Garmin fenix 3 HR ~ A feature to estimate Lactate Threshold

Lactate Threshold last 3 months

   Another new feature in Garmin fenix 3 HR is estimating the lactate threshold.  This feature only supported a several high-end device, such as fenix 3 series, Forerunner 735XT, 920XT and 630.   There are two modes to estimate the lactate threshold.  One is guided testing and auto mode.  I have not tried the guided testing, but as long as users do high intensity training which is close to the maximum heart rate, the device automatically estimates the lactate threshold.   If the activities are not high-intensity enough, then the device won’t do anything.   To estimate the lactate threshold, the device needs to know the VO2max value.

   Based on the past activities, as long as an activity is in heart rate zone 4 / 5, the device will estimate the lactate threshold after the activities.  The device shows the heart rate / pace at the lactate threshold for running activities.  This device also support lactate threshold for cycling independently.  However I have not tried cycling with this device yet.

   The plot showed in the beginning is my result last 6 months, actually last 3 mounts since I got fenix 3 HR.   The initial value was 154bpm@5’37”/km.  The last one is 160bpm@5’28”/km.   During the period, I have been following a training plan “Full marathon level 1” from Garmin connect since early September.   The plan has a threshold running which is high intensity training once a week.   It seems the LT (heart rate / pace) is improving.   I have never measured actual lactate threshold in a lab, therefore, I cannot tell the value the device estimated is close to the real value or not.   However, it is a god index to see the progress or the training.   At least I do see some improvement and it is a good motivation to realize the progress of a training other than the personal records for some distance.   Also the estimated value is probably close to my real value based on the past training and hiking records.

   This feature is only available some selected devices from Garmin and most of models which support this feature is typically expensive.   However, this is a nice feature to see the progress some other parameter other than the pace / time.   Overall, I am happy to upgrade my running device and having some nice feature from the recent technology.