What would happen if I entered my own vo2Max Value

I continue to struggle with the Training Status and Training Effect with Garmin Connect so much so that I have basically been ignoring it, which doesn't seem right. However today I did a long run with somebody who has the same watch as me (fenix 5) and after a long chat about Training Effect etc. I think I need to look at tt again, but from a different angle.

I have had my heart rate zones mapped and my Vo2Max measured. When I got my HR zones I updated them within Garmin Connect so that I am able to effectively run to HR zones. however what I have noticed is that no matter what pace I run I cannot get the training effect to be anything less than 3.0 event the easiest of easy runs comes in a 3.0. This has the effect that my Training Status is always outside of optimum, sometimes massively so.

When I updated my HR zones I did not change the Vo2Max setting, thinking that that would change accordingly with my new HR Zones, but if anything it has gone the other way. My measured Vo2Max is 58 but Garmin has it at around 53/54.

So here is my question. Should I adjust the Vo2Max to 58? Is this taken in to account when doing calculations my Garmin and so making all the calculations incorrect?

0 mehmetozturk over 4 years ago

Trailrun or treadmill does not work. Only "run" outside with GPS. I allways get a VO2max update after a run outside. 48-51 depending on my condition. For a LTH I had to run my ass off to get an update. So check, if You use the profile "run".

0 Daniel_Ilg over 4 years ago

How did you map your HR zones with Garmin's?

0 RB16k over 4 years ago in reply to Daniel_Ilg

I have mapped the zones according to the report provided to me following my assessment at Loughborough University. I have set my zones up to be used when I select a run.

The issue I think I am finding is that I have quite a narrow HR range. For me anything under 160 BPM is considered Zone 1 and for long runs I try and keep it to around 150. My max HR however is 185. I suspect that Garmin are using HRR to calculate and not time in zone. This would explain why all ya runs are considered hard and that my training load is always high.

0 RB16k over 4 years ago in reply to mehmetozturk

Definitely a run. I get lots of updates it's just they never align with perceived effort.

0 RB16k over 4 years ago in reply to Daniel_Ilg

HR Zones have been updated against a run profile, so when I select a run it will use those HR zones. What I think may be happening is that I have a very narrow HR range between Easy and Hard. Zone 1 for me is anything less than 160, and I try and keep it to around 150 for Easy runs, but my Max HR is 185. I think Garmin is using HRR and not zones when calculating effort and load. So even though the vast majority of my runs are Zone 1 running, and for me easy conversational runs, Garmin is taking them as harder tempo or threshold runs.

What I would love is confirmation on this, as if this is the case I could then know to discount Garmin and use other tools to measure progress.

0 Daniel_Ilg over 4 years ago in reply to RB16k

"Heart rate level provides indirect information on exercise intensity and is therefore commonly used to control training workload. For example, to avoid too
highintensity, one should try to remain at about 65 – 85 % of maximal heart
rate throughout the exercise."

0 Daniel_Ilg over 4 years ago in reply to RB16k

"The higher the intensity (proportion of VO2max used = %VO2max) and the longer the duration of exercise, the more the EPOC accumulates"

0 RB16k over 4 years ago

I have done some digging and I now understand what is going on. I have undertaken a full run fitness test and have had my HR zones calculated and it is these zones that I use for training. However I think that the Training Load does not take any notice of the zones and operates entirely on HRR. This explains what every run I do, no matter how easy is always in the 4+ Aerobic run.

0 Daniel_Ilg over 4 years ago in reply to RB16k

Hm that's weird. For having a +4 in aerobic effect, I must run pretty, pretty hard. Are your runs easy or hard? Do you more information on your aerobic and anaerobic threshold?