by Dr Dave
Wed Jan 07, 2009 11:06 am
I'm sure this has been asked before but I've been reading the training plan thread and reading around for a while and I am still struggling a bit:
As a generalisation it seems that most effective training advice seems to suggest that once you have a decent base then training around/just below/above your LT is the way to build speed/tolerance and hence 'improve'. I have a pretty reasonable understanding of the principles invloved (I think!) but frankly haven't found that my ability to self-assess my LT is much use at all. The average of the final 20 mins of a 30 minute TT equates to a figure which isn't tenable and perceived exertion varies wildly even after 18 months of flogging myself.
It's the same story with my Max HR which seems so low for my age that I think someone must be slipping a beta-blocker into my food!!
Maybe I am just not 'hard' enough to tolerate the exertion needed to make these things really meaningful but I am reasonably masochistic. I guess i'm asking whether getting properly tested is advisable and if so where locally will do me a ramp test/lactate measurement that I can trust at a reasonable price.
Thanks guys!
As a generalisation it seems that most effective training advice seems to suggest that once you have a decent base then training around/just below/above your LT is the way to build speed/tolerance and hence 'improve'. I have a pretty reasonable understanding of the principles invloved (I think!) but frankly haven't found that my ability to self-assess my LT is much use at all. The average of the final 20 mins of a 30 minute TT equates to a figure which isn't tenable and perceived exertion varies wildly even after 18 months of flogging myself.
It's the same story with my Max HR which seems so low for my age that I think someone must be slipping a beta-blocker into my food!!
Maybe I am just not 'hard' enough to tolerate the exertion needed to make these things really meaningful but I am reasonably masochistic. I guess i'm asking whether getting properly tested is advisable and if so where locally will do me a ramp test/lactate measurement that I can trust at a reasonable price.
Thanks guys!