Exciting News: New Edmonton Testing Location!

I'm thrilled to announce a new partnership with the fantastic Optimize Physiotherapy & Sport Injury Clinic in Edmonton! Now available, all in-person lactate testing will be conveniently conducted at their state-of-the-art facility located at 18546 104 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5S 0K3.

This partnership allows me to offer you an even better testing experience in a dedicated, professional environment. Optimize Physiotherapy is renowned in Edmonton for its comprehensive services, including physiotherapy, massage, chiropractic, pelvic health, MVA care, and functional fitness, all supported by a large and experienced team.

If you're a runner in the Edmonton area, I can't recommend their team enough for all your rehabilitation and performance needs!

Lactate Threshold Physiology Testing: Get Your Personalized HR Zones

Optimize your training with personalized, science-backed data. This test gives you actionable insights to train smarter, prevent overtraining, and reach your running goals more effectively.

BOOK NOW

What you'll Get

Comprehensive Lactate Testing: Conducted on a treadmill at Optimize Physiotherapy & Sport Injury Clinic.
Personalized Heart Rate Zones: Tailored to your unique physiological data.
Detailed Lactate Curve Analysis: Pinpoint your lactate thresholds so you can get accurate HR zones.
Custom Training Recommendations: Based on your results, designed to help you perform at your best.
In-Depth Post-Test Consultation: Immediately after your test, we'll sit down and go through your results in great detail. We'll explore what your lactate curve shows, what type of training you should incorporate more of (e.g., base building or speed intervals), and go over your new HR zones, including how to update them on your smart device. This ensures you'll have a clear understanding of what to do and how to apply these results directly to your training. If you're working with a coach, I'm also happy to review the data with them.

What is Lactate and Why Does it Matter?

Lactate plays a critical role in your body’s energy production. As exercise intensity increases, lactate levels rise, and your ability to clear it becomes a key factor in endurance performance.

The Lactate Threshold (LT) is the point where lactate begins to accumulate faster than your body can clear it. This threshold provides a more precise understanding of your fitness compared to traditional heart rate zones or even VO2 max testing. Knowing your LT allows for:

Accurate Training Zones: Optimize your workouts by targeting the right intensity.
Injury Prevention: Reduce the risk of overtraining by identifying sustainable effort levels.
Performance Gains: Push your limits without tipping into unsustainable zones.

Why Choose Lactate Testing Over VO2 Max Testing?

While VO2 max measures your maximum oxygen uptake, lactate testing goes a step further by pinpointing the exact moments your body transitions between aerobic and anaerobic metabolism. This precision provides more actionable training insights, especially for runners and endurance athletes.

For example, athletes with a high lactate thresholds can sustain higher intensities for longer periods—key to improving race performance. Aka. you can run faster for longer!

Who Can Benefit from Lactate Threshold Testing?

This test is for runners of all levels, whether you’re training for your first 5K or aiming to shave time off your marathon. It’s particularly valuable if you:

Struggle with pacing or often train too hard on easy days.
Feel your current HR zones don't feel accurate to you
Max HR seems higher or lower that other people your age
If you have performance specific goals or just want to train better
Want to avoid overuse injuries and improve your efficiency.
Are curious about your current fitness level and how to take it further.

What to Expect During Your Test

Pre-Test Preparation: Follow detailed guidelines (e.g., no exercise 24 hours before, no caffeine 2 hours prior).
Testing Procedure: Conducted in multiple stages, starting at a low intensity and increasing gradually.
- Blood lactate samples will be taken at each stage via a small finger or earlobe prick (similar to testing your glucose levels).
- Testing typically involves 6 –14 stages, each lasting 4 minutes, until the data is complete (don't worry: you get a little breather at the end of every stage while I prick your finger)
Post-Test Analysis: Receive a detailed report, including your lactate curve, new heart rate zones, and training recommendations.

Sarah R.

I was honestly so nervous to do this test being a bigger girl and a beginner. I did a 5K last summer (super slow) and am training for a half marathon in 2025. The training programs have a lot of Zone 2 runs and I always felt like my zones are off because I can run in Zone 4/5 and can talk (which I learned my HR zones are off). Natalie took soooo much stress off by clearly explaining what we were going to do and knowing I get to take a break at the 3:30 mark. So mentally I told myself I only need to focus on 3:30 at a time. It honestly was so much easier than I expected. Most of the test was in a super easy zone and only the end felt uncomfortable (I've honestly felt more uncomfortable during some speed runs). My training has improved tremendously now that I know my zones and wish I did this sooner. I can't wait to do a retest in a year and see my progess!

Pricing & Location

Lactate testing is now offered at a single, transparent rate of $200. This includes your comprehensive test at Optimize Physiotherapy & Sport Injury Clinic and a detailed post-test consultation.

Location: All lactate threshold testing sessions are conducted at Optimize Physiotherapy & Sport Injury Clinic, located at 18546 104 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5S 0K3.

How to Book:

Ready to optimize your training and reach your goals? Here’s how to get started:

Fill Out the Intake Form Below (BOOK NOW): Provide some basic information about yourself & testing preferences.
Schedule Your Test: Once I receive your intake form, I’ll contact you to arrange a date and time that works best for you.

Taking the first step is easy—just complete the form, and I’ll handle the rest!

BOOK NOW