Related
Options

Lactate Threshold Test - Venting

AT
11 months ago

I've tried the lactate threshold test two times now and both have failed to detect my threshold. I use the HRM-Pro Plus. Using that during multiple very hard efforts it's detected 198 bpm a number of times. So I set my HR to 200bpm because I think I could have pushed even harder during those efforts. So I tried again today and followed the instructions perfectly. I warmed up (HR around low to mid 130s) for 13 minutes and then followed the guided HR ranges being careful to stay right in the green. The last one was between 178-188 - so I stayed between 183-187. Then it just stopped and said unable to detect threshold. No guidance no nothing - just failure, and I had no problem staying in that range.

It's really frustrating that it doesn't provide any guidance so I can make changes and try another time. Should I lower my HR, raise it? I'm staying in the green the whole time so that isn't the issue. I did both attempts on trails with a little elevation gain, do I need to run on the flat road or a track? I'm just venting because the feedback is useless. I wish it gave some direction, stated why it failed, or at least explained it's limitations. Garmin does some cool stuff but some of what they do can be very frustrating.

Anyway, I just needed to vent and figured there may be a small chance the community may have some guidance.

PS - I had a stress test at the pulmonologist last year and hit 190bpm in that before they stopped and I could have easily kept going. So my HR shouldn't be lower than that I'd imagine.

  • 0 11 months ago

    When you do an HRV stress test with the watch and the HRM Pro Plus, does it work? We are trying to verify that the chest strap is sending the right information to the watch.

    You can also try to reset the watch, or even a full reset and then restore a backup.

    If we assume that the chest strap is working fine, then comes the topic of Max HR. It is hard to infer Max HR from "very hard efforts" because efforts can feel hard when the lactic acid overwhelms the muscles and they shut down before the HR reaches close to its max. For that reason, high aerobic efforts or carefully calibrated ramp test are best to get the HR "to the max". This is still going to get you to failure, so it will be more than "very hard": it is the max.

    One wayto determine Max HR  I find reliable is to run a 5k as fast as you possible can, leaving *really* nothing left. Then take your peak HR during that PB run and add 5bpm. You can find other tests on the web. Ask your doctor for its blessing: Max HR is the fastest heart beat your body can reach in safe conditions.

    If the Max HR is good, during the test, make sure you keep an even pace during the phases. After these trials, you should get a sense of what pace will get and keep you in the target zones. Ideally, do not vary your pace. It will take a minute at least for the HR to accelerate and it might get a bit too high before the end of the 4mn.

  • 0 11 months ago in reply to Etupes25

    Yes, the chest strap works. I'll give your recommendation a try. With trail running it's almost impossible to maintain the same pace with elevation gain. The effort remains the same, but pace is going to slow to maintain the HR range while going up hills. If I kept the pace the same on a hill HR will increase. So I'll try another time on flatter terrain. Thanks for the feedback.

  • 0 11 months ago in reply to AT

    Did you do your lactate threshold test also with trail running? If yes, no wonder it didn't work. In my experience, the route should be as flat as possible, a running track preferably. Otherwise the uphill/downhill affect your hr so much that detection is impossible.

  • 0 11 months ago in reply to Bitti

    I did. The instructions said to ensure that it was an outdoor running activity for GPS. I appreciate the feedback. This is exactly what I was talking about from Garmin where they don't give direction (this is for Garmin if they read this). Why say just be outside when there is more to it. Anyway, thanks for cluing me in.