VO2 MAX Doesn't Move

Former Member
Former Member
I'm confused as to how this vo2 max works. I am using the Garmin HR Strap and have been using it for over two weeks now. When I started my vo2 was 34, now it is 35 and never moves either way. What is going on ? Everything is connected and all my other stats show significant improvements. Can anyone explain why my vo2 doesn't move ..
  • First off all, what is your age?

    And did you know that VO2 max is not something supposed to be rising frequently, right?
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    Age 54, i understand that it will not increase frequently, but is it normal for it to be the same for over a month even though I have been training harder?
  • I cant tell without doing an analysis in your activities, but keep in mind that hard training is not aways the best way to improve your performance.

    Initially you said 2 weeks that it does not move, now 1 month? But no worry, it really take time, and I don't think you should base your training into VO2 Estimates.

    My VO2 was lab tested a few months ago, and Garmin not even come closer to that number. It was decreasing actually. (That's another story. I'm having Wrong Wirst HR on my training).

    BTW, Try to compare your average pace in your LTH. If it is higher, your VO2 probably increased.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    Sorry, I've been using the HR strap for about a month but really been following the vo2 for about two weeks. What I don't understand is why it hasn't moved at all? From 34 to 35 in a month? I know I'm not in that bad of shape.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    Keep in mind that VO2 max is a rough idea, it's not perfect. I also don't believe your VO2 max in general moves very quick.
  • It is not quick as you think. And it is not even close to be the best way to measure performance improvements.
  • Once a VO2Max reading is determined it won't change very often and not by much when it does. Mine has been at the same number for a couple of months now. Mainly because this number was reached at the mid-point of marathon training and my training hasn't really changed much over that time.

    The other thing to think about is that the accuracy VO2Max reading your watch comes up with is also dependent on what you have your maximum heart rate set to. If that is set too low or too high it will affect the reading. I was getting unrealistically high VO2Max readings and based on some discussions on the forum I lowered my HRMax from 180 to 175. This lowered my VO2Max number by 2 points and which in turn brought the times shown in the Race Predictor down to more reasonable numbers as well.
  • I had 61 a year ago and 64 right now. It makes +1 every for months. And you did it in one month. Congrats!
  • Hi,

    I feel the same, I know it is an approximate and all but I had the Fenix 3 HR for a year prior to the Fenix 5 and my VO2max would increase and decrease with my training, not by much but surely it did, not just my training but how i felt, after a race I had last year I stopped training it surely went down from 44 to 42, it slowly picked up when I started training again, not just the number but how I felt while running.

    It was at 44 when I changed to the F5 and bam! it went down instantly without me decreasing my training, I even had a race I was training for with it and it kept on going down, now it stays at 39 and won't move even though I feel I run better (and had a much better race this year).

    Maybe one is wrong and the other is right or both are wrong, but how come those two watches from the same series have such different results? and why the F3HR actually reflected at least in proportion to the way I feel?


    Anyways, I'm male, 36 years old, not super fast, usually run steadily at 6:30 min/km.
  • Hi,

    I feel the same, I know it is an approximate and all but I had the Fenix 3 HR for a year prior to the Fenix 5 and my VO2max would increase and decrease with my training, not by much but surely it did, not just my training but how i felt, after a race I had last year I stopped training it surely went down from 44 to 42, it slowly picked up when I started training again, not just the number but how I felt while running.

    It was at 44 when I changed to the F5 and bam! it went down instantly without me decreasing my training, I even had a race I was training for with it and it kept on going down, now it stays at 39 and won't move even though I feel I run better (and had a much better race this year).

    Maybe one is wrong and the other is right or both are wrong, but how come those two watches from the same series have such different results? and why the F3HR actually reflected at least in proportion to the way I feel?


    Anyways, I'm male, 36 years old, not super fast, usually run steadily at 6:30 min/km.


    I have a very similar experience.
    While using FR630 my VO2max was between 45 an 48. Since I switching to F5s it kept going down and currently it's 41, which is the lowest reading I ever had.