VO2Max not changing after a whole year

Only running and trail running outdoors and walking outdors will update your VO2 max. You must reach 70% of your max heart for at least 10 minutes continuously. Do you meet those requirements? If you post a link to an activity we can take a look at it. We also need to know your max heart rate to know what 70% of that is.

For road running the VO2 max calculation is always on. For trail running you can disable the VO2 max calculation. Every time you get a VO2 max calculated you will see that together with the recovery time after you save the activity on the watch.

What Is VO2 Max Estimate and How Does It Work?

(There is also a cycling VO2 max that is separate and for that you need a power meter on the bike.)

Thanks!

Yes, I do run that, usually a few times a week, outside, tracked (in addition to my other activities such as spin classes, kayaking etc).

I'm 32, so I believe that makes my max heartrate 188, and thus 70% would be at least 133.

Here's today's short trail-run for reference. It was done outdoors, and my hear rate consistently stayed above 133 from the 18 minute mark to the 33 minute mark. Let me know if I've done my calculations incorrectly.

Thanks

Jay

Max heart rate can't be calculated from age. It must be measured. Check what the watch says. It might start with 220 - age as a starting value, but should update it when you log activities. 

I'm 46 and got 200 as max heart rate. 

Update the watch with Garmin Express on a computer and restart the watch. That can fix it if there is an error. 

Thanks, my watch says 189. Not far off from the 188 from age calculations alone.

So 70 would be 132.3 (let's go 133 to be safe).

It looks like you meet the requirements on that run, but it is very close not to. Not sure if the watch can be a bit picky in other ways. The support page doesn't say that.

Since it is a trail run check that VO2 max is enabled in the trail run profile settings. Is is named "Record VO2 Max.".

Also do the restart and update.

One thing that I forgot to ask is if you get any VO2 max values. I assumed that it didn't calculate any values at all. You might get values, but they are all on 35. Check the 4 week VO2 max graph to see if you got any new values.

To add to Andy's investigation - are you seeing "performance condition" values in your charts on the outdoor runs?  Do you run in difficult terrain (mixed surface, windy, lots of hills, big city with lots of buildings?) all of this can effect Garmin's interpretation of your % of max HR vs Pace relationship that it is hoping to find a pattern for.  Do you have regular weight updates or changes?  Weight is a big component of vo2max (it is based on "per kg" of human).  could do a test by reducing or increasing your weight by 10%-20% and see if that swings it.  Just by gaining or losing weight vo2max changes (~1.5+/- with a change of 2#)

Sounds like you have probably done something like this based on yo8ur workout routine.  But if not... Try to run a good steady run with most of it at a steady pace Threshold/Tempo (12-20min) that will give an average around 160bpm (85% of max) during that section, on a nice flat area without needing to pause. Do a very short cooldown (<2min) and save run.  I have found after a strong workout a longer cooldown confuses the vo2max, it sees strong work with a good HR...thinks "OH this runner is fit!!"... but then the cooldown has a slow pace and a HR that is high, even after declining it will typically be 5-10bpm elevated then normal at easy pace.  Then watch thinks ... "Oh, maybe not so fit..." lets just pass on figuring it out this run! LOL  log a seperate run or walk after for cooldown.  The "Performance Condition" graph will reflect that effect also.

What peaks are you hitting in those intervals? (? greater than 180?)   Looks very high...   were those super hard intervals, gasping for breath by the end, thinking you were just hoping to complete workout without going off the back?    If above 180 and you didn't feel like death... your max HR probably is at least 191-195!