Last updated: 3 October 2026
Reviewed by Jordan Morley, FA Level 2 Football Coach
LT2 (also called the lactate turn point or MLSS — maximal lactate steady state) is the higher of two lactate threshold points. At LT2, lactate begins to accumulate exponentially — exercise above this intensity is sustainable for only 20-60 minutes in trained athletes. It corresponds roughly to functional threshold power (FTP) in cycling and threshold pace in running. Training just below LT2 (tempo, threshold work) is the most effective way to raise it. LT2 is best determined in a laboratory blood lactate test but can be approximated from field tests.
- Upper lactate threshold (MLSS)
- Above LT2: lactate accumulates exponentially
- Corresponds to FTP (cycling), threshold pace (running)
- Threshold training raises LT2 most effectively
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LT2 (sometimes called the anaerobic threshold) marks a higher, more clearly defined intensity than LT1 where lactate accumulation accelerates sharply — it roughly corresponds to the hardest pace a trained athlete can sustain for about an hour, making it one of the most important benchmarks for setting threshold and tempo training zones.
FAQ
What's the difference between LT1 and LT2?
LT1 marks the point where blood lactate first rises meaningfully above resting baseline (the top of easy aerobic training); LT2 marks a sharper, second rise where lactate accumulates rapidly, corresponding to a much harder, barely-sustainable intensity.
How is LT2 used in training?
It anchors threshold/tempo training paces or power zones — training at or just below LT2 is a key stimulus for raising the overall threshold and improving sustainable race pace.