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Is the guided lactate threshold workout adequate?

Did the test today, watch asked following intervals:

0. Warm-up

1. 4min 154bpm

2. 4 min 154bpm

3. 4 min 170bmp

4. 4 min 175 bpm

3. 3 min 185

4. 3min 195

5. 3 min 203 

First, strange, why it is needed to run two same intervals with 154 (5:50-6:00 min/km). Second. my maximum hr is between 204 (achieved this year) -209 (2-3 years ago). To get 195 in 6 min i should run around 3:30, and i'm not sure that I can get 203 without intervals. Expected threshold is around 183-187 and pace 4:30.

What are you experience with this test?

  • Did the test succeed, did you get your threshold estimate at the end?

  • Yes, but the result is strange. 184 and 4:37, same as for last 1,5 months.Seems that pace steps are too steep...

    I expected higher LTH pace, becouse recommendations for training based on these values lead me to too low pace, i need 7+ km to leave warm up zone during base training.

    For example last week i did 11km with average pace 4:15 and av heart rate increasing from 177 to 188 (from first to last km).

  • A couple more questions: Did you run the test on even terrain? And did you accelerate steadily during the test, starting each phase at the lower end of the HR range and ending in the upper?

  • It was flat, and i tried to do it evenly, but with the higher hr it was hard to get right hr, so it was a bit wavy +/-2-3 bpm. And i'didnt reach 203 bpm and average pace for two last intervals was almost same with 3:45-3:40.

    The question is why watch ask to run with 99% of maximum to define hr and more strange to have steps like 5-10% of maximum.

  • I have a 955, but just completed the test as well.

    Had the same experience with the double interval and was confused.

    I did not have perfectly even terrain, but it's the closest thing to a track I have nearby.

    It put my Lactate Threshold HR at 183, and a lab test I had done 9 months ago put my Anaerobic Threshold (close, but not quite the same) at 175. The test was pretty stressful, I've always assumed that my HR readings were a bit off. So I'm going to say it's fairly accurate?

  • I think these tests should not be taken "seriously" as to be able to compare it to a lab test, but rather to do the same test with the same watch on the same track and see how it's improving over time

  • Conconi like test are quite precise comparing to laboratory tests, if they are done right way. Question was how adequate is garmin test...

  • Update here: After a few weeks of training, it actually updated my LTHR to 176. Again, considering the Anaerobic Threshold isn't exactly the same as Lactate Threshold, this is pretty close. 

  • I now also did the test for the first time with my 965 (have done it many times in the past with my Fenix 5+). I think the test algorithm has been developed further. I also got the double interval with the same HR range in the beginning, and it's logical if my HR/pace ratio (or HRV) hadn't settled yet during the warm-up. It also had me run further with higher HRs after passing the expected LTHR, which sounds also understandable if the watch is looking for deflection points in HRV. In the end it gave almost exactly the same LTHR and pace as I had got with my old Fenix 5+ a couple of months ago, but of course now I got also a FTP estimate that 5+ didn't support.