The clock ticks towards 3pm, I get to leave work early for this lactic threshold testing (I didn't tell my boss). I rush into the work changing room and whip my hi-vis and work boots off. My head is pumping a little with a slight head ache, I think it must be because I hadn't eaten much. I scan my finger to clock out and hurry out to the car.
Im cutting it tight as it is. I take the usual route home to pick up gear that I forgot to bring with me this morning, runners, socks, shorts and a single. All thats needed for a sweaty run on a treadmill.
I pick up my sisters canon 100D DSL camera and pack it snugly away in my gym bag. A few weeks ago she suggested making a video of my Kenyan training trip, I figure whats the harm it would be something to do.
Back to the car, two things left to pick up:
- A memory card for the camera
- Matt.
I pull into the shopping centre carpark outside maplins, I figure if anywhere is to have a memory card for a camera it will be this place.
They do...but they are out of my price range. I take a little jog over to PC world around the corner, my body feels stiff, I had
been sitting down nearly all day trying to finish off paper work.
I grab a 128GB Micro SD in my price range and get out of the shop as fast as possible. Id say they definitely thought I robbed something,who runs into a shop and runs out all in the space of 45 seconds.
I meant to meeting matt at 4, I give matt a buzz, I knew he wasn't working and figured he would be interested the whole thing. I tear up to matts and wait for him to come out. Im getting a little nervous, I think I am just looking forward to getting it done. I search around the car for anything to light to eat. I find some jelly sweets that look like they have been there a while, I guess it wont do any harm as little sugar is pretty much exactly what I need to keep the body ticking over.
On the drive over to the test we talk about all different ideas and projects on our minds. I pretty excited that matt was helping
out by taking a few video for this little project. We pull up at 4.40 pretty much just in time. As we walk over to the lab
I give matt a quick run down of how to use the camera (i don't really know how to use it but its pretty much a point and shoot so its not too difficult to get the hang of).
We wonder the halls trying to find the room where i am to be testsed. We find it at 4.50.
The guy who's testing me knows his stuff, he talks me through the whole test. Its split into 2 sections. The first is a set of 6 min repeats.
You have to do at least 6 reps in order to get an accurate reading of your lactic theshold. Between each 6 min set you have 1 minute rest while blood is sampled from your ear. The second section of the test is running on the treadmill as long as you can while the speed is increased every minute (no blood is taken with this one).
The lab operator hands me a consent form before starting, I don't really read it and sign anyway, basically its just incase I snot myself on the treadmill and get injured.
I knew I was in for it. The last time I did the test was about 4 years ago and but I only did the second half of the test. This is the part that gives you your V02 max. last time this test took about 15 mins. I crunched the numbers in my head, the first section will take 6 mins x 6 reps = 36mins at least. Then section two about 15mins. Im going to be running for just under an hour. twice as long as my longest run since my surgery.
This made me kind of nervous and I 100% didn't eat enough for this but I hop onto the treadmill and plough on through the 6min reps anyway.
I managed 6.5 reps of the 6 minute repeats. My lactic got up to about 5.6. which is ok apparently. And my VO2 max is
knocking around the high 60s low 70s. The final result will be sent out to me in a week or so. Surprisingly my max heart rate was only 182 bpm. Theoretically I should have a HR of 197bpm (220 - your age) but it is what it is.
We finish up after about an hour. We go and grab some food, Im just glad its over. I hit the bed not wanting to wake up to the sore muscles that will greet me in the morning.
