All This Data, From a Single PACER Test

VO2max indicates the maximum amount of oxygen your body can consume during high-intensity exercise. A higher VO2max means greater aerobic capacity and the ability to generate more energy during endurance activities.

LTP1 is the point at which lactate levels begin to rise noticeably during exercise. It marks the ideal intensity for recovery runs and long aerobic sessions, making it key for building endurance and maximizing fat burn.

LTP2 represents the point where lactate accumulation accelerates sharply. It’s often used to set intervals or race pace, and appears at higher speeds in more trained individuals.

Running economy refers to the amount of oxygen consumed at a given running speed. Lower oxygen usage means more efficient movement, especially crucial for long-distance races. It is influenced by posture, foot strike, shoe type, muscle efficiency, breathing patterns, and overall technique.

Runner type is based on how your body metabolizes fat and carbohydrates during exercise. It identifies whether you are more endurance-oriented or power-based, and helps guide personalized training plans and race strategies.

Training zones divide exercise intensity based on your lactate thresholds, helping you understand how each level affects your energy metabolism. Each zone is associated with different benefits—such as fat burning, endurance building, or speed enhancement—and effective training relies on targeting the right zone for your fitness level.

Using CPET data, PACER calculates your optimal marathon pace based on your endurance and metabolic profile. Rather than a simple average speed, it identifies the fastest sustainable pace for you—enabling a strategic race plan that avoids burnout and maximizes performance.

To prevent carbohydrate depletion during exercise, PACER recommends personalized gel intake timing based on your CPET results and carb-burning rate. Unlike the generic 30-minute rule, this tailored approach helps you maintain stable performance deep into the race.

Displays the volume of oxygen absorbed per minute during exercise as a time-series graph. As intensity increases, VO2 rises, helping assess aerobic capacity and cardiovascular fitness.

Visualizes the volume of carbon dioxide exhaled per minute. It is key for identifying metabolic shifts, fatigue accumulation, and changes in fuel utilization.

The total volume of air inhaled and exhaled in one minute. It increases with exercise intensity and reflects ventilatory demand.

The number of breaths per minute. Like heart rate, it responds quickly to intensity changes and helps detect over-breathing or ventilation inefficiencies.

The amount of air inhaled in a single breath, representing breathing depth. Useful for distinguishing shallow versus deep breathing patterns.

Calculated as VCO2 ÷ VO2, RER indicates the dominant energy source. Values closer to 0.7 suggest fat metabolism; values near 1.0 indicate carbohydrate metabolism.

Shows the cumulative calories burned during the test, updating in real time based on exercise intensity and metabolic rate.

Displays how much fat and carbohydrate is being used during exercise in grams or calories. The balance between these fuels is critical for weight management and endurance strategy.

The number of steps taken per minute. Optimal cadence varies by runner and can change with pace or fatigue. Monitoring cadence trends helps you understand and refine your running style.

The amount your upper body moves up and down while running. It offers insights into your running mechanics and energy usage patterns.

The degree of side-to-side movement during running. While it may affect running efficiency, it also depends on body type and terrain.

Shows the distribution of load between your left and right foot. Any imbalance may reflect muscle strength asymmetry or personal running habits.

Quantifies how effectively your lower body absorbs and returns force when hitting the ground. This varies by body composition, running style, and surface.

The amount of time your foot stays on the ground. While faster running often shortens contact time, what's more important is the trend and symmetry across both feet.

The duration when both feet are off the ground. It reflects the elasticity of your running gait and varies with pace, fatigue, and style.