How do long distance runners make use of lactate threshold in their training?
They keep away from it. If a long distance runner gets close to the lactate threshold, he / she is going too fast, and using the wrong energy supply. Distance runners need to run aerobically, which will use a combination of fat and carbohydrates to provide the energy. When you reach the lactate threshold, you’re burning the glycogen stored in the muscles, which won’t last very long, and is there for short bursts, such as when sprinting.
By knowing your lactate threshold (LT), an athlete can knowingly train above or below that level. Time spent training just above LT helps an athlete push their LT even higher–the highest possible level of LT being determined by the person’s physiology, often measure by their VO2 max (maximum amount of oxygen the body can absorb and transport). One of the other responses indicated you should stay far away from your LT, which brings up the point of defining LT. I use this basic definition: “LT represents the highest steady-state exercising intensity an athlete can maintain for prolonged periods of time (more than 30 minutes).” It is also important to note that, “Lactate is a by-product of anaerobic metabolism that, despite common misconception, is produced across all exercise intensities. … The key in sport is the balance between the rate of lactate production and lactate absorption.” Using this definition, LT is not a training level that should be avoided, but rather used wisely sinc
