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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to observe the differences in rates of blood lactate reduction (BLR) at three recovery intensities (40% VO₂max, 60% V02max, and combined recovery ) when subjects are highly trained and aerobically fit. Eight well-trained oarsmen (age = 23.2 yr, Ht = 189.6 cm, Wt = 85.3 kg, VO₂max = 5.2 1 / min or 61.6 ml / kg min⁻¹) were tested in one pre-experimental procedure and three experimental treatments. The pre-experimental procedure involved the determination of VO₂max, and the loads at which 40 -, 50 -, and 60% VO₂max occurred from a progressive load VO₂max. The three experimental treatments each involved three one minute maximal load intervals on the rowing ergometer to elevate blood lactate, followed by a 30 minute randomly assigned recovery on the rowing ergometer at either 40% VO₂max (40R), 60% VO₂max (60R), or combined recovery (CR). Blood samples, from an indwelling catheter placed in the cephalic vein, were taken at t=0,1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9,12,15,18, 21, 24, 27, and 30 min of recovery. Analysis of plasma samples revealed a mean resting blood lactate concentration ( [ Bla ] ) of 1.2 mM and a mean peak [ Bla ] following maximal exercise of 16.3 mM. ANOVA indicated that no significant differences occurred between the rates of lactate reduction for the three treatments (p