Fastest pace so far, but lowest VO2 Max, why?

[030961]

Having finished Ju Ju’s timed plan last week, I started the distance plan this morning. I’m looking forward to the plan taking me to distances I’ve only ever before travelled in a car! But my Garmin told me today over the first 2.5K run in week 1, I’d managed my best pace ever for me, an average of 9.15 mins per K, but my VO2 Max was my lowest so far at 27. So my Garmin tells me for my age I’m ‘poor’ and I thought I’d been doing ever so well to get where I am! Any suggestions please how I can improve my VO2 Max level? I don’t think I can run hugely quicker than I am if I’m going to get the distance covered.

[roseabi]

Here is an informative article:

garmin.com/en-US/blog/fitne...

However, don't worry about the Garmin VO2max figure too much it is only an estimate based on your heart rate and as such not hugely accurate xxx

[030961 60minGraduate in reply to roseabi]

Fab, many thanks, I’ll read the article now.

[Tasha99 Graduate10]

You might need to check your garmin heart rate zones are set properly

[030961 60minGraduate in reply to Tasha99]

Hi Tasha99,Do I need to alter the settings? I’ve left them as they are when the watch came. I’ve been pleased that I’ve been spending much less time in heart rate 1, and in fact lowered it to 41% on my hour graduation run last week so thought I was getting fitter.

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to 030961]

There are probably set up the hr max 220-age which can be inaccurate. You need to work out what your hr max is.

[030961 60minGraduate in reply to Tasha99]

Thank you Tasha99 I’ll look at it now.

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate10]

A fast and hard run ruins my VO2max. It’s the slower ones that bring it back up again, and getting out there consistently. I don’t know how accurate it all is though, other people have fantastic figures and mine has gone down over the corona year (which is right). I’m still 24 years younger than my real age, though - so I’ll take that.

[030961 60minGraduate in reply to JaySeeSkinny]

Hi JaySeeSkinny, blimey I’d love to be 24 years below, I’m apparently 20 years older haha!! I suppose it all comes down to enjoying it or not, and I enjoyed listening to the birds this morning, and surprising the horses as I passed them by.....I’m sure in horse language one might have asked the other why I was going so slow!

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate10]

I think I must have found a way to cheat! Or my watch is wrong. At one fantastic moment in time I was told I was 19 (and I was late 50s at the time). I screen shotted it! There is no way I can run like a person 24 years younger, I am sooooo slow, even after years of running. But I’ve learnt it’s not about speed or distance. Consistency is good, just getting out there is good for mental health, blood pressure, agility - pretty much everything. So things like VO2max are satisfying when they’re going in the right direction, but if they’re not, then it’s not the end of the world!

[dijep Graduate10]

I take my VO2 max with a huge dose of salt if I believed what it tells me then sometimes I'm 2 years younger than my 30 year old son 😂🤣😂 I have altered my HR Zones as well and I'm definitely not that fit! But it always gives me a giggle 🤭

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate10 in reply to dijep]

Phew, I thought I was the only one where the figures are so obviously wrong!

[Sybilw Graduate10]

I’d agree with many above. I was a 20 year old for a time. I’m mid 60s and not superwoman!! Don’t really know what it measures but definitely found it liked shorter runs even if they were run/walk. Too much information can just be distracting I think. Concentrate on how you feel! Good luck

[030961 60minGraduate in reply to Sybilw]

Thank you

[nowster Graduate10]

I'd suggest going back through the records of your previous runs, find the peak heart rate of them, add ten to it, then put that as your max HR in the watch's settings.

[030961 60minGraduate in reply to nowster]

Will do. Good advice!