Aerobic base. Anaerobic threshold. VO2 max. 
Runners all around South Jersey have heard these terms tossed around by their coaches & camp counselors throughout their cross country careers. They have done their best to understand and apply them in an effort to improve their ability to maximize their performances in a sport where every second counts. Still, often these concepts – which strike at the heart of endurance fitness performance – can remain somewhat puzzling, especially to those who lack an appetite for science and physiology.
Recently, however, five runners from Moorestown High School Boys’ Cross Country Team received a golden opportunity – the chance to experience the sophisticated science that lies at the center of our sport. Great Life Wellness Center in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, opened its state of the art facility to the boys this August. There, each athlete was treated like an Olympian, receiving a VO2 max test, a session with a massage therapist, planning with a licensed dietician, and advice from podiatrist and chiropractor. Each experience helped the boys learn, first hand, about the sophisticated physiology that lies at the heart of cross country.
The Great Life Wellness Center was started by Bill Lacy, and opened nearly a year and a half ago. Its purpose is to provide technologically advanced facilities and top of the line advice to all measures of individuals interested in improving their physical health. Great Life separates itself from your typical gym with its luxurious appointments, including plant life and waterfalls, and impressive assortment of exercise equipment, including the state of the art SciFit cardio machines and Keiser strength training machines. All allow the knowledgeable staff to craft a work out program to help anyone reach their individual fitness goals.
For the runners from Moorestown, that centered clearly around the VO2 max test. The test measures an athlete’s ability to process ever important oxygen by pushing the athlete through an arduous treadmill workout. Each Moorestown runner donned a face mask that hooked them into a machine that would measure the flow of oxygen entering and exiting their system. Monitored closely by an exercise physiologist from Great Life, each runner tackled the treadmill and watched both the speed and incline of the machine gradually increase. With each step, their effort increased, their heart rate rose, and the machine began to scientifically measure the terms the athletes had – to this point – only known in a passive way. By the time the test was complete, they would have accurate measures of their aerobic threshold, anaerobic threshold, and the peak performance of their effort. Combined with corresponding heart rates, the information gives the athlete a clear picture of their current fitness and powerful information upon which they can plan their future workouts. But, first things first. Before truly processing the significance of the VO2 max test, the boys got to indulge in the other services provided by Great Life. First, they dragged their tired bodies into the massage room, where a therapist helped work out the aches and pains of the early cross country season. Then, they sat down with a dietician, who reviewed their eating habits and explained how significant diet was to the success of a runner. Finally, a podiatrist scanned their feet and determined if orthotics were needed and confirmed the type of shoe they were running in was appropriate for them. By the time they re-emerged, they were physically and emotionally ready to process the entire experience. And, to a man, they were excited about it. They were impressed with Great Life and its first rate facilities. They enthusiastically discussed the VO2 max test, laughing and joking about their individual experiences. They eagerly joined in discussions about the test’s results and the significance they will have for their individual training. They heaped thanks on Mr. Lacy and the Great Life staff. When it came time to leave, they departed feeling a little clearer and a little more confident about the science that forms the foundation of their sport.
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