So Tuesday night I got my VO2 retested for the run (last test was May 2006). The test was performed by Fitness Concepts in Falls Church, VA. My results were outstanding as my zone 2, endurance zone, increased 11 beats - which means I can run faster and still be in zone 2. This is very key for IM being an endurance event. So, I believe this will reduce my zone 2 time from about 10 minute miles to around 9:15-9:30 depending on conditions. Some other figures came out of it was my anaerobic threshold reduced from 179 to 172 and my maximum heart rate reduced from 200 to 189. Ken Meirkle, the person performing the test, said that my heart has gotten stronger. I have noticed during my track workouts that it has been harder get up in zone 4 even though I was getting faster, but now i realize I must have been running anaerobic during that time. It all makes since. If anyone out there has no idea what I am talking about and wants to understand, just send me an email.
About the test. The test is performed on a treadmill in which you warm up for about 15-20 minutes. Then you put on a head gear that covers your nose and mouth with a tube sticking out of it connected to a computer. The computer analyses your exhale and determines at different heart rates the % fat and % carbs you are burning. During endurance events, you want to burn more fat because you have an unlimited supplies and can on forever. So the majority of IM training is in this zone or zone 2. As the treadmill gets faster, you begin to burn less fat and burn more carbs in which you have a limited supply of. Typically, you would run a 5k, 10K or even a 10mile race in zone 4. As the treadmill increases every 1-minute, Ken then takes a reading and towards the end of the test when you are going really fast, he increases the pace more and then the incline. This is where the test gets really brutal because you have to keep running faster as your body is about to fall apart so Ken can get good data. It is a great test and gives good results for determining what pace you should be training in during your season.
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