Santa Cruz Fitness Testing

Santa Cruz's diverse, passionate athletic community benefits from professional fitness testing:

• •
  Trail Runners:

  • • Training on Wilder Ranch, Pogonip, Forest of Nisene Marks, UCSC trails
  • • Need Zone 2 for long runs, Zone 4 for climb repeats on Wilder's hills
  • • Preparing for local trail races or ultras (Western States, UTMB)
• •
  Road Cyclists:

  • • Conquering Bonny Doon, Empire Grade, Alba Road climbs
  • • Highway 1 coastal rides, Santa Cruz Mountains loops
  • • Testing reveals accurate FTP (functional threshold power) and training zones
  • • Preparing for Sea Otter Classic, gran fondos, or club rides
• •
  Mountain Bikers:

  • • Shredding Soquel Demonstration Forest (Demo), Wilder Ranch trails
  • • Balancing technical skills with cardiovascular fitness
  • • Zone 3 to 4 efforts for sustained climbs and flow trails
• •
  Triathletes:

  • • Training for Santa Cruz Triathlon, Wildflower, Vineman, Ironman
  • • Zones that apply across swim, bike, run disciplines
  • • Pacing strategy for sprint, Olympic, 70.3, or full Ironman distances
• •
  CrossFit Athletes:

  • • CrossFit Santa Cruz, Watsonville, and local box members
  • • Improving "engine" (cardiovascular capacity) for metcons
  • • Body composition goals: RMR for precise calorie targets
• •
  Marathon & Half Marathon Runners:

  • • Training for Santa Cruz Half Marathon, Big Sur Marathon, Boston
  • • Race pacing strategy (Zone 3 to 4 for half, Zone 3 for full)
  • • Long run heart rate targets (Zone 2 base building)
• •
  Team Sport Athletes:

  • • Soccer, basketball, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, field hockey players
  • • Off-season conditioning, pre-season fitness baseline
  • • Improving cardiovascular endurance for game performance
• •
  UCSC Students & Athletes:

  • • NCAA Division III athletes (cross country, track, soccer, tennis, swimming)
  • • Club sport athletes (rowing, rugby, cycling, triathlon)
  • • Students wanting fitness optimization for personal goals
• •
  Weight Loss & Body Composition:

  • • Frustrated by diet plateaus-RMR reveals true calorie needs
  • • Combining Santa Cruz's outdoor activities with smart nutrition
  • • Stop guessing, start knowing exact calorie targets
• •
  Masters Athletes (40+):

  • • Tracking age-related fitness and metabolic changes
  • • Competing in age-group categories at local/regional races
  • • Optimizing training as physiology shifts with aging
• •
  Weekend Warriors & Fitness Enthusiasts:

  • • Anyone wanting objective fitness tracking instead of "feeling"
  • • Curious about true fitness level and potential
  • • Making the most of Santa Cruz's amazing outdoor training opportunities

Generic training plans and online calculators don't account for YOUR unique physiology OR Santa Cruz's unique training environment. Fitness testing provides personalized data:

• Santa Cruz's Challenging Terrain Demands Proper Zones:
  • • Wilder Ranch Climbs: Sustained 5 to 15 minute climbs-need to know Zone 3 vs. Zone 4 threshold
  • • Empire Grade/Bonny Doon: 20 to 40 minute climbs-pacing at precise Zone 3 tempo prevents blow-up
  • • Trail Running Technical Terrain: Heart rate spikes on climbs-testing reveals YOUR recovery zones
  • • Without accurate zones = training too hard on easy days (fatigue) or too easy on hard days (no adaptation)
• Year-Round Training Requires Precision:
  • • Santa Cruz weather allows 12 months of outdoor training
  • • Consistent training = need for proper zone management to avoid overtraining
  • • Testing every 8 to 12 weeks tracks improvements and adjusts zones
• Santa Cruz's Active Community = Competitive Environment:
  • • Group rides, trail runs, CrossFit WODs-easy to push too hard
  • • Knowing YOUR zones prevents ego from sabotaging training
  • • Objective data > trying to keep up with faster athletes on every session
• Nutrition for Santa Cruz's Demanding Training:
  • • Long trail runs, multi-hour bike rides = significant calorie burn
  • • RMR testing + activity factor = accurate total daily expenditure
  • • Prevents under-fueling (performance loss) or over-fueling (unwanted weight gain)

Santa Cruz offers world-class training opportunities year-round. Fitness testing helps you maximize every session:

• Trail Running Paradise:
  • • Wilder Ranch State Park: 35+ miles of trails, ocean views, sustained climbs perfect for Zone 3 to 4 efforts
  • • Pogonip: Technical singletrack, rolling hills, ideal for Zone 2 long runs and Zone 4 climb repeats
  • • Forest of Nisene Marks: 30+ miles of fire roads and trails, long Zone 2 base-building runs
  • • UCSC Campus Trails: Convenient loops with elevation, great for students and locals
  • • West Cliff Drive: Flat coastal path for easy Zone 1 recovery runs
• Road Cycling Heaven:
  • • Bonny Doon: 8-mile climb, 1200+ ft elevation-perfect Zone 3 tempo or Zone 4 threshold test
  • • Empire Grade: Epic 12-mile climb from town to summit-requires precise pacing
  • • Highway 1 North/South: Coastal flats and rollers for Zone 2 endurance or Zone 3 tempo
  • • Alba Road Loop: Punchy climbs, technical descents, varied intensity
  • • Santa Cruz Mountains: Endless loops, climbs, and scenic routes
• Mountain Biking Mecca:
  • • Soquel Demonstration Forest: Flow trails, technical singletrack, sustained climbs
  • • Wilder Ranch: Coastal trails with ocean views and challenging terrain
  • • UCSC Campus: Quick after-work rides, varied difficulty
• Sea-Level Advantage:
  • • Santa Cruz at sea level = ideal baseline for altitude training prep
  • • Test here before Tahoe/Mammoth altitude camps (3 to 5 hour drive)
  • • Retest post-altitude to measure EPO response and adaptations

Why choose Fit Evaluations for fitness testing in Santa Cruz:

• ✓ Lab-Grade Equipment: Korr CardioCoach metabolic cart-same technology used in university research labs and Olympic training centers
• ✓ Professional Testing Equipment: NOHRd SprintBok self-powered treadmill, Wahoo KICKR Bike (fully customizable), WaterRower, Jacob's Ladder XL stair mill-choose what matches your sport
• ✓ Same-Day Results: No waiting days or weeks-expert interpretation immediately after your test
• ✓ Zone Familiarization: Unique to our testing-we take you BACK to your zones after the test so you FEEL what Zone 2, Zone 3, etc. feel like in your body
• ✓ Local Expertise: We understand Santa Cruz's training environment, local races, terrain, and athletic community
• ✓ Personalized Guidance: Not just numbers on paper-practical application to YOUR goals, sport, and training phase
• ✓ Convenient Downtown Location: 311 Soquel Ave (behind Hindquarter), easy parking, quick access from anywhere in the county
• ✓ Flexible Scheduling: Mornings, evenings, and weekends available to fit your busy Santa Cruz lifestyle

For VO₂ Max Testing:

• • Fast for 3 to 4 hours before (water okay)
• • No caffeine for 4+ hours prior
• • No intense exercise 12 to 24 hours before (rest day or easy recovery)
• • Good sleep the night before
• • Bring athletic clothing and appropriate shoes (running shoes for treadmill, cycling shoes for bike)
• • Arrive well-hydrated but not over-hydrated

For RMR Testing:

• • Fast for 4 to 6 hours (water okay)
• • No caffeine for 4+ hours
• • No exercise on the day of testing
• • Good sleep the night before
• • Avoid alcohol 24 hours before
• • Morning appointments preferred for best accuracy (natural fasted state)

VO₂ Max Testing: $250
Comprehensive aerobic fitness assessment with personalized 5-zone training system, VT1/VT2 thresholds, fat-burning zone, pacing guidance, and expert interpretation. Includes zone familiarization experience.

RMR Testing: $75
Quick metabolic rate assessment revealing exact daily calorie burn, TDEE, weight loss/maintenance/performance targets, and personalized macronutrient recommendations.

Performance Pack: $300 (save $25)
Both VO₂ max and RMR testing in one comprehensive ~90-minute session. Complete metabolic profile covering training optimization AND nutrition planning. Best value for serious athletes.

Fit Evaluations
311 Soquel Ave
Santa Cruz, CA 95062

Finding Us: Downtown Santa Cruz behind the Hindquarter restaurant. Use the second entrance to the building off Dakota St. Easy access from Highway 1 (take Ocean St exit toward downtown, turn left on Soquel Ave).

Parking: Street parking available on Soquel Ave and surrounding streets. Metered parking (free after 6pm and weekends). Nearby public lots on Cedar St and Pacific Ave (short walk).

Serving All of Santa Cruz County: Santa Cruz, Aptos, Capitola, Soquel, Scotts Valley, Watsonville, Live Oak, Ben Lomond, Felton, Boulder Creek, and the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Contact:
Phone: 831-400-9227
Email: info@fitevals.com