A 1-day maximal lactate steady-state assessment protocol for trained runners

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Sports Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) is crucial for endurance performance.
• Traditional MLSS testing requires multiple sessions, limiting practical application.
• Predictive markers like heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), breathing frequency (bf), and race pace may enable single-session determination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a single-session protocol for determining MLSS.
• To utilize HR, RPE, bf, and race pace as predictors for MLSS estimation.
• To reduce the time and resources required for MLSS assessment.

Main Methods:

• Twelve endurance athletes performed a novel MLSS protocol run and two validation runs.
• The protocol used specific HR, RPE, bf, and race pace values as starting points.
• Lactate concentration was measured throughout the protocol, and MLSS velocity was calculated.
• Validation runs at +/- 7.5 m/min from the predicted MLSS confirmed accuracy.

Main Results:

• The single-session protocol successfully predicted MLSS in 9 out of 12 athletes (75% accuracy).
• The validation runs supported the protocol's ability to identify steady-state and accumulating lactate conditions.
• The findings indicate a high degree of reliability for the proposed method.

Conclusions:

• A single-session protocol using HR, RPE, bf, and race pace can effectively identify MLSS.
• This method offers a time-efficient alternative to traditional multi-day testing.
• The findings have practical implications for coaches and athletes in optimizing training and testing protocols.