Trail Running activity used for Hiking does not calculate the Vo2Max?

Hello, I ask you, hoping to have clear answers.

I read that the activity of Trail Running is able to record the Vo2Max. Reading on the Garmin website, you should run for 10 minutes, maintaining a value above 70% of the maximum heart rate.

I tried the Running Activity twice, and running for 20 minutes I got the data regarding the Vo2Max and the update of the Training Status.

Today I wanted to do the same with Trail Running Activity, not running but walking since I went hiking. Recod Vo2Max option enable.

After 3 hours of hiking, in which I am sure that my maximum heart rate was above 70% for several minutes (I have seen the time spent in the different heart zones, attached the photo), I did not have the estimate at the end of the activity of Vo2Max.

What I would like to understand then is this:

1) Do you have to run and not walk, using the Trail Running profile? Maybe it realizes through the GPS that I am moving slowly and it is not considered running?

2) Is Vo2Max also calculated based on the length of the activity?

All my activities, both running and with the Trail Running profile, were recorded with the beta 20.03, with Fenix 6X Pro

I hope for clear answers, and not that they can only add doubts.

So I ask people who are very familiar with the clock and how businesses work.

Top Replies

subra over 3 years ago in reply to Ludovico84 +2

Ludovico84 said:
My maximum heart rate is 183bpm. 70% of this would correspond to 128bpm.

Why is your HRmax set to 188bpm?

70% HRmax is the lower limit of zone 3, which in your case is 131 bpm, not 128…
subra over 3 years ago +1

Ludovico84 said:
After 3 hours of hiking, in which I am sure that my maximum heart rate was above 70% for several minutes (I have seen the time spent in the different heart zones, attached the photo), I…

All Replies

0 Rayjeffr over 3 years ago

You have to turn on the VO2 max calculation for the trail run activity. It's not on by default like the regular run activity. If you've done this already then I don't know.

Edit. I reread your post and saw you enabled the vo2. Sorry but I don't have any other assistance but I'm sure someone else here will help with pertinent information.

0 Ludovico84 over 3 years ago in reply to Rayjeffr

Don't worry, thanks anyway.

Let's see if anyone is able to give an answer.

Tomorrow I will still try to run with the Trail Running profile for a 15-20 minutes and see if the Vo2Max is recalculated.

0 subra over 3 years ago

Ludovico84 said:
After 3 hours of hiking, in which I am sure that my maximum heart rate was above 70% for several minutes (I have seen the time spent in the different heart zones, attached the photo), I did not have the estimate at the end of the activity of Vo2Max.

According to the descriptions, the conditions for the evaluation of VO2max are.

"Heart rate must be elevated to at least 70% of your maximum heart rate for at least 10 minutes continuously"

support.garmin.com/.../

Does this apply to your hiking workout?

0 sis651 over 3 years ago

If it's enabled it should calculate. However, there may be some other factor that doesn't fit the formula. People run ultra marathons etc. and at some portions most people barely can walk.

0 Ludovico84 over 3 years ago in reply to subra

My maximum heart rate is 183bpm. 70% of this would correspond to 128bpm.

I'm sure I walked more than 10 minutes above 128bpm in 3 hours.

0 subra over 3 years ago in reply to Ludovico84

Ludovico84 said:
My maximum heart rate is 183bpm. 70% of this would correspond to 128bpm.

Why is your HRmax set to 188bpm?

70% HRmax is the lower limit of zone 3, which in your case is 131 bpm, not 128 bpm. I.e. to get VO2max you need to hike at least 10 minutes continuously in zone 3 or above. But I think hiking at 131 bpm or above is very hard to achieve.

Ludovico84 said:
I'm sure I walked more than 10 minutes above 128bpm in 3 hours.

It's not a matter of whether you're sure you're in the right heart rate zone, it's a matter of whether the watch detects this. So take a look at the HR vs time chart in GC to check if your HR is greater than or equal to 131bpm for at least 10min continuously.

0 Ludovico84 over 3 years ago in reply to subra

I confirm that my max heart rate is 187bmp, set automatically based on the data collected by Garmin.

183 was what I had on the Instinct Solar, so I was wrong.

I checked the recorded track today, and it looks like it didn't hold 131bmp for at least 10 minutes, although I need a better program to view it better.

Of some past tracks, however, I am sure I have kept them continuously, the problem is that I do not remember if I had used the trail running profile or others. I was also using version 19.20, while now I have beta 20.03.

Moral of the story: tomorrow I will go running in the mountains for at least 20 minutes, so as to confirm whether this Vo2Max is calculated or not.

In the meantime, thank you for your very accurate reply.

0 darnich over 3 years ago in reply to Ludovico84

I've been reading the thread and I don't understand why you would want to measure vo2max while hiking using the trail run activity? Isn't supposed to be something like your best effort?