V02 Max seems stuck (Garmin)

[orangeguy]

I probably shouldn’t be paying too much attention to this as I know on the Garmin it’s not that accurate as regards V02 max but my V02 max went down from 45 to 41 a couple of weeks ago after running a 5k with a high heart rate. There was a good reason for this; I was still recovering from a bad cold and was probably actually not really well enough to run. The thing is it seems now to be stuck at 41 despite two weeks of normal running. I’ve just come back from running 9k today; average pace 6.45min/km, average heart rate 137bpm, those for me are pretty much normal figures but the Garmin remains unimpressed and my V02 max stays stuck at 41. I’d be interested to hear anybody else's experiences with V02 Max figures on Garmin - Thanks 🙂

[Ian5K Graduate10]

According to Garmin Support, you need to do this,

Running activity must be 10 minutes or longer in length( vivosport requires up to 15 minutes in length )

Activity must be recorded outdoors with a GPS signal

Heart rate data from either a built-in optical heart rate sensor or from a chest strap

Heart rate must be elevated to at least 70% of your maximum heart rate for at least 10 minutes continuously

( vivosport requires up to 15 minutes continuously )

————————

The way it works it all out from data seems quite complicated according to this article,

sportcoaching.co.nz/how-doe...

I don’t know if your 6:45 pace is fast enough to provide it with the right data. You can obtain your estimated “VO2max pace” from one of the pace calculators online. Then maybe run at that pace for 15 minutes, or say roughly for 2km.

Or simply don’t worry about it. It looks good enough as it is to me. 🙂

[orangeguy Graduate10 in reply to Ian5K]

Many thanks Ian, I'll have a look for a pace calculator 👍😀

[Ian5K Graduate10 in reply to orangeguy]

Sorry, ought to put a link,

runnersworld.com/uk/trainin...

but there are plenty of others to try. 🙂

[orangeguy Graduate10 in reply to Ian5K]

Many thanks 👍

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Interesting! My VO2 max hasn't updated since 2 Dec, despite doing 3 runs (2 x 5ks and a 10k) since then, ie the last reading is for 2 Dec. I thought it might be a problem with my watch (Forerunner 35), so have done a soft reset and am waiting to see what happens with my next run!

[orangeguy Graduate10 in reply to JonathanP]

Mine last updated 1 Dec when it went down, but nothing since despite quite a few normal runs. I would be really interested to hear what happens with your next run.

[JonathanP Graduate10 in reply to orangeguy]

Sounds like we have a similar problem - I will let you know.

[Cmoi Graduate10]

I've concluded that the more I enjoy a run, the more Garmin disapproves, and vice-versa. So now I just don't bother attempting to charm Mr Garmin, because I don't run to please an algorithm, I run for me.

[Hidden]

I have been stuck between 39 and 40 ever since I started running last year November...

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10]

Mine is stuck at 3 below normal too….maybe it isn’t me!!

[orangeguy Graduate10]

This is really interesting to hear there is a lack of movement with a lot of others people's also, until about two weeks ago there was quite a lot of movement with mine but between a narrow range (41-46). That all made sense, sometimes I would have a hard run and it would go down, a good or reasonably fast run and it would go up but now no matter what I do it doesn't move. I am wondering if its anything to do with the software updates that my Garmin has had recently.

[Rustyknees Graduate10]

Similar problem for me too. My last VO2 that I can see on my phone is also from 2nd December however my VO2 is updating after a run on my Garmin watch. It doesn’t give the date the Vo2 has been updated on my Forerunner 235 (in My Stats) but the number has changed after my last three runs.

So glad others are having a similar issue, it’s been driving me mad trying to get the Vo2 on my phone. I’ve spent ages reading garmin forums and the internet to no avail and only realised at the weekend that I could see my Vo2 on my watch.

[orangeguy Graduate10 in reply to Rustyknees]

I think my Forerunner 30 can show V02 max on the actual watch but I've yet to figure out how to view it, maybe its only viewable straight after a run? I'm running tomorrow so I will have another look then. Its beginning to look as though there is some glitch that started at the beginning of December.

[orangeguy Graduate10]

Please see update post: healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...