What Is Limiting Your VO2 Max? How to Detect and Improve with Interval Training

The podcast explores how to determine the most effective type of interval training based on whether an athlete is limited by oxygen delivery to the muscles or the muscles' utilization of oxygen. It introduces a 5-1-5 test using a NIRS device to assess these limitations, contrasting the muscle oxygenation data of a delivery-limited athlete with that of a utilization-limited athlete. The discussion uses CrossFit athletes Bron Lankovic, Ture Hauga-Doter, and Sam Briggs as examples to illustrate these different limitations. Training recommendations include longer intervals with shorter rest periods for delivery-limited individuals and short, high-intensity bursts with extended rest for utilization-limited individuals.