(919) 230-7897
Located inside the Triangle Aquatic Center
275 Convention Drive
Cary, NC 27511
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Customized solutions for your training, fueling, weight management and hydration needs!
Get evidence-based tools to train effectively, hydrate properly, manage weight and/or perform your best with our VO2Max testing, sweat testing, lactate threshold testing, body composition testing and more. Our metabolic cart is the best technology on the market used by NASA, the US Army and many prestigious colleges and universities. No other facility in the area (or surrounding states) has our sweat testing technology!
- Are you trying to determine your ideal hydration needs? Check out our sweat testing.
- Are you looking to optimize training efficiency, determine heart rate training zones, or trying to fuel properly? Check out our metabolic testing.
- Are you trying to lose weight using evidence based methods? Check out our metabolic testing for weight loss.
Not sure what you need? Contact us today!
“Chris and the entire team at The Endurance Edge are awesome! Their testing helped to unlock the problems I faced on my long runs. Their recommended strategies along with a custom hydration formula has dramatically improved my performance. I wish I had done it sooner!”
—Charlie Colebarnes
Sweat Testing
Stop guessing about your hydration!
We are proud to be the only facility to offer this extraordinary service. Once reserved only for elite athletes, you now have access to this exclusive testing. Our testing is backed by research-based sweat testing methods. What’s more is that you get a truly personalized hydration formula rather than a recommendation for a pre-made drink, like other companies may suggest. With our one-on-one consultation that’s included with every sweat test, we work together to determine what’s best for your needs.
Is this YOU?
- Have you suffered from poor performance, or ended up in the medical tent or hospital from dehydration or hyponatremia?
- Are you plagued with cramping, sloshy stomach, nausea, or diarrhea during workouts?
- Are you constantly trying the latest sports drink or electrolyte solution to guess what best fits your needs?
Perform your best, eliminate GI distress, and reduce the risk of heat illness using our state-of-the-art technology!
How does sweat testing work?
In this completely painless process, you’ll be asked to do a 40-60 minute workout of your choice in order for us to collect enough sweat. We have a treadmill and a trainer (bring your own bike) at your disposal or your can workout outdoors at the intensity of your choice (unless combined with a VO2 test in our Training Zones, Fueling & Hydration Formula test).
If you prefer to do the sweat testing at home, purchase the Home Sweat Testing Kit here.
After emptying your bladder, you’ll wear a few simple bandages with gauze. At the end of your workout, we’ll remove the bandages and analyze your sweat.
No needles involved! In fact, sweat research suggests you must sweat in order to get the most accurate results. Don’t settle for anything less than the best!
What do I get after the sweat test?
If testing in person, you’ll immediately receive a comprehensive handout with your personalized sweat losses (from total fluid and sodium) and hydration recommendations, including a customized sports drink mix (we work with Infinit to create it), as well as any pre-made drinks or electrolytes on the market that best fit your needs and preferences.
More importantly, you’ll get a 30 minute hydration consultation with our Registered Dietitian and Hydration Specialist so you know how to best hydrate based on your goals. This is the best value for your testing!
We don’t just give you the sweat testing results and wish you good luck, but we interpret them for you and teach you how to use them. While some sweat testing protocols are tied to their own hydration products, we help you choose the right product(s) that work best for you, which may include real food, engineered products, DIY solutions and more. You are unique and your hydration plan should be too!
Want fluid, electrolyte and carbohydrate recommendations for your workouts?
By adding our metabolic (VO2 & lactate) testing, you’ll receive hydration and fueling recommendations by booking the Training Zones, Fueling & Hydration Formula.
Sweat & Hydration Formula: $199
Home Sweat Testing Kit: $199 Purchase Here!
Add metabolic testing for the most comprehensive solution to your training, fueling and hydration needs:
Training Zones, Fueling & Hydration Formula (VO2, Lactate, Body Fat & Sweat): $389
Not sure what you need? Contact us today!
Do you offer sweat testing for teams, clubs or groups?
Yes, simply contact us to learn more. Our team is available to come to you or get your testing kits no matter where you are in the country to provide comprehensive hydration solutions so you can perform your best!
“I cannot thank the Endurance Edge team enough for helping me to qualify for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in the Marathon! I approached Chris at the Endurance Edge after experiencing electrolyte issues around mile 19 of the 2019 California International Marathon. In less than four weeks, I had an individualized hydration and fueling plan that I was CONFIDENT in. This made all the difference and resulted in an 8+ min PR, and Olympic Trails Qualifying time at the 2020 Houston Marathon. I highly recommend the Endurance Edge for your individualized hydration, fueling, and recovery plans! Thank you!”
—Catherine Campbell
Metabolic Testing for Performance & Fueling
Train smarter, get faster, and fuel properly!
Our signature Training Zones & Fueling Formula service uses VO2Max (including ventilatory threshold), lactate threshold testing, and body fat testing so you can understand how efficiently you burn calories from fat and what heart rate and power (Watts for the bike) or pace (for the run) zones are the most effective for you to improve performance.
This is generally done as a graded exercise test (increasing in pace or grade at regular intervals), but can also be done as a steady state test (holding a set pace, which is useful for ironman pacing, for example).
*Add sweat testing (our Sweat & Hydration Formula) for the most comprehensive solution to your training, fueling and hydration needs.
See the testing in action here:
Testing Results
The results are provided within 24-72 business hours of testing via email (with a link for a complimentary Metabolic Results & Analysis phone consult) and include:
- Heart rate and pace zones, or “Training Zones:” Using lactate and ventilation, we determine your zones as pace (for treadmill test) or power (for bike or row tests). With this, you’ll know the most efficient way to get faster and increase endurance. We’ll even set your zones for you if you use a Garmin!
- Calorie, carbohydrate and fat burning, or your “Fueling Formula” at each level of intensity (i.e. substrate use). Why is this important? We want you to be the best “fat burner” possible in order to spare your precious glycogen (carbohydrate) stores to avoid “bonking” or running out of energy. Some people also like to see their “crossover point” in order to see their “metabolic efficiency,” which we’ll see in our report too. Plus, you’ll walk away with your fueling needs during exercise in order to avoid GI distress and optimize performance. We’ll provide you with the recommended amount of carbohydrates to ingest per hour based on what you can absorb.
- Body fat percentage using the ACSM 7-site skinfold test so you can set realistic goals for weight management and ideal racing weight.
- Consultation with our experts on how to use the results. There’s no point in doing them unless you know how to apply them!
Our signature service:
Training Zones, Fueling & Hydration Formula (VO2, Lactate, Body Fat & Sweat): $399
Training Zones & Fueling Formula (VO2, Lactate & Body Fat): $249
You can also book our metabolic testing services a la carte:
Fueling Formula (VO2): If you’re simply looking for your fueling needs during exercise in order to avoid GI distress and optimize performance, book our Fueling Formula. We’ll provide you with the recommended amount of carbohydrates to ingest per hour based on what you can absorb. We also look at your “metabolic efficiency” and “crossover point.” $149
Lactate Threshold Testing: If you’re looking for your lactate response during exercise, including your OBLA and LT, book our lactate threshold testing. $149
*Fueling & Hydration Formula (VO2 & Sweat): If you’re looking to understand your fueling and hydration needs during exercise, book our Fueling & Hydration Formula. $299
Not sure what you need? Contact us
Metabolic Testing for Weight Management
Achieve your weight management goals using science!
Stop guess about how many calories or macronutrients you need to lose weight effectively! With our state-of-the art metabolic cart, we can help you understand how effectively you burn calories, fat and carbohydrates. Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) testing is offered as a quick, stand-alone service, or included in our signature Weight Loss Formula service. Add in our Genetic Testing (to see your genetic propensity for a high or low metabolic rate) and nutrition consulting with our Registered Dietitian Nutritionists, and you’ll have evidence-based answers for what’s right for your body.
How is VO2 testing important for weight management?
By measuring the amount of oxygen you consume and carbon dioxide you exhale with our metabolic cart, we’re able to quantify how effective your body is at burning total calories as well as calories from fat and carbohydrates at rest and/or during exercise (walking, running or biking). Using this information, you’ll know your daily calorie needs (no more guessing!) and be able to develop realistic weight management goals.
What is Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR)?
RMR is the amount of energy necessary for your body to function at rest. With this painless test, you’ll learn how effectively your metabolism uses total energy (aka calories), carbohydrates and fat. Instead of trusting apps and general calculations, you’ll know exactly what your metabolism is doing.
This test takes 20-30 minutes wearing a mask in the resting position following a 7-8 hour fast without caffeine, nicotine or strenuous exercise. Immediately following the test, you’ll receive your results and discuss them with your exercise professional. To apply these results to your specific needs, a consultation with our nutritionist is advised.
What’s included in the Weight Loss Formula Service?
Get the tools you need to help you in your weight loss journey!
- Resting Metabolic Rate test that includes total calories, fat and carbohydrates burned at rest.
- Heart rate and fitness zones (without lactate testing) and recommendations on how to burn fat effectively to improve your fitness and reach your goals faster.
- Calorie, carbohydrate and fat burning at each level of intensity so you’ll know how to adjust your macronutrient intake.
- Body fat percentage so you can set realistic goals for weight management.
- Consultation with our nutritionist and fitness expert on how to use your results. To optimize weight management results, it is highly recommended to follow-up with one of our nutrition programs.
Weight Loss Formula (RMR, VO2 & Body Fat): $249
Nutrition Formula (RMR & Body Fat): $109
Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) Test: $89
Body Fat 7-Site Skinfold Test: $25
Not sure what you need? Contact us
Testing FAQs
How to prepare for a test
You don’t (that’s the whole point)!
For Resting Metabolic Rate and Weight Loss Formula tests, be sure you are fasted for at least 8 hours. Water is acceptable.
For all other metabolic tests, please arrive well hydrated and fueled, but please do not overeat. Also, avoid intense exercise (don’t arrive sore!) 24-48 beforehand. We want you to have a good test with usable results.
For sweat testing, we need to have access to two locations on your body that will take non-latex adhesive (so you may have to shave) including your chest, upper back, lower back or thigh.
“I recently trained for a fall marathon. My training went great, but I had some difficulties with my long runs. Water that I was taking in just seemed to slosh in my gut, and I would run out of energy to finish strong. When I ran the marathon in October, I had some extreme cramping that hindered my performance even though I felt I had trained my overall fitness well. It was recommended to me to seek some answers with the help of The Endurance Edge.
Using their Fueling and Hydration Formula testing, I had my VO2 max measured which gave me some answers about my metabolic and fueling needs. I also had my sweat rate measured as well as my electrolyte needs during activity. Following the testing, I had two nutrition consults. They helped me understand all the data and how to incorporate them into my running. I practiced fueling and hydrating during medium and long runs throughout November and December.
They responded quickly to emails when I let them know what was working and what needed some tweaking. Fast forward to yesterday, I ran another marathon in Charleston, SC. Conditions were very warm, humid, and sunny, extreme for January. I ran a great race with even splits to the end, even in those conditions. No cramping, no energy loss in the later miles. Don’t hesitate to seek help from The Endurance Edge if you need it. Their services are helpful for any athlete, from the recreational to the elite.”
—Charlie Colebarnes