With more and more cyclists and runners hitting the roads around the Triangle, triathlons are booming.  Now those new athletes are looking to learn how to train correctly by matching their workout to their body's abilities.

 

NBC17 recently explored the tools being offered by the Human Performance Lab at Meredith College that help athletes train more efficiently.

 

"I started the Lab because I saw a need. Athletes wanted to get tested and the availability of testing wasn't there," said Chris Eschbach, a former competitive cyclist and triathlete.

 

Eschbach not only runs the Human Performance Lab, he's also an associate professor of health, exercise and sports science at Meredith College.

 

Eschbach says that with the triathlon scene exploding over the last few years, more and more athletes, many of them beginners, are signing up for testing.

 

"They're interested about their body and the testing provides hard numbers, but also an education about what's happening in their body during exercise," he said, "You're learning the specifics of your body's physical ability with a number of measurements."

 

You have to wear a mask for the entire test.  It measures oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production -- and that helps measure cardio fitness.

 

The test is run in three minute stages.  At the end of each stage they'll take a blood sample from your ear lobe to see how much lactic acid your muscles are generating.

 

"Using the oxygen consumption and the lactate we're coming up with the specific heart rate training zones that allow athletes to train more efficiently," said Eschbach, "we're also measuring body composition and calorie utilization during exercise where someone can estimate how many calories they're burning during this exercise session."

 

How many stages you go depends on your physical fitness.

 

The test requires you to keep a minimum pace of 85 rotations-per-minute, and every three-minute stage gets harder.

 

How long do you ride for the test?  Until you hit the wall. 

 

All the numbers you need are put together in a simple to understand packet. Eschbach reviews the results with you and you're ready to start training efficiently.

 

"A lot of people have the problem of training too hard all the time and our philosophy is we want to make your easy days easier so the quality days of training are great," he said.

 

Once you get into your new routine, a follow up test is encouraged to chart your progress and your new ability levels.

 

The endurance test will cost you $175. It can also be conducted on a treadmill. A less intensive test is $85.