Posted by Frank Day (63.201.228.13) on January 28, 2004 at 23:27:24:
In Reply to: Re: lactate vs mitochondria myth posted by Andrew Sellars on January 28, 2004 at 20:28:30:
You are right my answer could be misleading as many changes can occur without going anaerobic. However, they are not inhibited by the periods when we are anaerobic and could, possibly, be enhanced, which is what the original question was, I believe.
It takes more than anaerobic stress to cause capillarization. Otherwise, weight lifters and sprinters would be the most highly capillarized people in the world. They are not. So, it is not anaerobic stress per se but more likely sustained being on the verge of anerobic or slightly anaerobic that is the real key to capillarization. Without those capillary beds, all the other changes are worthless when we are talking about aerobic performance so the sustained "anaerobic stress" (whatever is required to develop capillary beds) is a requirement to improve aerobic performance.