VO2Max, what’s it all about?: I’ve posted a... - Bridge to 10K

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VO2Max, what’s it all about?

HeavyFoot profile image
HeavyFootGraduate10
25 Replies

I’ve posted a couple of bemused comments on this before, but now it’s getting weird.

How is VO2Max measured on Garmin?

I’ve been running a regular hilly 10km route with finishing times within 2 minutes of each other. And yet my VO2Max has gradually dropped from Good to Fair and from the top 40% my age population to the bottom 50%.

In tandem, my Fitness Age has gradually increased over the year from 57 to 69 this morning. I’m 65!! I’m half expecting an advert for Simplicity Funerals to pop up.

The thing is, is Garmin aware of an oxygen intake problem that I don’t know of? Please don’t advise seeing a GP. More chance of seeing a unicorn 🦄

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HeavyFoot profile image
HeavyFoot
Graduate10
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25 Replies
Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduate10

Run a fast two miles, and it’ll go up. It’s stupid.

HeavyFoot profile image
HeavyFootGraduate10 in reply to Tasha99

I’ll give it a go!

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate10

I wouldn't pretend to fully understand it but it's basically how efficient your body is at using oxygen !Mr Garmin likes short quick runs like Fartleks or intervals and will reward you by increasing your Vo2Max, it tends to go down following the longer slower runs.

End of knowledge ! 🤣

HeavyFoot profile image
HeavyFootGraduate10 in reply to Instructor57

I’ve promised Tasha99 to try a 2 mile “sprint”. 🌪

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate10 in reply to HeavyFoot

I noticed 😬

Cmoi profile image
CmoiGraduate10 in reply to Instructor57

Indeed, I fear my romance with Mr Garmin will soon be over for that very reason. We've only been out together about ten times. He apparently thinks I'm a third of my real age (flattering but dodgy) but having been complimentary about my VO2 Max in the early days of our relationship, he doesn't seem to want to touch it any more (oooh Matron.)

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate10 in reply to Cmoi

He's a fickle character thats for sure !

Speedy60 profile image
Speedy60Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57

Hmm. My Garmin is Mrs 🤔

HeavyFoot profile image
HeavyFootGraduate10 in reply to Speedy60

So is mine. Every two hours: Move!

PandaCory profile image
PandaCoryGraduate10 in reply to HeavyFoot

Ha! I switched that function off tout de suite! 😁 . I'm slightly bamboozled by my VO2MAX as well, so am watching with interest.

HeavyFoot profile image
HeavyFootGraduate10 in reply to PandaCory

Roseabi’s post below is very worthwhile.

Grannyhugs profile image
GrannyhugsGraduate10

Mr Garmin loves it when I go out on a bike and makes me 30/40 years younger for combined cycle/run. If I keep my HR low for me he likes it even better so long slow runs he approves of. As my HR goes up when it’s hot I’m leaving running for the moment to keep garmin my heart happy🤣 happy running 🤗

Lizcanrun profile image
LizcanrunGraduate10

I have nothing intelligent to add, but your comment about the funeral ad made me laugh!

HeavyFoot profile image
HeavyFootGraduate10 in reply to Lizcanrun

Too much daytime TV!!

Reggit profile image
ReggitGraduate10

Ahh, Garmin VO2max 😂 mines stuck at 37 (on the graph) my age is currently 55, I peaked at 67 - I’m actually 52.

If I do a really slow run to keep heart rate down it improves, the other day I did a fast 5k (knocking a minute off my PB) and it told my I was getting older.

Evidently an average 56 year old can beat me on a 5k. Bring it on!

Kat332zz profile image
Kat332zzGraduate10

Mr Garmin thinks I’m a spring chicken, when actually I’m an old hen. He also thinks I should be able to do a 5k in 25:24, dream on! (I won’t even repeat my marathon prediction) He also keeps telling me that I need over 24 hours recovery after any run, but the training plans do not agree with that. I’m just using the general gist of the information and listening to my body too. Sleep information is so wrong with my watch too, but it does give me a laugh each morning 😂

Beatlesforever profile image
BeatlesforeverGraduate10

Short interval runs also make it go up. Mine's gone down two points since I started doing longer runs again 😅

Birdlady64 profile image
Birdlady64Graduate10

Guess what?...

I saw a unicorn on my run through the woods this morning! 🌳🌳🦄 🌳🌳

HeavyFoot profile image
HeavyFootGraduate10 in reply to Birdlady64

Ridden by a GP? 😂

Birdlady64 profile image
Birdlady64Graduate10 in reply to HeavyFoot

No - The unicorn was riding on the back of a GP 😁

roseabi profile image
roseabi

Garmin estimates your VO2max using your personal and heart rate data.

Here's a post from Garmin explaining how you can improve your score: garmin.com/en-US/blog/fitne...

And here's a video by Firstbeat, who designed the VO2max technology used by Garmin. It explains VO2max rather well!:

--

youtu.be/MVvWduHwun4

HeavyFoot profile image
HeavyFootGraduate10 in reply to roseabi

Really interesting, Roseabi. I will try a 3 km faster run on the flat and a jog-run longer run. Although I push the best I can, my average HR is about 133 and rarely exceeds 140.

Kat332zz profile image
Kat332zzGraduate10 in reply to HeavyFoot

Wow HeavyFoot, my heart rate hits 140 easily and maxes out at about 185 on my faster 5k runs.

Run46 profile image
Run46Graduate10 in reply to Kat332zz

Mine too Kat, I've even spiked at 200 a couple of times 😬

Yesletsgo profile image
YesletsgoGraduate10

Just checked my VO2 and it's now knocked 12 years off my age! Must be from redoing c25k, a lot easier second time 😂. In the words of the old Fast Show sketch, ' that VO2, it's all b******s' (apologies for any offence!)

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