From swimming sprints to 90-minute football matches, the maximum aerobic capacity (VO2max) is the single most important performance metric that needs to be looked at.As often misunderstood, VO2max is not restricted by only raw physical talent, but it can be trained to unknown maximums. VO2max is also a metric that responds quickly to training, so it needs to be monitored regularly.

When you start a training program with Area 3 Endurance, we will test your VO2max and we will plan a coaching plan tailored to increase it, but not only. Through our performance software we also be able to:

• Compare the effect of high-intensity trainings and endurance workouts on VO2max.
• Evaluate the impact of specialized nutrition regimes to further increase VO2max.
• Understand the impact of VO2max on fat oxidation and carbohydrate combustion

VLAmax can be looked at from two different sides. From one side, a low VLamax would increase your anaerobic threshold, your fat combustion and it would shorten your recovery time from hard efforts.

On the other hand, a high VLamax increases the power available for attacks, sprints and short efforts. The anaerobic capacity can actually make the difference between winning and losing a race: the final lap, the final sprint, the final push – they are all decided by your glycolytic power.

Vlamax is the most important metric you should focus on and train according to. You may have never heard of it because up until last year it was used only by pro teams and national federations. But now its benefits are opened to everyone and you can finally start connecting all the dots that compose your performances: metrics, training adaptations, race predictions…

Don t waste your time training the wrong way. Get tested with Area 3 Endurance, we know your VLamax – and tailor your training according to it.

Here is what Dan Lorang, coach of IRONMAN world champion Jan Frodeno says about VLamax.

We can help you to create a training program tailored to improve this precious performance metric, to optimize:

• Fat Combustion
• Carbohydrate sparing
• Anaerobic Threshold (FTP Power)
• Ability to recover from hard efforts
• Sprint performance

We re sure you have heard of economy. Running economy, cycling economy, swimming economy… the word is used across all disciplines. But very few actually understand it, forget about measuring it.So, what economy really is?

• Economy relates to the conversion of energy into speed or power (depending on what you measure).
• Understanding economy means understanding how much energy is needed to move at a certain speed or produce a certain power.
• The amount of energy available is a matter of physical ability, but how fast an athlete moves with that energy is a whole different story.

• Economy is the single most important parameter in free motion sports such as running and swimming. Obtaining insight on you economy will become a competitive advantage.
• Assess the impact of a prescribed training regime on changes in economy.
• Monitor economy on a regular basis and tune it to your training programs.
• The software we use to evaluate your is a high-precision tool that allows you to capture the effect of different equipment such as running shoes or wetsuits and their energy cost at various speeds.

Fat combustion is the bottleneck of endurance performance in sports like running and triathlon. We are also able to to measure and track this metric through our performance software – so you can create strategies to increase your energy expenditure from fat and thereby enhance your performance.

It is also crucial to understand precisely how much carbohydrates you burn during exercise. With this understanding, you can find the perfect level of fueling for your trainings and races, and which level will actually fatigue or enhance your performance.

Fuel to perform
• Focus on carbohydrate combustion and get tailored nutrition plans.
• Perfecting intake of carbohydrates is trainable, but needs to be practiced.
• Adjust pacing and plan a fueling strategy to avoid running out of fuel.

Conventional assessment of carbohydrate combustion based on gas analyses has significant limitations. Not only they are lab-based test only, but they also get affected by nutrition status. Scientific research has shown that neglecting lactate measurements when assessing carbohydrate combustion from gas exchange is misleading.

Through the use of our performance software you can finally compare your lactate production and compare it to the carbohydrate combustion one. The only way to produce lactate is by breaking down carbohydrates, thus lactate production is directly linked to carbohydrate combustion.

Measure where these metrics where it matters: on the track, on the climb, and on the field.