VO2 Max

Over the past couple of weeks I have started to prepare for the 2016 Ironman World Championships. My goal for this race is to break 9 hours on this legendary course and be one of the top age group Ironman athletes in the world. Since qualifying for the World Championships last summer I have envisioned myself running down Ali'i Drive and crossing that finish line. But getting to that line will take much suffering first.

This past weekend I did quite a bit of suffering with a VO2 Max test at the University of Waterloo.

A VO2 Max test analyzes the maximum amount of oxygen your body can take in and use during exercise. This test is 100% pain! For my test I started running at a 6 minute mile pace at 0% grade. Every two minuted the grade increased by 2%. The first 4-6 minutes weren't so bad. Then the grade changed to 6% and the lactic acid began to build up. I survived at 6% for two minutes and the grade increased to 8% with my speed remaining constant. I could feel my body fatiguing almost immediately. My tester, and good friend Madeleine, encouraged me to suffer through and finish this 2 minute round. I pushed hard and completed this final stage giving Madeleine adequate data to help identify which training zones I should be aiming for this season.

The test wasn't all suffering and there were some smiles throughout. Madeleine got a good laugh when I wheezed for my girlfriend, Moniek, to get be a bucket for my increasingly upset stomach. Luckily for them, I didn't end up needing to use that bucket!

I am extremely grateful to Madeleine and the University of Waterloo's UW Fitness program for allowing me to get my VO2 readings as I begin my journey towards the 2016 Ironman World Championships. The information that she provided me will help me shape my training program for this season. I hope to return and do another two VO2 Max tests to make sure I am on track. I will do one midseason and one at my peak fitness redetermine my training zones.

#UWFitness #VO2Max