It is not always necessary for an athlete to complete both a VO2 Max test and a Lactate Threshold test, and understanding the purpose of each can help athletes decide which one is more appropriate for their goals. Both tests provide valuable, yet distinct, insights into an athlete’s endurance capacity and training needs.
The VO2 Max test reflects an athlete’s aerobic capacity and is often used as a benchmark for endurance potential. It’s most appropriate for those athletes who want to assess their overall aerobic fitness and compare it to norms, or to use it for monitoring personal progress. It can also be used to set training intensities by defining different zones that are based on percentages of Vo2 max (i.e. 60-70% for endurance work, 80-90% for threshold work).
The Lactate Threshold test determines the point during exercise at which lactate begins to accumulate in the bloodstream faster than it can be cleared. This threshold indicates the highest intensity at which an athlete can sustain aerobic exercise without rapid fatigue. This test is appropriate for those runners who utilize heart rate zones when training, and who want to improve sustainable pace and performance at race intensity. Compared to the VO2 max test, the Lactate Threshold test guides training intensity more precisely since it directly measures the athlete’s metabolic responses to exercise.
Depending on your training goals, it may be appropriate for you to complete both a VO2 Max test and a Lactate Threshold test. VO2 Max gives you an overall measure of aerobic capacity, while lactate threshold tells you how much of that capacity you can actually use efficiently during a race. Athletes who complete both tests can use the VO2 Max score to monitor their aerobic capacity, and can use lactate threshold to improve sustainable pace and endurance performance.
