Sport Physiology hub: Submaximal exercise test

Although VO2max shows the ‘ceiling’ for aerobic activity, the body’s responses to exercise at lower intensities are equally important for endurance sport. We will test how your heart and lungs respond to the intensities that you will encounter in training and competition. We can also measure the blood lactate response to exercise – this is probably the most helpful variable to know for setting training zones and evaluating your endurance fitness. Lastly, we can assess your economy/efficiency as well as the rate at which you use carbohydrates and fat.