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 ..
  • Have you also noticed that Trail runs don't move your vo2 max? And that there is a separate vo2 for running and cycling? This might not be so evident if you are just viewing the vo2 max on the watch widget.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    VO2 max is a value that increases very slowly if at all. It is not unusual for it to fluctuate either. That can be depressing sometimes, especially after a solid training block and the VO2 number drops one or two points. With a good year of training a 2 or 3 point increase is normal, but there is a ceiling there, and remember VO2 max values slowly decrease with age, no matter how much training you do. When I was 25 years old I often had my VO2 max lab tested and was sitting around 68-72 depending on my state of fitness at the time. I am now 55 years old and train not much differently to how I did back in those das, and my VO2 max is sitting at about 53 now, that is a 15-20 point drop over 30 years. That is unfortunately unavoidable.
  • Hi

    it is also my understanding that the VO2 max will only be calculated under certain activity settings (as per some of the other threads here in the forum)

    What activities are you recording under?

    I know it records and calculates off running (not trail running I have read) and cycling

    so it may be worth while checking out what activities selected will actually calculate VO2 max per the manual

    this limitation is due to the algorithm used in VO2 max and the tables available or licenced under the terms of agreement between Garmin and firstbeat (I would imagine)
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    My question is why vo2 of 35. Basically according to this is poor, now I know I am not in triathlon condition but definitely not in poor condition either. This is what is confusing to me, I can understand if I was in the yellow as fair, but red poor condition , I just don't buy it.. The thing is, I started at 34 and after a month only at 35 ??
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    Poor is relative. I wouldn't stress too much over the opinion of a watch. Just use it to watch general trends. Your 34->35 could just be a fluctuation. You could go back down to 34 at some point especially if you put in a bad run. Don't stress it. What you really want to see is what happens 6 months from now.
  • My question is why vo2 of 35. Basically according to this is poor, now I know I am not in triathlon condition but definitely not in poor condition either. This is what is confusing to me, I can understand if I was in the yellow as fair, but red poor condition , I just don't buy it.. The thing is, I started at 34 and after a month only at 35 ??

    What is your HRMax set to, and what is your usual HR during your runs?
    If they're too close that could be the problem.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    54 Years old, Started Running again after many years off
    My HR MAX is Set at 166.
    My last run was MAX 145 AVG 131
  • What are you race predictions on the watch and how much better than those times can you run in current form?

    CW
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    Charles CLINTON

    Race Prediction 5k 29.0 half 2:05 10k 95 marathon 4:10

    I think it sounds about right ?
  • If it sounds right, then your VO2 is probably right.

    VO2 is the factor that changes the predictor.