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VO2Max Fluctuations due to Low Intensity Runs

Former Member over 5 years ago

When I first purchased my Forerunner 945, I completed several high intensity runs and my VO2Max was in the 50s. Since then, I've been base building with a training strategy where almost all my runs are Zone 2. As a result there's been a large drop in the score, such that I don't believe it's accurate anymore (my estimated 5k time is quite below what I would get in an actual race). Is there a way to disable the estimator during runs that don't provide good data for calculating VO2Max? Note: I use a Garmin HRM with my watch so I get accurate HR readings.

Thanks!

Michael

Top Replies

snowfree52 over 5 years ago in reply to 5334765 +2

That's a really good explanation but I know how it works (it uses HRV also) and I think it works badly !

I already posted about it here : https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fitness/running-multisport…
5334765 over 5 years ago +1

First let's be clear. It is a VO2max estimate. That is important, meaning IRL if you run a fast run one day and slow the next, your real VO2max did not change.

So, what is it looking at, how hard your…
exilgnagare over 5 years ago +1

After my easy run last friday (zone 2 for 45 min),my VO2-score went up 1 point.

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0 Aurelie over 5 years ago

Similar experience here. I've been "unproductive" (according to Garmin at least) for two weeks. Today I've run a short recovery run and I went from Unproductive to Maintaining. Bahhh....

But I have to say there is some evidence supportive the Unproductive 2 weeks I went through. I've checked all my trainings in GCW and realised in all of them my Performance Condition at the end of them was always negative. My understanding is that PC is related to HRV, am I correct? This past trend would suggest my Heart has been struggling and I'm quite sure about that. In the last 2/3 weeks I increased my weekly load by 20%....

Today for the first time in two weeks my PC stayed positive throughout my recovery run... hence the Maintaining status I think (???).

0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to 5334765

Thanks for your thoughtful reply. After more thought I think I've come to accept that it's more a barometer for fitness in the training "climate" you're feeding it, than a more or less static, professionally recorded VO2Max number. After spending more time with the watch, the more I've become convinced that the default behavior is fine. It makes sense that I'm more efficient at the faster paces / shorter distances, since that's where my training was focused. The base building that caused the VO2Max trough, has been steadily incrementing 1 point per workout as I grow more efficient at the slower running speed. I'm not sure if it does so, but it *would* be nice if it weighted high-intensity runs higher, since those provide a better measure of your "true" VO2Max.

0 dbrooksf over 2 years ago in reply to mcalista

From Garmin website: To measure VO2 Max … ‘Heart rate must be elevated to at least 70% of your maximum heart rate for at least 10 minutes continuously. I think that’s actually zone 3 on default Garmin heart rate zones

0 FrankBMUC over 2 years ago

I don't see any impact on my VO2Max value, no matter if I do base workouts or intense runs, right now I'm constantly at 49 and maintaining that value for quite some time now. I had 50 for some weeks this summer and currently my trend is going up again. No surprises on my side with regards to the VO2Max, whatever I do.