Question

How can someone have a high vo2 max but a low lactate threshold?

Answer 1

Vo2 Max by definition is the maximum or optimum rate at which the heart, lungs, and muscles can effectively use oxygen during exercise, used as a way of measuring a person’s individual aerobic capacity. It is therefore often seen that if you improve a persons VO2 max you will also increase that persons Aerobic Fitness Levels. After all the more oxygen your body can take in and utilise the more efficient you are going to be aerobically. This makes sense!

Then we have what is called Lactate. Now everyone has heard of lactic acid and most have experienced the consequences of it, the horrible burn in your thighs, heavy legs, sicky and horrible feeling! It is therefore important to also try and improve your Lactate Threshold/Tolerance. Your body is constantly producing Lactate, every second of the day, even at lower intensities such as walking around the body is producing Lactate but at an amount that is easy enough for your body to recycle so you don’t feel the side effects. As intensity increases the Lactate production increases, meaning more for your body to try and buffer its effect. Your Threshold is the level at which the balance starts to tip over so the level of lactate your producing exceeds the amount your body is able to remove. This is why when you increase the intensity you then start feeling the effects and fatigue. The idea behind Lactate Threshold training is to try and increase your bodies ability to efficiently handle the lactate production. Essentially work at a higher intensity before production exceeds removal.