Lactic Acid & Lydiard System

[Guest guest]

Where might these views on lactate take us in terms of

the Lydiard system? As I understand that system of

training, the idea is to put off anaerobic training

for as long as possible because (1) oxygen debt

capacity is limited to 15-20 liters, whereas there is

no such limit on the aerobic capacity, (2) the

anaerobic system can be brought to its maximum

capacity in as little as 8 weeks, and (3) the constant

lowering of blood pH reduces aerobic capacity over

time.

If you see lactate as creating energy and delaying the

onset of exhaustion, can it really lower aerobic

capacity? If it does not lower aerobic capacity, is

there any reason to delay training that energy system?

There have been successful athletes from the Lydiard

system (Snell) and there have been successful athletes

who were either trained on the interval system

(Bannister) or the multi-pace system (Coe). Does

success under different systems mean that any system

will work or that different athletes need to train

under different systems to be successful? Would Snell

have burned out under Stampfl or would Bannister have

been worn out under Lydiard?

Jon Haddan

Irvine, CA