This Simple Tip from a Run Coach Helped Me Understand the Purpose of Threshold Training. Now I Use it to Control My Effort

Have you ever listened to one piece of advice that stuck with you so much it changed the way you experience and analyze your running? It’s a powerful thing. That’s what happened when I learned a simple analogy about lactate threshold training from my high school cross-country coach. It made an intimidating exercise science concept crystal clear, sparking my connection to the sport and teaching me the importance of running based on feel. Lactate threshold is the exercise intensity level at which lactate—a byproduct of exercise created when cells break down glucose for energy without sufficient oxygen—accumulates in the blood faster than the body can remove it. It’s the border between aerobic and anaerobic exercise (and sometimes known as anaerobic threshold). More From Runner's World Taking Breaks on Long Runs | Episode 78 Playlist Back Pause Playlist Forward Enter Fullscreen Unmute UNMUTE Runners of all levels seek to boost this metric because it improves speed endurance—the ability to run faster for longer—which is the best indicator of long-distance performance, says Alex Morrow, Resolute Running founder and RRCA Level II- and USATF-certified run coach.