I ran a 8:39 3k over the summer in a tatical race (2:44 last Km, 29 last 200). I follow the double threshold system. In the morning I did 5x2000m at 3:08 Km pace. My lactate measured out to be 1.5 mmol. My heartrate was in the mid 160’s to begin and finished at mid 170’s. Felt like I was pushing a bit. Curious if this is normal. In the spring I would do this at 3:28 Km pace and have 1.8 mmol and it felt way more comfortable than my effort now. Thoughts?
perhaps it is something else besides the lactate buildup that is making you feel uncomfortable. There are a lot of systems at work when we are running hard.
Do you think it could just be the amount of volume I’m doing. For context I’m running 46km worth of threshold a week
Could have been an error in the measurement. Could also have been a "green light" day where your body just cooperated. What is your lab-measured anaerobic threshold?
My lactate is consistently at this level at that pace. And I know my meter isn’t wrong because during track sessions I’ve had to go up to 12.0 mmol. And I don’t test it wrong either
Where I live there are no labs either
Threshold Runner wrote:
Do you think it could just be the amount of volume I’m doing. For context I’m running 46km worth of threshold a week
sure. there could be plenty of factors. I've never measured lactate, but I do pay attention to heart rate.
I aim for a MAX of 150 on easy runs, and similar to what you are feeling, when I am not in good shape, sometimes I feel like a turtle plodding around at that heartrate, and im itching to go faster. But when im in great shape, it can feel somewhat difficult to carry that 150 heartrate pace for long stretches. Part of it might just be the extra focus that's needed when you are moving at higher speeds, which can be a bit more stressful mentally. Similar to driving.