Coach Sam Smith Podcast

Exercise Thresholds


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In this episode, I discuss 3 distinct exercise thresholds and their application to training.


  1. ​ Lactate Threshold
  2. ​ Vo2 Max
  3. ​ Critical Power/Critical Speed



Papers from the episode:


  1. ​ Variability in exercise tolerance and physiological responses to exercise prescribed relative to physiological thresholds and to maximum oxygen uptake - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36710454/


  1. ​ Talk Test - https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/284311


  1. ​ Power-Duration Relationship: Physiology, fatigue, and the limits of human performance - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27806677/



How to calculate Critical Speed or Critical Power:



Step 1) 

Perform 2 time trial tests in the 3-20 minute time domain (on the same activity)


Running example:

  1. ​ 1600m = 5:20
  2. ​ 5000m = 19:30


Step 2)


Take Time for Test 2, convert into seconds.

Take Time for Test 1, convert into seconds


1600m = 5:20 = 320 seconds = 3:33/km

5000m = 19:30 = 1170 seconds = 3:54/km


Step 3)


Take Distance 2 and subtract from Distance 1


5000 - 1600m = 3400m


Step 4)


Take Distance delta and divide by Time delta


3400 / 850 = 4:00/km (+/- 5 seconds)


For this individual, their Critical Speed (the name for the value when meters per second is being evaluated) is 4:00/km (+/- 5 seconds) - CS/CP is not too the second specific, it’s a band of time, which is why we want to give about 5 seconds on either side of this value. 

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Coach Sam Smith PodcastBy Sam Smith