Is the VO2 max takes elevation into account? How is it calculated? Thanks? If I'm the guy who does a lot of hiking, will it affects my VO2 max calculation if elevation is not takes into the account?
In running mode, it does. In hiking mode, VO2max isn't calculated.
Herman, i find that a little odd. Can you confirm? As i mentioned I've run at elevations recently from 8500 feet to sea level and not noticed significant differences in my Vo2Max calculation
It would probably need to be a quite long (several minutes at least) climb at the same grade for it to even make sense to attempt such a calculation.
The Stryd foot pod does exactly this for its running power calculation. It has a built in pressure sensor and it uses it to compensate for altitude changes. It reacts almost immediately when the slope changes, and I have a very good correlation between the calculated power and my perceived effort. As a result, I can run at constant power and constant heart rate up and down slopes.
I don't know if the ambient pressure sensor in the Garmin watches reacts fast enough to do the same as the Stryd, but apart from this, the principle works, and you should not dismiss this approach.
Herman, i find that a little odd. Can you confirm? As i mentioned I've run at elevations recently from 8500 feet to sea level and not noticed significant differences in my Vo2Max calculation
Apologies. We bumped into a little terminological turbulence.
When you were talking 'changes in elevation' I thought you were talking about running up and down hills - that information is considered. I see, now, that you're talking about high-altitude running. That information is not currently included in the calculation.
The Stryd foot pod does exactly this for its running power calculation. It has a built in pressure sensor and it uses it to compensate for altitude changes. It reacts almost immediately when the slope changes, and I have a very good correlation between the calculated power and my perceived effort. As a result, I can run at constant power and constant heart rate up and down slopes.
I don't know if the ambient pressure sensor in the Garmin watches reacts fast enough to do the same as the Stryd, but apart from this, the principle works, and you should not dismiss this approach.
I hear good things about Stryd.
Our physiologists, developers, and analysts are a pretty data hungry group, and I'm certain that they're eager to incorporate as much good data as possible.
One thing perhaps to consider is that VO2max is a measure (the defining measure) of aerobic performance capacity. When we start talking about running along and then up a hill, you're body needs energy to get up that hill, but it isn't necessarily producing it aerobically. Just something else in the mix.
you're body needs energy to get up that hill, but it isn't necessarily producing it aerobically. Just something else in the mix.
[your] That's the same for any exercise at any time whether going up or down hill or along the flat. Changing from any steady state will usually mean that you engage either of the anaerobic (without oxygen) energy systems for an indeterminate period of time albeit only a few seconds in all probability. The values we get from these devices are only estimates and only make assumptions about the contribution of the anaerobic energy systems during any phase of exercise. While the assumptions are based on extensive research, they are still only assumptions.
