VO2 max on treadmill

 I have now run  several times 5k.I though this does not work after all since I did not get any update after the firts run I posted earlier. But yesterday I happened again. Based on Garmin, it actually updates the VO2max value at least once a week. Whatever that means? But for me is sounds like the value might not be updated every time.

From Garmin 

The training status feature depends on updated assessments of your fitness level, including at least one VO2 max. measurement per week. Your VO2 max. estimate is updated after outdoor runs or rides with power during which your heart rate reached at least 70% of your maximum heart rate for several minutes. Indoor run activities do not generate a VO2 max. estimate in order to preserve the accuracy of your fitness level trend. You can disable VO2 max. recording for ultra run and trail run activities if you do not want those run types to affect your VO2 max. estimate (Activities and App Settings).

To get the most out of the training status feature, you can try these tips.

• At least one time per week, run or ride outdoors with a power meter, and reach a heart rate higher than 70% of your maximum heart rate for at least 10 minutes.

  After using the watch for one week, your training status should be available.

• Record all of your fitness activities on this watch, or enable the Physio TrueUp feature, allowing your watch to learn about your performance (Syncing Activities and Performance Measurements).
• Wear the watch consistently while you sleep, to continue generating an up-to-date HRV status. Having a valid HRV status can help maintain a valid training status when you do not have as many activities with VO2 max. measurements.

C.sco said:

I guess it's possible that the watch is only capable of using GPS data for the vo2 max calculation, even when using an external sensor for pace and distance recording.

Exactly. The GPS MUST be ON..even the speed and distance value is coming from an external sensor

friitos said:

This is an interesting topic and it has me wondering. If I were to get something like the Stryd pod that can calculate running info, keep the GPS satellites selection on the Run activity set to something like UltraTrac so it doesn’t eat up the battery, and set the sensor speed and distance to always, I will get VO2 data while on a treadmill? Or, is the calculation only possible with the RUNN sensor that was mentioned?

I don't have footpod to verify this. However, RUNN sensor is seen on Garmin as FP-24256. FP as Foot Pod?

trux said:

does check in real-time whether there is the full GPS signal, and avoids calculating the VO₂max when the signal drops.

Not sure about that...but before I started to run, I made sure that the GPS was connected. Also my TM is next to a window so the GPS signal should be available. This can be also be verified afterwards from the activity  gps track. 

This must be working since after having this TreadMill since 3/2022, almost a year ago and put 1000miles to it, I had zero VO2max values recorded and now suddenly two VO2max values recorded in one week (last Wednesday and yesterday). 

Anyway..I keep recording the same run almost daily. Eventually, I should have enough data to see how the Garmin VO2max is recorded.

Etupes25 said:

To clarify, you turned on GPS *and* set the foot pod to "always" distance *and* pace?

Correct. And make sure the GPS actually connects before start running. And remind..I don't have an actual FoodPod but a RUNN device that is hooked directly to Treadmill and mimics the footpod...on the other words, sends the speed and distance data as "FootPod"

mzypt said:

Not sure about that...but before I started to run, I made sure that the GPS was connected. Also my TM is next to a window so the GPS signal should be available. This can be also be verified afterwards from the activity  gps track.

Yes, I did the same, and also could see on the activity map that the GPS signal was available all the time. Did several tests, but did not get any VO₂max value on my Instinct 2. So perhaps it behaves differently than the F7.

9970217 said:

But did the distance calculate correct matching the treadmill distance? 

Did you find an option to correct / calibrate it if not

RUNN sensor has it's own APP with calibration capabilities. Also, in Fenix7 there is additional setting under sensor "Cal Factor" that you can set as additional calibration. Now my watch shows exaxtly the same as the TreadMill. If I run say 10k..the differense is 10-20 meters max.

FlowState said:

Running VO2 Max Estimates

For most Running and Outdoor watches , the activity must be recorded using the Run activity profile.

• Running activity must be 10 minutes or longer.

• Activity must be recorded outdoors with a GPS signal.

I have run with "Treadmill Run" activity for almost a year, without any VO2max. Once I started to use "RUN" activity with GPS ON, I have already three VO2Max values in a week.  So I would say that yes, the GPS needs to be on, even the speed and distance comes from FP sensor (RUNN)

However, I havE idea why I'm the onlyone haveing successfull VO2max readings with TreadMill.

Is this working with me only because I have the RUNN sensor. Although Garmin sees the RUNN sensor as FP(FootPod) so it shouldn't make any difference..or should it?