Although I understand that VO2Max calculations are not precise and it's more important to observe trends than individual values, I have noticed a concerning pattern of consistent decline in my VO2Max values despite my continuous practicing. Additionally, I've seen an improvement in my performance. I have compared two data points, one from two years ago with a VO2Max of approximately 40, and one from Saturday with a VO2Max of around 33, and have included the activity reports associated with each run that was used to calculate the VO2Max. Upon review, it appears that Saturday's activity report is better. I'm curious if anyone can hypothesize an explanation for this discrepancy.
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VO2max riddle
- Thread starter Shaul
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Just curious.. what was your resting heart rate in 2021 on that specific day, and what is it now? (not the heart rate during sleep, but the one in Apple Health under Resting Heart Rate).
Using the formula VO2 max = 15 x (HRmax/HRrest) I get exactly the same VO2Max score that my watch calculated on my previous run.
In my case I used the calculator with these numbers: 15* (180/49), which gave me 55.1! Exactly the same as Apple Health. (15 * 3,67346939 = 55,1020)
Also, note that for the HRmax value I used the value that the Apple Watch automatically suggests every month ( Apple Watch > Settings > Workout > Heart Rate > Heart Rate Zones: Maximum).
One final thing.. To get the best VO2max estimate you should run on a flat paved surface (no sand, gravel, snow etc), and as steady as possible, in a conversation tempo. And remember that high HR variations during the workout will negatively affect your score, so don't do trail runs as these will provide the worst VO2max estimate
Using the formula VO2 max = 15 x (HRmax/HRrest) I get exactly the same VO2Max score that my watch calculated on my previous run.
In my case I used the calculator with these numbers: 15* (180/49), which gave me 55.1! Exactly the same as Apple Health. (15 * 3,67346939 = 55,1020)
Also, note that for the HRmax value I used the value that the Apple Watch automatically suggests every month ( Apple Watch > Settings > Workout > Heart Rate > Heart Rate Zones: Maximum).
One final thing.. To get the best VO2max estimate you should run on a flat paved surface (no sand, gravel, snow etc), and as steady as possible, in a conversation tempo. And remember that high HR variations during the workout will negatively affect your score, so don't do trail runs as these will provide the worst VO2max estimate
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I have almost your numbers (181/49) but the Apple health is not even close to thatJust curious.. what was your resting heart rate in 2021 on that specific day, and what is it now? (not the heart rate during sleep, but the one in Apple Health under Resting Heart Rate).
Using the formula VO2 max = 15 x (HRmax/HRrest) I get exactly the same VO2Max score that my watch calculated on my previous run.
In my case I used the calculator with these numbers: 15* (180/49), which gave me 55.1! Exactly the same as Apple Health. (15 * 3,67346939 = 55,1020)
Also, note that for the HRmax value I used the value that the Apple Watch automatically suggests every month ( Apple Watch > Settings > Workout > Heart Rate > Heart Rate Zones: Maximum).
One final thing.. To get the best VO2max estimate you should run on a flat paved surface (no sand, gravel, snow etc), and as steady as possible, in a conversation tempo. And remember that high HR variations during the workout will negatively affect your score, so don't do trail runs as these will provide the worst VO2max estimate
I’ve read a lot about measuring vo2max, so I think your vo2max might be unreliable because of the following:
- you’re doing trail runs or intervals where your heart rate varies a lot
- you’re working out in colder weather than you’re used to, so your body needs to work harder than usual
- you’re not resting enough between your runs
- you’re running after eating a big meal
These are the usual suspects for problems with vo2max..
- you’re doing trail runs or intervals where your heart rate varies a lot
- you’re working out in colder weather than you’re used to, so your body needs to work harder than usual
- you’re not resting enough between your runs
- you’re running after eating a big meal
These are the usual suspects for problems with vo2max..
When I first got my watch and started running again my VO2 Max went down for the first 5 runs. After that it started increasing. The temps have gone up a bit and I try not to run into a heavy wind. I wont be able to avoid that all the time. Most of my runs are on a boardwalk but occasionally I run on hard packed sand. I was surprised to see my hard pack sand runs, which can be a bit slower, didn't decrease my VO2 max.
This seems like a good thread to keep an eye on.
I've suspected environmental factors such as temp, wind, ground surface effect the calculation.
My runs have been pretty steady with a slight increase in effort at the end. For some reason I cannot run at a slow, zone 2 pace, I am always in zone 5. From what Ive read that shouldn't be possible for a 40 or 50 plus minute run so maybe my max heart rate is higher than the general calculation it uses for me and I'm running in a lower heart rate zone.
This seems like a good thread to keep an eye on.
I've suspected environmental factors such as temp, wind, ground surface effect the calculation.
My runs have been pretty steady with a slight increase in effort at the end. For some reason I cannot run at a slow, zone 2 pace, I am always in zone 5. From what Ive read that shouldn't be possible for a 40 or 50 plus minute run so maybe my max heart rate is higher than the general calculation it uses for me and I'm running in a lower heart rate zone.
Good point! If you have a max HR on Apple Watch of 180, but you instead got a real max HR of 200+.. this will probably negatively affect your VO2max score.
For instance.. A zone 2 when your maxHR is 200+ would be way higher than if your max HR was 180. Apple will think you're dying even though you are in a comfortable zone. I'd try to do a max HR test on a track.. Run all you can for 5 minutes and check how high your pulse gets. Then set that HR manually as your new max HR. I think your VO2max will be improved.
I too have seen my VO2max go down from 51 (Nov. 2022) to 44 (present).
My training scheme has not changed during that period, although I perform "better" all the time (longer walks, more calories etc.). While my HRrest has been between 52 and 48 BPM.
I'm using my Apple Watch for 5 months now, so the trends may not be accurate enough yet.
FWIW, everything is going upward, except for the VO2max
My training scheme has not changed during that period, although I perform "better" all the time (longer walks, more calories etc.). While my HRrest has been between 52 and 48 BPM.
I'm using my Apple Watch for 5 months now, so the trends may not be accurate enough yet.
FWIW, everything is going upward, except for the VO2max
i believe mine dropped when i got covid. shoes change it too. but also maybe you're not resting enough. i think probably recording a walk on relatively flat surface will help to keep the numbers in a more accurate range.
I do a brisk walk get a high VO2, next day do an easy four mile run vO2 drops, next day do a tougher eight mile run VO2 drops again and on day for do a brisk four mile walk and VO2 goes up. I reckon a high hr will knacker the reading. I know that my fitness has improved as W goes up and hr is lower on runs.