We believe the term "anaerobic" is inappropriate because what determines this pace is primarily the ability of the body to clear and utilize lactate and not a switch to anaerobic metabolism.
Blood reveals the truth
Lactate testing is used all over the world. Coaches and athletes rely on it. But do they know what they are doing and why they are doing it?
We don’t believe it is that easy. It took us decades and the insight of highly respected scientists to understand how to “read” and “interpret” lactate test results and how to turn them into a training plan that works.
A very important person was (and still is) Prof.Dr. Jan Olbrecht (*), an endurance sports scientist.
Lactate is the unique metabolic variable that indicates the capability of the muscles for an athletic performance. Lactate is an output of the anaerobic process and a fuel for the aerobic process. Blood lactate levels during different levels of exercise can measure the strength of each system. No other parameter provides this same information.
It turns out that each individual has his own way of adapting. Any smart training plan must recognize this by constantly adjusting the athlete’s training based on his or her response to previous training. Has the training been effective? How do you know?
That’s what lactate test Analyzing by Luc Van Lierde Coaching tells you.
Let us tell you how to do a lactate test
We can provide you with the best lactate analysis and the interpretation of results – probably the least understood, yet most important, aspect of lactate testing. All you need to do is follow our protocol at a center of your choice and send us the results.
(*) Jan Olbrecht
Prof. Jan Olbrecht has a Ph.D. in physiology and biomechanics and is training adviser to several world class athletes. He believes in careful planning and uses a unique method of lactate testing to assess and optimize the athlete’s conditioning and potential. An overview on this approach and its application in training are given in his book “The science of Winning”.
He has received several awards for sports science research in Belgium and abroad. He is also lecturer at the Coaches Academy in Cologne (Germany), at the University of Ghent and the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium), visiting lecturer in The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, US and Canada and invited speaker for many International Sports Federations.
For already more than 30 years he provides training advice for athletes as Brigitte Becue, F. Scherer, M. Wouda, K. Vlieghuis, Inge de Bruijn, Pieter van den Hoogenband, M. Veldhuis, I. Dekker, R. Romero, G. Borges, F. Molina, R. Kromowidjojo, F. Heemskerk, P. Timmers, F. and recently Manaudu, F. Gilot and some Australian swimmers, F. Hamblock (European Champion Olympic Triathlon 1990), L. Van Lierde (Ironman World Championship recordholder – Hawaii 1996 and 1999, holder of fastest Ironman ever run – Ironman Europe 1997), K. Smet (European Champion Olympic Triathlon 2000 and 2002, World Champion long distance 2005, 4th on the Olympics 2004) and R. Beke, B Arnouts, T. Deckers (triathlon), J. Smets (several times World Champion) and M. Bervoets (motocross), W. Vandijck, V. Rousseau, N. Kahan and L. Slegers, I. Kimeli (running), the Dutch National Rowing Team with M. Van Eupen and K. Van der Kolk (Olympic Gold in Bejing 2008), the Women 8 (silver in Bejing 2008) and G. Cirkel, M. Bartman, D. Lippits.
Since the Olympic Games Sydney 2000, athletes (swimming and rowing) under his and their coaches’ supervision returned home with 77 medals (16x gold – 30x silver – 31 bronze) resulting from 12 x gold, 7 x silver and 9 x bronze races.