By Dave Taillon
Last month you heard me ramble on about the pain and suffering of the VO2 Max test. Today I come to you with tales of another difficult but effective test, the Conconi test. It had been 6 weeks since my last visit to the UC Davis Sports Medicine Group building in Sacramento and my subsequent journey down “pain lane”. I was a little more fit and had a better idea what to expect this time.
The protocol was similar to the VO2 Max test as far as the preparation goes. Data entry into a computer program followed by a short discussion with Dr. Testa and a 20 – 30 minute warm-up on the bike. That is where the similarities ended. This time there was no snorkel mouthpiece protruding from my mouth nor was that annoying clippie thing pinching my nose shut. Gone too was the gas analysis machine with all the hoses and gauges that were used to analyze the gasses I inhaled and exhaled. This time there was only a heart rate monitor. Oh, and that machine called a “Compu Trainer” was set against my rear wheel for the resistance portion of the test. I remember that thing called “resistance” causing the most pain last time. But hey, I can take it; I have 6 more weeks of training, racing, and fitness in my legs and lungs. I am also carrying 2% less body fat and my weight is virtually the same, which tells me that I am successfully burning away unwanted fat and building more muscle right?
This time the testing was administered by Judd Van Sickle. He is another UC Davis alum and assistant to Dr. Testa. He is also a coach for the Davis Bike Club and Aggies cycling teams. The premise of the test is to increase the resistance on the rear wheel of the bike by 25 watts every minute while documenting the heart rate at that point. The resistance would continue to increase to a point where the legs and lungs could no longer push, simply put, you go till you blow. The test begins with the resistance set to 100 watts with, as I said before, increases of 25 watts every minute. My heart rate increased from 5 – 7 beats per minute every time the resistance was increased. This went on till the 13th minute of the test when I reached my “blow” point. The minutes leading up to that point were much more enjoyable this time with no breathing apparatus sticking out of my mouth. The final result was still pain nonetheless.
One of the main reasons we put ourselves through all this testing is to enable us to train smarter while increasing our fitness thus allowing us to reach our goals. During the post-test consultation with Dr. Testa, we were able to compare some of the results from the first test to the second test. The primary focus of the two tests is different, but there are some results that are measured in both. As an example, my heart rate at Anaerobic Threshold and my Max Heart rate were exactly the same but my power at VO2 Max and Anaerobic Threshold both increased. Basically, the training lessons derived from the first test enabled me to increase my power while using the same amount of effort. It’s not always the fastest person who wins, but more often than not it’s the one who does less work and has more left at the end.
With the knowledge gained and the information learned from the first test, the VO2 Max test, I probably would not have been able to achieve the results I did on the Conconi test. I am leaner yet stronger, and much more educated about my bodies ability to react to training. Without performance testing none of this may have been possible. So I ask you again, performance testing, what is it good for? As you can see it worked for me, are you willing to see what it can do for you?
To the wonderful folks at the UC Davis Sports Medicine Group, Jacob, Judd, and Dr. Testa, I give you my most sincere “Thank You”! Thank you for your unwavering desire to help those of us, competitive and non-competitive, who come to you for guidance and insight so that we may reach our goals, whatever they may be.