Team Geared Up

Ais, let’s know how u go….would be interested in your results. I bet your VO2 max, ANT is off the scale…they might not want to let you go home and keep you there for further studies! ;)

lol @ Jackie!

I’ve seen this testing done in the DCU human performance labs and looks cool! people on treadmills with O2 masks on etc.

you muct be looking forward to it.

Hi Aisling,

If Trinity don’t do it for you.. I’d be happy to interpret your results and suggest areas to work on etc (I’m a Sports Scientist by the way). I’m guite keen to break into working with the Adv. Racers. I’m currently working with a M.Biker in Limerick helping him prepare for An Turas Beag.
Yes, your HR monitor will become your best friend….. You can contact me through Neal or http://www.irishclimbingcoaching.ie

Nige

Nice one Nige!

Interesting…I am ex triathlete wannabe Adventure racer! Reckon you could help me prepare for the turas beag! ;)

Well actually I have had a lactate test done already this year and am working off HRs for training (most of which is AT1 this time of year) but it might be interesting to catch up as some stage, given I would also hope to get into climbing at some stage! :)

@Nige

You just became really popular :P

are these the same kind of tests that those people do on that programme ..think its called how long you can live or something along those lines.

jackie - thats cool you have entered the turas beag, i entered it the other day…it should be lots of fun. I don’t think you should have any problems doing it… being a triathlete and all that. Rob brought along a few of his triathletes to the run last night - I couldn’t keep up with them, they were so fast.
Are you doing any of the causeway races?

howiya…won’t be doing the one on 23/24th Feb as it clashes with another training weekend but mayb one at the end of March. Hope to do a few of the others mid summer and maybe the Kilbroney Challenge also! See below…looks great eh!
https://www.sportident.co.uk/entries/event.php?event_id=124

Basically, Im up for taking on one “guinea-pig” for free and will design (based on your ex. test data and goals) a 4-6 week training program.

This is to prove to the world that I do actually know what Im on about :-) . After which I would be avalable to anyone for a reasonable fee.

I will get you results and in the process help you to avoid injury. Some of my CV is available on http://www.irishclimbingcoaching.ie under coaching team bios. I fyou want more info, gimme a shout - More info will be on our new website which will be launched soon!

Nige

Ya I really wanted to do that last year but didnt get to do it.

There are also these ones in England, take you out of the mud and bog and into the city, Robin did the one in London last year.

http://www.ratraceadventure.com

Hi Guys and Girls

Thanks Nigel, I will drop you a mail! I will do a post on the test later, but I feel like such a wuss I gave up so easy!!! I got so much information from the tester that I feel like I can’t remember any of it, so help in interpreting it would be really, really appreciated.

Looks like I should do a list of all the Adv. races that have dates……if there isn’t one already somewhere? No sign of the Avon Ri one yet?

You gave up easily !!!Thats not like you Ais. what happened?
have you entered the adventure one in kerry?

Cool,

Just attach the data part of it all to the email and give me an evening to look over it.

Nige

Hi G, well you know me, I like the ultras cos you’re not under any pressure, just jogging along…..but sprinting on a treadmill, wearing a harness and a face mask while someone draws blood every 3 minutes…aaaargghhh!!! (Like I said, what a wuss!!)

Thanks Nige, will be in touch! Sports Science sounds like such a cool job :-)

Oh crap I didnt realise they were taking blood at the same time ouch!! I would probably pass out then. They should have put medals and some running prizes in front of you to make you concentrate. Isn’t that the same thing that Rene got done up in the Beacon Clincic? I remember him posting something about it on the imra site.

They are all much the same, they take blood to get your lactate threshold, and use a mask to get your VO2 Max.
Rene did the same test alright. Key thing is they tell you alot about yourself, fitness etc when interpreted well and if you use it to tailor your training, there’s a lot to gain!

Mind you Nigel, just remember how good Ais is when interpreting the results for her. We can’t afford her to get even better!! ;)

Grainne I’m exaggerating about the “blood taking” just to excuse my wuss-iness. It’s only a drop each time and you don’ feel it at all after the first one.

Hi Aisling and everyone!

That is brilliant that you got your VO2 and lactate measured. I think its such great information to have on yourself and it can really be so beneficial for your training.

I think defo get your results analyzed and get some info on how to use the results properly. So many people get their VO2 measured and get the results but really don’t get enough information on how to use them to your advantage. Having a high VO2 is great as it means that you have a very good aerobic capacity. Most of the top endurance athletes have a really high VO2, cross country skiers being one of the groups with the highest VO2. However I believe having a high anaerobic threshold is even more important. If people have a reasonable VO2 and a high anaerobic threshold, they are better off then having a really high VO2 and a low anaerobic threshold. Optimal is to have a high VO2 and a high AT (anaerobic threshold). I did a VO2 max test on a friend of mine in America, he is one of the top endurance athletes in the South. His VO2 was in a normal range, but his anaerobic threshold was huge, hence he is a brilliant endurance athlete and can do his 100 milers at a great pace because his body is so efficient at keeping his blood ph at a working level. The great news about all this is that even though VO2 does not change that much, especially if you already have a good level of fitness, your AT is changed with training.

Many people have different ideas on how best to use the results. Some athletes believe in spending a good percentage of their training in and around their AT (anaerobic threshold), some believe that you should only train around your AT for a small percentage of your training week, while others (many cross country skiers) believe that you should hardly ever train near your AT so even though their are many different interpretations, a lot of the time, it can be a very individualistic.

There is also a bit of a learning curve when it comes to doing a VO2 test. It is quite unnatural to run with a mask on your face and harness. The first time doing the test can also be quite nerve racking. Even though there is this learning curve, its funny, because every time you do it after your first time, you will finish the test believing you could have done more!!! However, the good news is that with the results you actually reach a peak on the graphs and then begin to plateau, so most of the time, even doing the extra few seconds doesn’t change your results.

Well, sorry to write such a long reply. I also studied sports science and am now a strength and conditioning coach. One of my interests likes in exercise testing, so indulged myself with this post! I also love adventure racing!

Good luck with all your training. Sounds like Nige is going to help you which is brilliant! It will be brilliant to have the results analyzed.

Take care,
Avril

Thanks for that Avril, that’s really helpful. What’s your opinion on the AT training? Just a smalll percentage of the time at the threshold or lots or never?!

Hi Aisling

I think its depends a lot on the type of sport and competition you are training for. I think it even breaks down to whether you are doing a marathon for time, or a 100 miler just to get through it. I am here in America for two week and am meeting with some great endurance athletes next week to discuss different types of training. I have ideas, but I would rather wait to see what is working for who, if you get me. I’ll come back to you on it. LIke all things, sports science if evolving, so hoping to get some good up to date info next week! Aisling you are an ultra runner right?

Avril

Yes Avril I am. I’d love to hear about your new info. Keep us posted and thanks again. :-)

there was a comment there about the Rat Race in London last year, it looks like there maybe one in Galway this year!So keep an eye out for that!

I did the rat race in london last year - the sat night event - “mean streets challenge” was good, full on and u ran everywhere like madmen but the full day event on Sunday was alot less challenging. It wasn’t about fitness as much as giving you a tour of London and trying out different tasks (abseils, climbing walls etc) and plugging the sponsors.

Not so bad for a non-Londoner like me but if I were based in london I think I would have felt a little disappointed as it’s was not the normal hard core AR you’d expect.

Mind u the one in Galway might be a lot better so would give that a go!

@JackieO - I did the Rat Race too! If you were leading the pack it was a serious fitness test I would have said… no? Those guys were going hard.

Pedal broke off one of our bikes at the furthest point. Depressing end to the day! http://blog.teamgearedup.com/2007/10/photos-video-rat-race-london-2007.html

I would DEFFO do Galway! No mention of it here…. but I’d say Brighton could be different!
http://www.ratraceadventure.com/

Date hasnt been set yet but it looks like June for Galway. Web page should be up soon too.

Indeed but unless u were up the front with the pack, u got stuck in the queues for the different events, and ended up waiting in line for 30 mins before every challenge! It really pushed out the times I think!

One of our lads decided he was injured pretty much at the start of the Richmond Park run so we slipped from top 20% to last 20% within an hour and a half and ended our day too!
Disappointing alright!