Lactate Testing
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What is it?
Lactate testing refers to measuring the level of lactic acid in the blood at set intensities from easy to harder. We look ‘under the hood’ as you carry out each step at the given intensities of rowing, running, or cycling and collect valuable data for your report
Your individual report is built from the data collected in your test, and you will receive individual lactate zones to maximise your training sessions.
Where Can I Complete The Test?
Sean is based in South West London. Completing the test in your normal training environment is a positive approach to testing, limiting factors that may affect the test day. For travel outside South West London, a travel fee applies. For those who require a testing venue, contact to discuss our South West London venues
Book Your Lactate Test
Complete with a comprehensive report and lactate zones to maximise your training and racing
1 hr
96 British pounds
Complete with a comprehensive report and lactate zones to maximise your training and racing
1 hr
96 British pounds
Complete with a comprehensive report and lactate zones to maximise your training and racing
1 hr
96 British pounds
Testing for your team, or training group. Each individual receives comprehensive feedback
Price on enquiry
On site support and guidance throughout your training camp, ensuring every session is maximised
Price on Enquiry
Further Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Heart Rate Monitoring V Lactate Testing
Many athletes will use heart rate monitors to help identify their training intensity, and this method is very useful. However, there are many factors that can influence change in heart rate including fatigue. Have you have been in a big training block and found that you are having to work harder to achieve a heart rate? Doing so will increase the intensity you are working and therefore on a biochemical level mean that you are no longer in the correct zone to stimulate a desired change.
Lactate testing enables us to see the level of lactic acid in your blood. This is a by-product of respiration - your body’s energy production process. Both aerobic and anaerobic respiration produce lactic acid, and therefore we are able to track how the lactic acid levels increase as you exercise or train at different intensities.
Combining both methods - Heart Rate Monitoring and Lactate Testing - provides you with an holistic approach to your development.
One Off V Repeat Testing
We offer both one off and repeat testing. One off testing enables you to review where your strengths and target areas are now, valuable for guiding training. Repeat testing enables you to track performance changes over time, and design more informed training program construction. This provides you with a more complete understanding of your own physiology, how you respond to training blocks, and how best to train to optimise your racing performances. Typically, repeat testing is every 4 to 12 weeks, dependant on your needs.
The decision for one off versus repeat testing lies completely with you, the athlete
Does The lactate Test Hurt?
The lactate test starts at a low aerobic intensity and steadily builds. You will move to zones that represent harder efforts. We do not spend a lot of time in the higher zones, as the value is in the date for each step you make from aerobic up
Sean's Story
The who
Blake Performance Lab was set up by Sean, a coach with over 15 years experience in coaching endurance and power endurance sports.
With personal experience with the use of lactate testing to optimise his own performances, Sean gained valuable insight into how to carry out the testing and how the testing could benefit long term performance from 2009 onward. A BSc in Sport Biomedicine and Nutrition bolstered physiological understanding, and built a clear understanding of how best to maximise the use of data to optimise performances. The use of lactate testing with those Sean coached, had begun
Sean spent time reviewing widely used lactate testing protocols, and continuously reviews own testing use with athlete performances to individualise processes that yield the greatest benefit to long term performance for each athlete. This has resulted in a coach who can support athletes already in teams that are using training programs provided by other coaches to help refine their training, and he can also construct highly effective training programs for athletes he works with
So, who has been helped so far?
Sean has built training programs, coached and carried out testing with a wide variety of athletes. We could list them all, but the list is very long. Therefore, we have provided a short highlight list below of athletes that Sean has specifically built training programs for and coached to success;
Age Group podium finishers in Olympic, Middle and Ironman distance triathlons
Age Group Ironman World Championship Qualifier
Rowing National Champions and medallists year after year
Henley Women’s Regatta winners
Rowers Selected to represent Great Britain, and who have won the World Championships
Half Marathon, Full Marathon and Ultra Marathon competitors
Athletes recruited to row for U.S universities (Ivy League and Division 1)