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jatx · 05-02-2005, 09:11

I am not a QP, but I am a very long-time endurance athlete, and I'm inclined to say it's a BS gimmick. The top endurance athletes in the world have very high VO2 max due to a combination of genetics and training, and that high VO2 max allows them to move oxygen to their muscles in larger volumes and more efficiently than your average bear. Their training includes a mix of longer aerobic workouts and structured anaerobic workouts, both of which do a perfectly fine job of training your "breathing muscles" IMHO. I would wager that most individuals who feel the need to use one of these devices have never trained properly at or near their anaerobic threshold. Ccrn may have some thoughts of his own on this.

My advice to people looking for quick wins in their training is always to (1) purchase a HR monitor and use it religiously, (2) build a plan based on periodization and recovery, (3) be disciplined about your intensity level during LSD workouts and (4) learn where your anaerobic threshold is and how to operate right at its edge without going over. If you do these things, whether running, cycling, swimming, rucking or whatever, you will see marked improvement over time and will avoid most injuries related to over-training. BTW, 3 & 4 are quite a challenge at first for most people, even those who think of themselves as trained athletes.

Good luck.

05-02-2005, 09:11	#4
jatx Area Commander Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 1,355	I am not a QP, but I am a very long-time endurance athlete, and I'm inclined to say it's a BS gimmick. The top endurance athletes in the world have very high VO2 max due to a combination of genetics and training, and that high VO2 max allows them to move oxygen to their muscles in larger volumes and more efficiently than your average bear. Their training includes a mix of longer aerobic workouts and structured anaerobic workouts, both of which do a perfectly fine job of training your "breathing muscles" IMHO. I would wager that most individuals who feel the need to use one of these devices have never trained properly at or near their anaerobic threshold. Ccrn may have some thoughts of his own on this. My advice to people looking for quick wins in their training is always to (1) purchase a HR monitor and use it religiously, (2) build a plan based on periodization and recovery, (3) be disciplined about your intensity level during LSD workouts and (4) learn where your anaerobic threshold is and how to operate right at its edge without going over. If you do these things, whether running, cycling, swimming, rucking or whatever, you will see marked improvement over time and will avoid most injuries related to over-training. BTW, 3 & 4 are quite a challenge at first for most people, even those who think of themselves as trained athletes. Good luck. __________________ "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave whither Thou goest." - Ecclesiastes 9:10 "If simple folk are free from care and fear, simple they will be, and we must be secret to keep them so." - JRRT Last edited by jatx; 05-02-2005 at 09:13.
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