What is Threshold Power?

Multiple runners sprinting - above Threshold Power

π–π‘πšπ­ 𝐒𝐬 π“π‘π«πžπ¬π‘π¨π₯𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫?

Running power provides numbers that represent your effort – your running intensity.

The intensity domains (Moderate, Heavy, Severe, Extreme) showing Threshold between the Heavy and Severe domains

At lower intensity levels, your body achieves a metabolic steady(ish) state and you can sustain your effort for an extended period. Researchers call these domains β€˜moderate to heavy.’

At higher intensity levels, you can’t achieve a metabolic steady(ish) state. You’ll fatigue much more rapidly and need to slow down or stop. Researchers call these β€˜severe to extreme’ domains.

The change from heavy to severe doesn’t happen at a precise point – it’s a β€˜phase transition’ over a narrow range of intensities, with lots of metabolic changes occurring at different rates and in parallel.

There are many names for this phase transition – Anaerobic Threshold, LT2, VT2, Critical Power and more.

π“π‘π«πžπ¬π‘π¨π₯𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫

Threshold Power is an intensity that’s within (or close to) the phase transition from heavy to severe.

It’s a foundation metric – one that’s used by many other power metrics.

Threshold Power:
βœ… is highly correlated with speed in endurance events – from 5k through marathon and beyond
βœ… can be identified using field-based tests – no need for lab-based testing
βœ… can be improved with training – improve your threshold, and you’ll improve your performance
βœ… is an important representation of your running fitness – you should track it as part of your training

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 π’šπ’π’– 𝒃𝒆 π‘Ήπ’–π’π’π’Šπ’π’ˆ π’˜π’Šπ’•π’‰ π‘·π’π’˜π’†π’“?

❓ Questions?
πŸ“– Getting Started

For more information on intensity domains and the phase transition, see Burnley, M., (2020) Exercise intensity domains and phase transitions: the power-duration relationship

π“π¨π©π’πœ: π“π‘π«πžπ¬π‘π¨π₯𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫
⏩ What is Threshold Power?
⏩ Identifying your Threshold Power
⏩ Using Threshold Power
⏩ Threshold Power vs VO2max
⏩ What’s the best way to calculate Threshold Power?