Muscle Oxygenation Response Profiles during 5-1 Cycling Assessment

Oxygenation Response Profiles represent the SmO2 trend as a function of progressive exercise intensity measured at the vastus lateralis. Two general profiles have been observed that may reveal some so-far unexplained, but apparently systematic physiological variance between subjects of differing fitness and muscle tissue typology. Unexplained variation means we still have something to learn about human physiological response to exercise.

Thresholds, Constructs, and Confidence Intervals

We recently published an article comparing the NIRS-derived deoxy-BP to the RCP (VT2) in a ramp cycling test. I want to use this and another similar study to understand the important differences between threshold measurements, the natural variability in measuring physiology, and how understanding this variability can help us prescribe training targets that will elicit the desired training stimulus for ourselves and our athletes.

Sustainable Training

This is a basic template for what I currently consider to be a solid, simple, sustainable training plan that can be individualised, modified, mixed around, and repeated near ad infinitum. This can be used as a foundation for whatever training goals we have, be they focused on performance with a specific peak event/race date in mind, or more about sustaining general health, fitness, longevity, and resiliency.

Why Perform Hard-Start VO2max Intervals?

Hard-start intervals use an initial hard effort at a power output above what would be sustainable for the intended interval duration, to enhance oxygen uptake and cardiac output. Let's talk about some of the reasons for why we might want to perform hard-start intervals, when they might be appropriate for our training, and when they might not be.

Workload, Intensity, and VO2max Trainability

Here are some of my current thoughts and questions on the topic of VO2max trainability, time near VO2max, hard-start and intermittent intervals, and adaptations toward capacity and efficiency.