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VO2 Max drop after change to Max HR setting

dwells2009 over 4 years ago

My calculated VO2 Max value has been steady at 53-54 for several weeks. A couple of days ago I looked at the HR zone settings on Garmin Connect, and saw that my Max HR was set at 175. I'm not sure where this value came from, as I'm 62 yo. I changed Max HR to 162 (about what I think I've hit as a true maximum in the past few months). After today's 4-mi tempo run (137 bpm avg / 152 bpm max), my VO2 Max value dropped to 52. I'm thinking the VO2 dropped because my actual HR was a higher percentage of the new Max HR, which was interpreted that I was working harder but was not any faster than normal. BTW, I use the chest strap.

Am I thinking about this correctly?

Thanks - DW

Top Replies

tess over 4 years ago in reply to DPSK +3

DPSK said:
You are already 62 years. Will you risk yourself to do a max and hard run?
DPSK said:
test at the lab. At least, you have an assistance if anything happens.

You're 42 and you think a 62 year old…
Dr Phil over 4 years ago in reply to DPSK +2

Come on give us old folk a break and try not to assume just because being over 60 we're invalids. I’m 63 and have been exercising all my life so I’d have no hesitation doing unsupported max efforts…
Dr Phil over 4 years ago in reply to DPSK +2

DPSK said:
So I am sorry if it sounds insulting to some of the guys here but I am just advising on the safe side. There could be some amateur runners around

Absolutely agree that less experienced people…

All Replies

0 Bitti over 4 years ago

That sounds about right.

0 badbri over 4 years ago

Yes, that's how it works. It greatly depends on what you enter as your max.

Do the corresponding race times it's giving you seem reasonable? That's a good sanity check.

0 MarinusvD over 4 years ago

always important to do a regular check on you max HF.

No mather what your age is.it is suspected to be a little lower during the years. dont forget

Mine is stil 171 at the age of 63 !

By good training you also can get it higher of lower with less training is my experience.

0 mcalista over 4 years ago

Yes, the VO2Max algorithm looks at your HR as a % of your maxHR. More details in Firstbeat's white paper. assets.firstbeat.com/.../white_paper_VO2max_30.6.2017.pdf

0 DPSK over 4 years ago in reply to MarinusvD

I am 42 years old. I look back at my past workouts when I did the 10k training program.

My max HR ever reached 205-210. Not sure how accurate it is as I was using a forerunner45 before this.

0 dwells2009 over 4 years ago

Thanks, everyone. This is what I suspected. I really need to do a new Max HR test, too.

0 DPSK over 4 years ago in reply to dwells2009

You are already 62 years. Will you risk yourself to do a max and hard run?

If you are still interested, then go for the vo2max test at the lab. At least, you have an assistance if anything happens.

0 tess over 4 years ago in reply to DPSK

DPSK said:
You are already 62 years. Will you risk yourself to do a max and hard run?

DPSK said:
test at the lab. At least, you have an assistance if anything happens.

You're 42 and you think a 62 year old needs to have medical personnel on standby when conducting a MaxHR test? So, at what age do you believe people should no longer push themselves to their MaxHR without backup? Lol! I'm sure there was no ill intent, but that's kind of an insulting post.

0 Dr Phil over 4 years ago in reply to DPSK

Come on give us old folk a break and try not to assume just because being over 60 we're invalids. I’m 63 and have been exercising all my life so I’d have no hesitation doing unsupported max efforts. It’s not just age that determines the sensibility of doing hard efforts unsupported, it’s also background, health, comorbidities etc.

0 badbri over 4 years ago

I've done a few max HR tests but it's mostly an unnecessary risk. You can derive your zones from your LTHR or Aerobic/Anaerobic thresholds.