Runners FM 84. The Lactate Chat (with Dan Breen)
May 6, 2026
Dan Breen, Australian coach and founder of Arit Performance known for lactate testing and middle-/long‑distance programming. He unpacks common lactate misconceptions and how single numbers can mislead. Conversations cover ramp and 600m testing, serial lactate sampling, balancing aerobic and anaerobic capacities, periodisation across six‑week windows, and using races and neuromuscular work to shape training.
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Episode notes
Victor's Ramp Test Revealed Low Anaerobic Power
- Victor described a ramp test where his final stage produced 5.2 mmol at about 2:45/km yet he can't sustain high lactate in a 10K.
- Dan used this to illustrate a runner with good lactate shuttling but limited anaerobic power.
Same Lactate Can Hide Big Power Differences
- Similar lactate values can reflect different balances of anaerobic power and aerobic capacity.
- Dan gave the example: two runners at 4 mmol but with 400m times of 60s versus 55s show big anaerobic-power differences despite identical lactate.
Test With A Ramp Then A 600m All-Out
- Do a ramp test plus a 600m all-out with repeated post-tests to profile aerobic versus anaerobic contribution.
- Dan advises 4–6 minute stages in ramp tests and lactate samples at 1, 3, 5, 7 minutes after a 600m to plot appearance/disappearance rates.
