Boulder Performance Lab at Alta

A few unsolicited excerpts from athlete's e-mails-

- Jason and Nick,  I just wanted to say thank you again for your time and attention this morning.  3 hours- wow!  I walked out of there a new cyclist, having learned SO MUCH!

- Hi Jason, Thanks again for spending so much time with me yesterday.  I really appreciate it, and got a lot out of it.

- Thanks again for all of your assistance.  I feel I have really improved since my test, especially in the race nutrition realm.  Haven’t had a bad race since the test, so I can’t complain!

- Thanks Jason!  ...I’m glad I came in for the test before the BB. I used what I learned, it makes a huge difference to have a plan. I think I might be ready to take it up a notch and stop being a slacker ;  )

- Jason, Thanks so much. I learned a ton from you. You should charge more!

- The testing has been great for me, I have felt great in the races since I have upped the intake, and I feel very strong all the way to the end of the race.  We really appreciate the time you have given us, and I think <name removed> is doing better as well.  He is really excited to have a direction to go after spending thousands of dollars to get no good results!

- Jason, Thanks for the feed back and I think these results will totally change the way I train and I will in return get me some better results.

- Thanks again for helping me to get so much information and doing the test with me.  It's great to know my numbers, although now that I know my LT is higher than I thought I have to work harder than before when training.  Darn it!! 

Athletes' blogs-

http://erickenney.blogspot.com/2008/11/boulder-performance-lap.html

http://fastforwardsports.wordpress.com/2008/09/18/going-anaerobic-at-boulder-performance-lab/
 

 http://www.definedfitnesstraining.com/recaps.html

http://boulderarteam.blogspot.com/2008/06/happy-birthday.html

http://kdawgtriblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/lt-testing-at-bpl.html

http://boulderarteam.blogspot.com/2008/04/physio-testing.html

10-2-08: Back in April at the Haystack TT I won a gift certificate to Boulder Performance Lab (located in the ALTA Therapies building) for a full Lactate Threshold test and VO2 Max test.  I made my way up to BPL this morning for my test session and let me just tell you, I am KICKING myself for not doing this sooner, it was absolutely fantastic and quite possibly the best time I have invested in my cycling performance!!   

Not only did I learn what my current wattage at LT is (which varies depending on what part of the season you're in), I got glucose readings and I found out what my hematocrit is (insanely low, I might add, which isn't a good thing).  The Spin Scan revealed that my pedal efficiency has major room for improvement (something I intend to work hard on this winter) and photos taken during my LT test revealed my bike setup/fit has gotten REALLY far-removed from what it should be:

Yikes - who knew I was toe down with an almost straight knee while I ride!?!?  Seeing myself on the bike opened my eyes immediately to the reasons I've been struggling with lower back issues this season. 

From the LT test and spin scan, we moved to the VO2 max test.  Whereas the LT test involves having your fingers pricked for small blood samples, the VO2 test involves having your nose plugged with a large breathing apparatus inserted into your mouth, which analyzes the O2/CO2 exchange as you breathe.  During this test, Jason also took video of my riding form to show me post-test.  I was SHOCKED to see my form and the amount of movement in my hips, back and shoulders.  What a revelation.   

The entire session was so informative and educational - I left knowing specific things I can do to improve my cycling performance and also left determined to get a bike fit!  The entire process took about 3 hours but only because I asked so many questions, and Jason and his assistant Nick were kind enough to oblige me and answer them.  The session finished with them reviewing all of my test results with me and they also sent me home with the results as well as a DVD with photos/videos of my form for me to review at home. 

The ALTA/BPL facility is very clean and organized and Jason and Nick were really professional.  I highly recommend BPL to anyone, whether they are a beginner cyclist (or runner or triathlete) or a professional.  The information these tests provide give any athlete a base from which to plan their training approach.  Without this data, an athlete risks wasting their money on fancy equipment or a coach.  Anytime you can remove speculation from your training - ie estimating your max HR or your LT wattage -you ensure that your training program is spot-on to YOUR individual needs. Megan Hottman, owner of Defined Fitness Training.

9/6/2008 - On September 4th, Gail went to Boulder Performance Lab for testing. What an experience! Jason Smith, the test administrator, is extremely knowledgable, friendly, and helpful. Jason provided valuable information to help Gail with training and racing. For example, she has entered the Harvest Moon Duathlon and will be using the information to target her optimal heart rate for the run and bike segments and to estimate her carbohydrate and fueling requirements for the effort. BPL's testing also provided Gail with her training zones which will enable her to target every training effort to its specific purpose. The whole experience at BPL was fun and informative. Check out the BPL Web site or our links page for more info on BPL. If you are interested in taking your training and racing to a higher level, we highly recommend Jason and BPL for your performance testing needs. Thanks Jason! - Roger and Gail Matherly, Owners of Adrenaline Tri Sport