Your watch gives you a lot of data. But is it actually accurate for your body?
At The Endurance Edge, our exercise physiologists and nutritionists use VO₂ max, lactate threshold, metabolic and sweat testing to help runners, triathletes, cyclists and active adults understand what their bodies actually need…so you can train smarter, fuel properly and perform your best.
No other facility has our sweat testing interpretation and guidance, thanks to our Hydration Edge app!
Stop guessing how much to drink, how much sodium you need, or why you’re cramping.
Our Sweat Test creates a personalized hydration roadmap based on your sweat rate and sodium losses, helping you perform better while reducing dehydration, GI issues, and race-day surprises.
Know exactly how hard to train, when to push, and how to fuel your workouts.
Our VO₂Max & lactate testing measures your physiology so you can build personalized training zones, improve endurance, optimize fueling, and train with confidence instead of relying on generic formulas.
Get beyond generic calculations and discover what your body needs to thrive.
Our Metabolic Health Testing helps you understand your metabolism, body composition, and key health metrics so you can make confident decisions about weight management, healthy aging, and long-term performance.
You don’t need another generic hydration recommendation. You need to know what your body loses and what to do about it.
You’ll leave knowing:
We interpret your results with you and help you turn them into a practical hydration strategy you can actually use in training and on race day.
Even better? You get to use our Hydration Edge app to continue to refine your hydration plan based on sport, intensity and weather conditions, so you’ll always have a plan, no matter what you do.
Watch this quick overview to learn how sweat testing can help you build a hydration strategy around your individual needs.
2 hours
Includes 1 month of our Hydration Edge app.
30-60 minutes on your own + 30 minute consult
Test your sweat at home to unlock your ideal hydration strategy—easy, accurate, actionable.
Includes 1 month of our Hydration Edge app.
1.5 hours
Personalized electrolyte blend tailored to your unique sweat profile for peak performance, performed, analyzed, and interpreted immediately at our office.
Includes 1 month of our Hydration Edge app.
1 hr 45 minutes
Includes VO2Max testing and sodium sweat testing + hydration consultation with our performance nutritionist.
Includes 1 month of our Hydration Edge app.
“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!”
“I kept bonking/cramping…despite using generic online recommendations, and ultimately even ChatGPT, to try to nail down carbohydrate and sodium intake. Testing and discussion of results was an eye opener and has given me significantly more insight into what I was missing and how to more appropriately tailor my nutrition, as well as giving me tools to track and reassess over the coming months.”
Have Questions About Sweat Testing? Read Our FAQs
Answer a few quick questions about your goals and we’ll help point you toward the testing option that makes the most sense.
You already have plenty of data. The question is whether you’re using the right data to make better training and fueling decisions.
You’ll leave knowing:
Because knowing your VO₂Max isn’t enough.
A number is only useful if you know what to do with it.
We interpret your results and turn them into practical training and fueling recommendations you can use in your workouts not another report that gets filed away and forgotten.
Watch this quick overview to see what VO₂Max and metabolic testing looks like at The Endurance Edge and how we use the results to guide training and fueling.
VO₂Max + Lactate Threshold + Body Composition
2 hours
Get personalized training zones using metabolic and lactate data so you can better understand how hard to train, how your body responds at different intensities, and how to fuel your workouts.
Best fit if: you train by heart rate, pace, or power and want objective data to help you train smarter, improve endurance, and reduce the guesswork around your training zones.
1.5 hours
1 hr 15 minutes
Have Questions About VO₂Max, Lactate or Metabolic Testing? Read Our FAQs
Answer a few quick questions about your goals and we’ll help point you toward the testing option that makes the most sense.
Your metabolism, fitness, body composition, and energy needs are personal and they can change with age, training, lifestyle, and other factors.
Our metabolic health testing gives you objective information about how many calories your body needs, your aerobic fitness, body composition, and strength so you can make more informed decisions about nutrition, exercise, weight management, and long-term health.
The goal isn’t simply to collect more numbers. It’s to understand what those numbers mean for you and what to do next.
“Very worthwhile experience (VO2 Max test) professional, helpful, knowledgeable, fun – feedback discussion extremely beneficial for future workout planning / goals. Money well spent!”
You don’t need another generic number telling you to eat less or exercise more. You need information that helps you understand your body and make better decisions for your health.
Depending on the testing you choose, you’ll learn:
We don’t just hand you a metabolic report. We help you understand your results and how to use them to make more informed decisions moving forward.
RMR + VO₂Max + Body Composition + Grip Strength
2 hours
For the person who wants a more complete picture of their metabolism, fitness, body composition, and strength.
Rather than relying on one number, you’ll get multiple objective measures that can help you better understand your current health and establish benchmarks to track over time.
Best fit if: you want personalized information to help guide nutrition, exercise, weight-management, fitness, or longevity goals.
45 minutes
Best if your primary question is how much energy your body needs at rest.
Measure your resting metabolism to get a more individualized starting point for understanding calorie needs and weight-management goals.
1 hr 30 minutes
1. We measure body composition and grip strength.
These additional measurements give you benchmarks you can track alongside your metabolic and fitness data.
2. We measure your resting metabolism.
For RMR testing, you’ll relax while wearing a metabolic mask for approximately 20–30 minutes following the testing preparation guidelines.
3. We measure your aerobic fitness.
For the complete Metabolic Health Package, you’ll complete VO₂Max testing so we can objectively measure your aerobic fitness.
4. We help you understand the results.
We’ll review what your numbers mean and how you can use them to guide your nutrition, exercise, weight-management, and long-term health goals. If your results point to an area where additional support could help, we’ll also talk through appropriate next steps.
Have Questions About Metabolic Testing? Read Our FAQs
Whether your goal is weight management, better fitness, healthy aging, or simply understanding your body better, answer a few quick questions and we’ll help point you toward the testing option that makes the most sense.
I’d like to do a bike test. Do I have to bring my own bike?
Yes, you’ll need to bring your own bike.
We use a wheel-off cycle ergometer to perform the testing on your own bike. In order to fit on our ergometer (indoor trainer), you’ll need to have an 11 or 12 speed cassette and have the appropriate tool to remove your rear wheel (if applicable).
We suggest using the bike that you’ll be training and/or racing on the most. So if you have a tri bike, and you’ll be racing on that bike, we suggest testing on that bike. If you are racing mountain bikes, use that one, and so on.
Which metabolic, VO₂Max or sweat test should I choose?
The right test depends on what you want to learn. Sweat testing focuses on fluid and sodium needs; metabolic performance testing helps determine training zones and fueling needs; and metabolic health testing can help you better understand metabolism, aerobic fitness, body composition, and other health metrics.
How do I prepare for a VO2Max, Sweat or RMR test?
There’s no need to “train” for your test.
For Resting Metabolic Rate and Metabolic Health Package (which includes RMR), be sure you are fasted for at least 8 hours. Water is acceptable.
For all other VO2Max and 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.
How quickly do I get my VO2 results?
We typically deliver your results directly to your portal while you’re in our office, so we can discuss them immediately (unless you have a separate hydration consultation). However, we may need additional time to work on the reports, in which case, they’ll be available to you within 72 business hours.
What do I need to bring to my VO2 or Sweat testing appointment?
This is all sent to you in your confirmation email, but you’ll need:
For all exercise tests, please bring a towel, water bottle, snacks (optional), change of clothes, toiletries (if you choose to shower in the locker rooms), and headphones for personal music, if desired. For resting metabolic rate tests (RMR), please bring warm clothes or a blanket (it’s usually about 68F in the testing area) and headphones to keep noise/distractions minimized.
If you are doing a bike test, you will need to bring your own bike. We use a wheel off Kickr for testing, so you’ll need an 11 or 12 speed bike. Contact us if you have a 8 or 10 speed older bike. If you have disc brakes, please bring the tool to remove your rear wheel. You’ll also want to have whatever gear you’ll need to ride (cycling shorts, sweat towel, cycling shoes, etc).
Can I workout before my VO2 test?
This is all sent to you in your confirmation email.
For best results, please refrain from intense exercise 24-48 hours before your test (so you are adequately rested and have a good quality test), avoid caffeine for 12-24 hours beforehand (although if you’re not doing RMR and you are a habitual caffeine user, then you may consume it), tobacco for 3-4 hours before (no exceptions), and food for 4 hours beforehand (this is to avoid vomiting in the mask, but if you typically eat something prior to intense exercise, then you may have food). Please be well-hydrated for your test.
What protocol do you use for VO2Max testing?
For RMR testing, we have 1 main protocol. Expect that you’ll be lying down quietly for at least 15-20 minutes, in a fasted state, breathing normally. That’s it.
For exercise testing, we adjust the protocol based on your current fitness level. We mostly do ramp-style testing, but can adjust based on your needs. We prefer to have about 5 stages in the testing protocol, but can have more. We typically like to see that you are reaching your threshold around the 5th stage (can vary between the 5-8th stage). We don’t want the test to last excessively long, since that will impact hydration/nutrition status. It’s important that you give us as much information in the pre-testing forms you’ll complete, so we can create the best protocol for your needs.
If you want us to use a certain protocol, like the Bruce protocol, then we can (but we rarely do). The protocol selection is intended to be as close to your specific goals/needs as possible, so the zones apply to your sport.
Will I get a confirmation email and reminder texts and emails for my VO2 testing?
Yes, upon booking, you’ll immediately receive a confirmation email with additional details about the test. If you don’t receive this email, *check your spam.* Also, we send you an e-mail reminder 2 days ahead of time and a text reminder 1 day ahead of time to confirm your appointment. Please make every effort to arrive at your appointment on time, wearing proper attire.
Do you have showers available?
Yes, there are shower facilities on site that you are welcome to use after your test. You will need to bring your own towel and toiletries.
Where is your exercise physiology lab located?
We are located inside the Triangle Aquatic Center (TAC) at 275 Convention Dr Cary, NC 27511, located off I-40 near eastern border of Cary, close to Raleigh. Within the facility, we are located in a 5000 square foot gym, where we have our treadmill and bike ergometer.
I’m a volleyball/soccer/tennis/spartan athlete. Can I do VO2 testing?
Certainly! However, VO2Max testing is the most applicable in your sport. If you don’t run, hike, or cycle, then we can do onsite testing with the mask. Contact us for more information.
For sweat testing, we will often do treadmill testing in whatever way is applicable to your sport, which is often sprint intervals. However, you may be best served by doing the Home Sweat testing kit, where you can actually do your actual sport and get the most relevant data for you.
I’m a triathlete/runner/cyclist/mountaineer. Can I do this testing?
YES. This testing is specifically designed to create zones that directly apply to your sport.
I’m a swimmer. Can I do VO2 testing?
It depends on your goals. We CAN do lactate testing poolside, which will help determine your paces.
If you need your RMR done in order to determine your energy needs for rest and for sport, then yes, you can do that. But the exercise testing does not apply well on a treadmill or cycle ergometer to swimming.
What if I need to reschedule my VO2Max testing?
No problem! Just head to the portal here and go to “Bookings” and click on Reschedule. There is no fee to reschedule if you do so via the portal at least 24 hours before your testing appointment. However, if you need to cancel an appointment for any reason, WITHIN 24 hours prior to your appointment, you will be charged a $35.00 cancellation fee.
What locations do you serve for sweat, metabolic and VO2Max testing?
Our exercise physiology lab is located inside the Triangle Aquatic Center at 275 Convention Dr Cary, NC 27511. However, we have served people from Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Durham, Chapel-Hill, Charlotte, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, Fayetteville, Wake Forest, Hillsborough, Pittsboro, and Winston-Salem. We’ve also served people flying in from out of state. We are conveniently located close the the RDU airport (about 15 minutes away).
We are also mobile! We can come to you and your team/club, so long as it’s within a 3 hour radius of our main office in Cary, NC. We can provide team sweat testing and metabolic testing for land-based sports like crossfit, cross country running, track, soccer, and more. Contact us to get a quote.
I’m not a runner (or I cannot run). Can I do this test?
Absolutely. You can either do an incline walking test, cycle (or bike) test on your own bike, or row erg.
Visit our exercise physiology lab in Cary, NC, serving athletes and active adults throughout Raleigh, Durham, Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Chapel Hill and beyond.
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