the watch.

Could it be that my max heart rate is set too high? It is my third Fenix watch (3HR, 5S, 6S) over many years however, so I am guessing that the value is correct. I would also say that I am pretty fit (VO2max 54, age 42, very active person).

So, am I doing anything wrong? Or am I just too weak for the test? :-)

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0 Yannis77 over 4 years ago

I too have trouble getting at and staying at the last 5% of my maximum HR. (vo2 57, age 43). It is near impossible for 3 straight minutes. Did not try a lactate test, just commenting on those last 5%

0 MikeM over 4 years ago

I'm having the same sort of issues, Fenix 5X+ I could do a LTH test fine, Fenix 6, no way. I'm going to try fjelsten's suggestion later today from this thread and will report back

forums.garmin.com/.../lactate-threshold-test-has-failed-twice---what-structure-in-my-run-do-i-need-to-do-to-get-it-to-auto-detect

0 AndreiDracul over 4 years ago

My vo2max is 41 and I'm 32. I got a lactate treshold of 169. I'm 6'2 and 235pounds. What i did was do random sprints at different speeds as long as i could maintain in my last 4 runs. Make sure lactate treshold detection is on.

0 honza_81 over 4 years ago

I'm 39 and I never do separate test. If I run faster with HR>160, then I usually get LTH while saving activity.

0 Ben over 4 years ago in reply to honza_81

Interesting. I am frequently doing interval runs where I go all-out - and in many years of wearing a Fenix watch I never received this LTH message afterwards (as opposed to VO2max updates for instance). Lactate autodetection is of course on.

0 MikeM over 4 years ago in reply to MikeM

I tried the above method and it didn't work for me

0 AndreiDracul over 4 years ago in reply to honza_81

Same. The actual test seems nuts

0 Former Member over 4 years ago

You need to have a "chest heart rate" strap to get LTH?? Right?

0 tess over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member

Are you sure 178 is your max HR? If this is the case, it shouldn't be difficult to run 170+ for 3 mins. You just need your HR to exceed this and not be concerned about pace. If you start off sprinting and can't reach 170 due to fatigue, I suspect your max HR is set to high.

0 Dr Phil over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member

Ideally yes.