Does VO2 Max/Performance condition take into account elevation change and heat?

Former Member over 8 years ago

I'm assuming it may take into account the elevation.

I'm pretty sure it doesn't take into account the outside temperature though.

Just curious if take either. Sucks a little to see it telling you you're sucking it up but I also try not to listen too much :) and focus on the overall trend. But you know how it goes.

0 andythetee over 8 years ago

Not sure I agree, Garmin should not call it 'VO2 max' without controlling for temperature/humidity, rather something like 'fitness indicator' or something.

I can live with climate bias, it's the day-to-day changes that screw up the metrics. When the weather goes from fresh to hot my trainings become unproductive and VO2 max drops by 1 or 2.

It's the wrong way round, to allow for climate it would have to calculate an estimated VO2 max. VO2 max drops as it gets hotter, its a fact, the heat pushes your heart rate up making your VO2 max lower. I agree it would be great if that didn't class training as unproductive but this is psychological more than anything. We don't want to see the word unproductive. However well you train, though, it isn't always going to say productive. Other variables like stress, energy levels and illness will all contribute to your VO2 max for a particular activity. I don't see how it could cater for all that. If it's hot and you don't want it to give you a low number, select Trail run instead and your previous reading will be maintained