Definition
Lactate threshold refers to the exercise intensity at which lactic acid begins accumulating rapidly in the blood stream. This causes a burning sensation and fatigue.
Explanation
- During intense exercise, cells turn to anaerobic glycolysis for energy which produces lactate as a byproduct.
- Lactate threshold indicates your body’s ability to clear lactate and buffer acidity. Higher threshold enables higher performance.
- Many do lactate threshold intervals or tempo training targeting intensity right below threshold speed or watts.
- Athletes use threshold heart rate and pace as benchmarks for training zones and monitor progress by testing periodically.
Examples
- Sustaining a 10K race pace just under threshold levels
- Running 5x1000m repeats at lactate threshold heart rate
Related Terms
- Lactic acid, VO2 max, tempo run, zone training, anaerobic threshold
Common Questions
- How can I improve my lactate threshold? Interval training focused on threshold levels or slightly above.
- What happens if I train above threshold? Fatigue quicker as lactate accumulates rapidly forcing you to slow down.
Do Not Confuse With
- Anaerobic threshold – Same concept, different term.
- VO2 max – Maximal oxygen uptake indicates aerobic capacity. Different metric.
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