Threshold-VO2 Max Training

Simply stated, threshold training relates to the minimum amount of exercise that will improve physical fitness. For exercise to be effective, it must be done with sufficient frequency, intensity, and for a long enough duration. As fitness improves the threshold level gets higher. There are two concepts that are key to understanding why threshold training is useful. The first is VO2max and the second is anaerobic threshold (or lactate threshold, or lactate turning point). VO2max tells us our performance potential. It stands for the maximum volume of oxygen we utilize per pound of body weight. The more we can use the faster we can potentially go.

Anaerobic Threshold is a little trickier to understand. When we use fuel (fats, carbohydrates, glucose etc) to go faster we produce lactic acid (or lactate). Lactate when combined with oxygen produces energy and carbon dioxide which we breathe out. If we can't use the lactate that we produce it builds up in the muscles and blood stream. Too much of this and the muscles can't operate and we feel pain. Improving our ability to use the lactate produced can help us to avoid the burn and more importantly go faster.