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

Too rapid decrease in VO2max

Thom@s
over 1 year ago

In ten weeks my VO2MAX has dropped from 58 to 54 and continues to drop.

Over the winter I reduced the intensity of my workouts, but the volume stayed the same.

I would have expected a slight drop in VO2MAX, but not such a steep drop. I was sick during this period and didn't train for about 1 week.

I'm still wondering, I had a problem with HRV during this period (hence the poor training status). About that in this thread:

forums.garmin.com/.../hrv-low-state-for-a-long-time

On the other hand, the HRV problem has passed and HRV is in the green, but VO2MAX is still flying down.

Anyone have a similar experience? Because I believe I am training enough to maintain VO2MAX.

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    I feel the same way. My vo2max also dropped from 53 to 49. I'm very surprised that it's so much. Maybe Garmin broke something 

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to 3724583

    I've had my VO2max drop about 10 % every winter for the last 5 years, so it could be just seasonal (which is scientifically proven to happen).

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    Yes, First I had HRV issues (dropping and dropping without reason), WIth that came the poor training status (overtrained, while I actually am not) and following those issues, a VO2Max drop from 53 to 49 and still decreasing. Damn, my daily suggestions are effected also, it seems a negative sprirol which only can be ended by ignoring training suggestions an pick up intensity by yourself. I am greatly disappointed. I was training for a marathon in 3:40 in March, but now prediction is barely 4:05

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to DaKo

         For example, preparing for a race during this period is a worst-case scenario where the worst possible "characteristics" of a watch meet.

         It could be said that my training load is plus or minus constant, with only minor fluctuations, which is not indicated by the load progression graph, probably due to incorrectly evaluated overtraining due to incorrectly determined HRV status.

         I can't determine to what extent this may have affected VO2max, if at all.

    P.S.: I forgot one important thing. The watch itself for some reason lowered the HRmax. from 203BPM to 180BPM, while auto detect is off, which affected the accuracy of the measured values! Also a funny thing!

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to Thom@s

    The inaccurate HRmax is your problem. Statistical estimation of VO2max is dependent on that. Garmin also seems to use a rolling average of around 12 weeks to make it quite "sticky". That's what you are seeing, low estimates of VO2 max per activity slowly making their way into your rolling average.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to Thom@s
    Thom@s said:
    The watch itself for some reason lowered the HRmax. from 203BPM to 180BPM, while auto detect is off, which affected the accuracy of the measured values! Also a funny thing!

    For me it was the other way around a couple of months ago. It increased from 194 to 212, with autodetection off. Since then, I check the max HR setting after every run. Also my LTHR. And if my HR-strap was detected. All those things behave strangely in some way or another, so I check and check.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to DaKo

    So I checked my HRmax today after my run. It had changed again, this time upwards to 206BPM.

    I also checked the HRmax auto detect and it is indeed off.