VO2 FITNESS ASSESSMENTS
At this time of year when you might be enjoying the freedom of some well deserved time off from training after a season of racing, your mind may begin to wonder towards next year. If this sounds like you, then continue reading.
If you are looking to improve your performances at races next year or are interested in understanding how to train for a specific race then RGActive are able to offer you help on the first and arguably most crucial part of your training. If you want to be able to train effectively you must first understand physically where you are starting from.
RGActive are able to offer you the chance to undergo a Metabolic Fitness Assessment, which will provide you with all of the key physiological data needed to structure your training programme.
A Metabolic Fitness Assessment is a test carried out, either on a stationery bike or a treadmill, in order to measure your metabolism of energy fuels during exercise, it monitors the volume of Oxygen you breathe in and the Carbon Dioxide you breathe out. The result of this is that you are able to get an accurate picture of how your body works while exercising and what type of training is right for you. In the past the test has only really been available to elite athletes due to cost and equipment issues, however recent advances in technology have enabled the equipment to be more readily accessible to the general public.
The test results will provide you with information including:
- Optimal fat burning heart rate zones
- Anaerobic Threshold (the point at which you begin to accumulate lactic acid) heart rate
- Maximum heart rate
- VO2 Max
All of this information is critical to your progression as a triathlete as if you are to make improvements this coming season you must:
- Improve your ability to use fat as an energy fuel
- Increase your Anaerobic Threshold (often seen as your maximum sustainable race pace)
- Increase your VO2 Max
With all of this data you will be better educated as to how to structure your 2009 training programme and RGActive can work with you to do this.
