Metabolic/Cardiovascular Assessment

I heard about it from a sports medicine doctor yesterday. He didn't give me a cost, but it sounds like it would be useful. Aside from all the information you listed, it can also determine your ideal running weight based on your metabolism. Hundred dollars is a lot, but it could be very helpful in terms of understanding your body for training.

you must be going to Red Mountain Spa. yep, the tests are the real deal. they should provide excellent framework for your training. You'll actually know what your max HR and V02max is for determination of threshold runs, tempo runs and associated paces. Good luck, I know someone else going out there soon.

Yep, going to Red Mountain Spa, they say the elevation there is 2,800 ft. I wonder if I will feel any effect vs. being at Memphis at sea level.

only slight effect, need to go to about 5000 ft or higher to really start to get any elevation effect. also takes a couple weeks before you really start to adapt to higher elevations. It won't hurt though. Have fun.

you wrote: "You'll actually know what your max HR and V02max is for determination of threshold runs, tempo runs and associated paces. Good luck, I know someone else going out there soon."

Yup, and then you will run a few of 100+ miles week and decent workouts and you will have changed everything.

And will have essentially wasted your money.

you don't need to know any of that stuff to train