HR step test

[kiwichris]

Thought I would be the first to post an item - thanks to all who turned out for our first weekend - I am quite sore from our jaunt in the park on Sunday (ohhh the hamstrings!!!)

My step test from this week provided me with a little insight on my current state of affairs.

My HR at all of the given steps (starting at 100W) elicited a very low response - by 280 watts my HR was at 132 bpm - RPE of 7 out of 10 - feeling quite good. I was hydrated quite well - but not entirely rested (faster run on Fri morn.). I stopped there because I knew the run would be fast and hard.

Looking back at training - I have spent most of my time focusing on increasing heart 'size' (structure) and bypassed getting the heart to pump fast (functional). This is part of my long term plan - put was very interested to see this play out so clearly so late in the season.

Look forward to hearing others impressions about their test.

Chris

[Andrew]

I wonder if there was a secondary neuro component to that really low HR, in terms of parasympathetic drive. It would have been interesting to see what would have resulted form either:

a) prolonged session at steady-state wattage of 280
b) 4 x VERY SHORT (30 seconds) VERY HARD (max gearing) at intervals of every 10 minutes.

These two challenges would have seen if the cardiac situation was one of not being "able" to raise the HR, or the cardiovascular system just not being challenged in a way to force the heart into beating faster. Certainly the only way to perform with such a low HR is through a very large SV, and we will be discussing this in future modules. The concern I have is whether or not the heart had the ability to beat faster if you had pushed it that day. You were able to raise the HR much higher the following day, but were not able to turn this into a dramatic change in performance. So, still more questions than answers, as is often the case.

Look forward to more testing...

[kiwichris]

Interesting look on ideas Andrew - don't think it was a neuro/technique issue - cadence was very constant at 85-90 rpm.

In terms of parasympathetic drive - i guess it could be suppression of nerve impulses in response to lower co2 levels - not triggering the aortic chemoreceptors to increase HR - or - a lower response rate from the medulla??? Just throwing ideas out there.

I will step test tomorrow morning and see if 1) i have recovered from the weekend, 2) if the same reaction as last time, I will try the steady state 280 and see how HR drifts ......

[kiwichris]

OK - did another step test today - same steps as before but continued past the 260W since no race tomorrow.

I elicited lower HR at each step - until 260 Watts - by about 3-4 beats consistently. From 260 I went 280 137bpm, 300 147 bpm, 320 151 bpm, 340 157 bpm. So - at least I got my HR up to a good level for me on the bike. The graph showed a Upper Linear Limit below the performance line - small neurological limit (my legs were still a bit sore from Sunday's run). The interesting part for me came with sP02 readings - which will be discussed in later modules - I stayed at 99% until 104 bpm, then 98% for the rest of the test. Andrew - is this enough of a drop to see a change in fuel source??? Also - resp. rate was pretty steady - until above 300W where there was a clear rate increase and need to use accessory muscles. Will perform a Spirotiger test tomorrow night to start playing around with that too.

Anyway - back to the HR graph - from previous tests it is clear that
1) my bottom part of the line is as good as it has been since I started testing -YAY - now I need to continue building on that
2) my top end is a little lower - I believe still from the race on Sunday where I had my max HR of the year. SO - 1 more day of rest today and then I can go out and have a harder run tomorrow.

Hope everyone else is training well - good to see some new posts recently.

Chris