# A heuristic approach for lactate threshold estimation for training decision-making: An accessible and easy to use solution for recreational runners

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a simple heuristic method for estimating lactate threshold in recreational runners, making it more accessible and easier to integrate into training routines, with validated reliability and a computational algorithm.

## Contribution

A novel heuristic approach based on endurance running speed reserve that simplifies lactate threshold estimation for recreational runners, improving accessibility and consistency.

## Key findings

- Heuristic achieves similar accuracy to standard protocols.
- Provides a computational algorithm for broader application.
- Improves accessibility and ease of use for recreational runners.

## Abstract

In this work, a heuristic as operational tool to estimate the lactate threshold and to facilitate its integration into the training process of recreational runners is proposed. To do so, we formalize the principles for the lactate threshold estimation from empirical data and an iterative methodology that enables experience based learning. This strategy arises as a robust and adaptive approach to solve data analysis problems. We compare the results of the heuristic with the most commonly used protocol by making a first quantitative error analysis to show its reliability. Additionally, we provide a computational algorithm so that this quantitative analysis can be easily performed in other lactate threshold protocols. With this work, we have shown that a heuristic %60 of 'endurance running speed reserve', serves for the same purpose of the most commonly used protocol in recreational runners, but improving its operational limitations of accessibility and consistent use.