Why Lab Testing is a Waste of Money for Triathletes
Lab tests like VO₂ max or lab-based FTP tests can certainly have a place for elite athletes or those diagnosing specific issues. However, for most triathletes, they aren’t the golden ticket to better performance. Instead of relying on numbers, you can achieve greater progress through real-world training that produces measurable results. This blog explains why actionable insights gained from field tests and practical coaching outperform the data lab tests provide.
As triathletes, it’s tempting to believe that lab tests will provide the secret formula to success. At Sense Endurance Coaching, we take a different view. For most triathletes, particularly those at amateur or intermediate levels, lab testing often delivers little return on investment compared to proven, practical training methods. Instead, we focus on improving what truly matters—strength, endurance, technique, and race-day strategy. For example, one athlete came to me after spending hundreds on lab tests that left her frustrated with no real progress. Once we shifted focus to ongoing field tests and real-world training, her performance improved dramatically.
2. The Financial Burden of Lab Testing
Lab testing isn’t cheap. Comprehensive assessments like VO₂ max tests, lactate threshold analysis, and metabolic efficiency tests can cost hundreds. Now imagine reallocating those funds: quality coaching sessions, personalised training plans, or even upgraded equipment. These investments provide tangible improvements you’ll feel in training and see in race results.
3. Limited Practical Application of Lab Results
Lab tests generate impressive-sounding data, but they rarely translate directly into actionable changes for most triathletes. For instance, knowing your VO₂ max is interesting but doesn’t help you execute your long ride better or perfect your pacing for a race. Even the most advanced data often requires expert interpretation, but it might still miss the mark for your specific needs.
Take one athlete who joined us: she underwent a metabolic gas analysis on the bike that revealed she burned zero fat during exercise and relied entirely on sugars—even at low heart rates. This seemed odd until she shared that she had taken a gel right before the test, as it coincided with her usual lunchtime. The test, lasting only 12 minutes, yielded useless results thanks to readily available sugars in her bloodstream. The €350 spent was wasted on worthless data.
4. Why Lab Tests Don’t Prepare You for Real-World Racing
On an average training day, fatigue might linger from the previous session, and fuelling (before and during) won’t always be perfect. There are countless variables affecting your performance: heat, stress, imperfect sleep, and other unexpected challenges.
Two clear differences in variables between lab and ongoing field tests are setting and equipment. An FTP test taken in a lab, with or without a metabolic gas analysis, is often conducted on a suboptimal exercise bike with different geometry, position, or gearing compared to your actual bike. When testing on your own bike—whether on the road or a trainer—the data is more accurate, and you build confidence in the equipment and environment you'll use on race day.
This disconnect between lab test conditions and the realities of training means the results often don’t give a true picture of how you’ll perform when it matters most. At Sense Endurance, we focus on preparing athletes for the unpredictable—where real endurance is built. We use ongoing field tests, in your normal training settings, to track your true progress.
5. Why Lab Data Can Be Dangerously Misleading
Your body, your fatigue levels, and your mental state fluctuate constantly. Lab tests can’t capture those nuances. Relying on lab data without considering the bigger picture can lead to false conclusions and unnecessary complexity. It’s smarter to focus on practical training methods that produce relevant, real-world results.
6. Lab Tests vs. Ongoing Field Tests
A single lab test might give you data for that specific day, but how useful is it for tracking progress over time? Field tests conducted in regular training are repeatable, so you can track your progress as your fitness evolves.
For example, in swimming, tracking improvements not just by time but also by your ability to hold that speed under increasing workload provides more insight into performance. Similarly, monitoring power and heart rate on long rides gives you a deeper understanding of your pacing strategy and overall conditioning. These ongoing tests are actionable, ensuring that your training evolves as you progress. Importantly, no actionable data provided by a lab test can’t also be gained through well-structured field tests. By replicating race-like conditions during training, field tests provide the same critical insights while ensuring they’re relevant to your actual performance environment.
7. Biomechanics: The Overlooked Factor
Lab tests rarely address one of the most critical factors in triathlon—biomechanics. While aspects like gait analysis can be measured in a lab, they only provide a snapshot under ideal circumstances, ignoring how fatigue impacts form during longer sessions. Efficient swim strokes, optimal bike positioning, and sustainable running form often lead to far greater performance gains than the marginal improvements lab tests measure.
At Sense Endurance, we prioritise refining biomechanics alongside endurance training. This practical focus leads to better race-day performance—helping you move efficiently and sustainably in the conditions that matter most.
8. The Role of Expertise in Coaching
Many teams rely on exercise science graduates to conduct tests and interpret lab results, but technical knowledge doesn’t always translate into effective coaching. Even the most accurate lab results must be understood and applied within the broader context of athlete development. Without practical coaching experience, lab data can easily be misapplied, leading to ineffective training strategies.
All insights—whether from lab tests or field results—must be practical, relevant, and applied in a way that enhances overall performance. The focus is always on the bigger picture, where endurance, strength, and technique combine to improve results.
9. You Can Be Good at Testing, But It Doesn’t Mean You’ll Be Fast on Race Day
Lab testing can create a false sense of security. Some people learn to be very good at the tests—do enough of them, and you can learn how to nail your FTP test, for example—but this doesn’t guarantee success on race day. Some athletes test well in controlled environments but struggle to perform on the road, where real-world variables come into play.
The key is building the skills that apply to racing: smart pacing, race-day strategies, and the ability to perform under pressure. You must focus on making sure you’re ready for the conditions that matter: race day.
10. The Path of Practical Training
Instead of chasing elusive lab metrics, we believe in focusing on what works: building endurance, refining your swim, bike, and run form, and mastering race-specific strategies. These are the elements that truly drive progress.
You must be prepared for the challenges of real-world racing, not just theoretical benchmarks.
11. The Psychological Aspect: Confidence Over Data
Over-reliance on lab testing can create "analysis paralysis." Triathletes often become overwhelmed by numbers, losing sight of the bigger picture. Worse, lab results can undermine confidence when they don’t meet expectations.
Confidence must be built through structured training and consistent progress. Our athletes develop trust in their bodies and strategies—an essential mental asset on race day.
12. When Lab Testing Might Be Worth It
Lab testing has its place. For elite athletes chasing marginal gains or diagnosing specific medical conditions, it can provide valuable insights. But for most triathletes, the time, money, and effort are better spent elsewhere.
13. Conclusion: Investing in What Truly Matters
True endurance doesn’t come from lab tests. It’s built in the real world: out on the road, in the water, and on the trails. By focusing on practical, personalised coaching and sustainable training habits, you’ll see far greater returns than chasing numbers in controlled environments.
At Sense Endurance Coaching, we help you build the strength, resilience, and confidence to achieve your goals—no lab required. Stop chasing lab numbers and start seeing real results. Contact us today for personalised coaching and training plans designed for success on race day.