TAKEAWAYS

1) Second threshold is used to define the delineation between sustainable and unsustainable exercise intensity.

2) Lactate testing has limitations and should be used in conjunction with other measures.

3) Practical application of thresholds in training and competition requires individualization and a focus on pacing.

4) Critical power is a mathematical model that represents the maximum sustainable power output an individual can maintain for an extended period of time.

5) The critical power model has limitations and may overestimate an individual's sustainable power output.

6) Consistency in testing and measuring physiological variables is crucial for tracking changes in performance.Articles: The critical power concept - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5371646/Maximal metabolic steady state - https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.14814/phy2.14098Don't forget to subscribe to get notified when new episodes are released. If you have a question or topic you want us to address, leave a comment!Follow Phil on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/criticalo2Interested in testing, courses, or other long form content check out the critical oxygen website - https://www.criticaloxygen.com

OUTLINE

00:00 Introduction to Thresholds

03:22 Confusion around Thresholds

08:20 Thresholds and Exercise Duration

13:09 Limitations of Lactate Testing

17:06 The Disconnect between Research and Real-World Application

19:26 Maximal Lactate Steady State

22:47 Steady State Isn't Steady

26:32 Practical Application of Thresholds in Training

34:13 Thresholds in Competition

41:33 Thresholds for Beginners

44:28 The Critical Power Model

50:19 Understanding Critical Power

51:45 Challenges of Maintaining Critical Power

52:18 Factors Affecting Critical Power

56:30 Physiological Models for Performance

57:25 The Impact of Hydration and Nutrition

59:16 Individual Variability in Performance

01:01:13 Optimizing Training Zones

01:04:32 Performance as a Sine Wave

01:06:29 Limitations of the Critical Power Model

01:07:16 Caveats of Time to Exhaustion Trials

01:08:14 Alternative Testing Methods

01:09:13 Consistency in Testing