Why the study?
There is controversy concerning whether maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) or critical power/critical speed (CS) better represents the boundary separating heavy-intensity and severe-intensity exercise domains.
Does critical speed (CS) better represent the maximal metabolic steady state compared to maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) in well-trained runners?
Does critical speed (CS) better represent the maximal metabolic steady state compared to maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) in well-trained runners?
Critical speed better represents the maximal metabolic steady state than maximal lactate steady state, as VO2 remains stable at speeds exceeding MLSS.
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CS may better mark the heavy-severe boundary than MLSS in runners; leaves open whether this refines training zones or applies beyond athletes.
Nixon et al. (2021) studied this question.
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