Related
This discussion has been locked.
You can no longer post new replies to this discussion. If you have a question you can start a new discussion

Big Drop in Vo2Max Score

badbri
over 5 years ago

Recently my Vo2Max score on my watch dropped significantly, from 51-52 to 48-49.

I honestly don't put much credence in this actual score (or most of the FirstBeat metrics), as I use Sporttracks to track my Load/Fitness/etc anyway.  But I was pretty curious why it's suddenly scoring me so lowly.

Clues:

I went through a two week period where I didn't do any road runs.  This sent my "Load" metrics into "unknown" and then following that I saw the drop in Vo2Max score.  I don't see how this could be related.  All of my road runs since the gap have been pretty consistent with what I was doing before the gap.

I think I also recall changing my HR zones in Garmin Connect.  It had an old HR max that I don't think is accurate anymore, which I changed to a slightly lower number.  This adjusted all of my HR zones to the point that most of my runs are now in a higher zone than before.  (I don't get that "high aerobic deficiency" message anymore).  I think this has something to do with the Vo2Max rating but I can't confirm.  

I also wear a Vivosmart which I use as my fitness tracker.  When I do a Vo2Max test on that device, it still scores me at 52 which is what I am used to.  It's my 945 that is consistently downgrading me.

Does anyone know what goes into calculating that score?

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to MontanaGrizzlyInSeattle

    lol, my drop was from 52 to 43, but yours is significant. I stopped looking at garmin data for Vo2Max because they dont have any value for me. In my last half marathon have time 1:41 and one week after when i check garmin predictions it was almost 2 hours for half and this was the final moment that i check garmin Vo2 and predictions.

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    I've noticed this issue over the last couple of weeks. I have dropped from a 64 down to around a 55 over the last 4 weeks. They seem more drastic on the running rather than the cycling, yet both show a significant enough drop for me to question the accuracy.

    My watch is running the following:

    Software 5.50

    GPS: 4.80

    WiFi:2.60

    CIQ: 3.2.4

    BMX: 1.0.2

    WHR: 1.00.02

    ANT/BLE/BT: 6.11

    Sensor Hub: 7.02

    All runs are done with the HRM-RUN paired with the 945

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    How do you guys measure HR? With the wrist OHR or with a strap?

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to maxkobe

    I never use wrist OHR, always a chest strap or a Scosche arm strap.

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    Has your weight went up?  big component in your vo2max 

    What was your max HR and what is your new max HR , also the other large component.

    "I don't think is accurate anymore"  why?  Your new max should be based on test or race effort.  Unless you just lowered it 1-3bpm for accuracy. Max HR doesn't change much over time, my max hasn't changed in 10yrs.  Figured it would have... then I raced a 5k in warm weather... got to what I had as my max from a all out sprint test on TM 10yrs earlier!!

    However your note of being in different zones now on a normal run... i'd say you changed it a lot!  Or you have lost fitness.

    One other thing that can swing it, how has your heat acclimation numbers been over this period of time? That plays with your vo2 result.  how has weather been? 

    Also if cold now, snow and heavy training clothing will slow you and raise your HR .... effecting vo2max calc!  In minnesota my vo2 goes down every winter (falsely) , so now i use 'trail run' most of the time to stop the calc from updating (unless its a nice day, clean ground and light running clothing)

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to leehunt

    On model 235, large V02 max drops for me (unrelated to changes in condition, effort, weather, etc.) occur when the watch's HR is clearly incorrect and about double (well beyond max HR) what it actually is (verified with manual check), which happened 3-4 times in 2020 -- all with large drops in V02 max. Since you use HRM-RUN, not sure if you can check HR on day your V02 max dropped to see if it was normal (also not sure if the watch uses HRM-RUN HR or watch's HR in its V02 max calculation). When my watch's HR is wildly high (verified by manual chedk), I power off and on again (on 235 model, press and hold top left button, then select "yes" with top right button, takes about 10 seconds to power off. Then press top left button to power on and it takes about 10 seconds to power on). That resets HR well. It takes a few weeks for my watch to return to pre-drop V02 max levels.