Why is it that some people can’t get enough of running, including workouts, races, and training runs, while others can’t stand the thought of running one mile. There is a certain type of person that is cut out for exercise and a certain type of person that has no interest in working out. Why?
A recent Wall Street Journal article took a look at this issue and suggested that a person’s “ventilatory threshold” goes a long way to determining whether the person will enjoy exercise.
Normally when people breathe, they expel an amount of carbon dioxide that is equal to the amount of oxygen taken in. But beyond the ventilatory threshold, the release of carbon dioxide begins to exceed the body’s intake of oxygen. This excess release of carbon dioxide is a sign that the muscles have become more acidic, which the body finds stressful.For most individuals, the ventilatory threshold is around 50% to 60% of the way to their maximum capacity, though there is tremendous individual variation. For elite athletes, the threshold may be as high as 80%, while sedentary people may hit it at 35%.
If you think that you may have a low ventilatory threshold, consider using “tricks” to increase your tolerance of exercise, including running to music, running in nature (i.e. trail running), or running with friends. The goal is to stimulate the mind so that it is not focused on the uncomfortable feelings from exercise.
