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vo2 max for trail running, is it accurate?

oBuTTuSo
over 1 year ago

I run just for fun and do not have any goals for my training so my values doesn't really matter, but I want them to be accurate anyway...

So because of that I have disabled vo2 max registration for trail running, because how would the watch know what surface I run on, the number of roots and rocks etc...?

Or does it have some secret super formula so that it can estimate it quite correctly anyway?

For those of you that have it enabled, does it match the values from regular runs or does it differ a lot?

(I use a HRM Run chest strap if that matters)

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    I have mine disabled as well, it is a wild guess for Garmin on trails with elevation and surface changes.  My cadence and ground contact time isn't something that is super consistent at different incline or surface types, plus with or without a gear/hydration pack plays into it... just kind of a mess.  With a mess... it's just going to add a mess of vo2max data to my graph... if run is at the end of the month - all of a sudden now May's vo2max on the 1yr graph will be 2 lower then normal... looking back will I remember that?  no...  so prefer to have it off so its not all jacked.  ALSO, having it set to off gives you a good way to disable vo2max scores for times when you maybe had to many drinks the night before or it is super hot / etc...you had to much salt/food the night before and weight went up 3lbs... . where your vo2max will artificially drop for the run.  lol    'todays road run is getting logged as a trail run!" lol

  • 0 11 months ago

    Fenix 7X owner, but I think implementation of Trail VO2max is the same across all Garmin watches.

    My experience was that with Trail VO2max enabled, my VO2max was punished every time I did a real trail run on steep terrain, especially when I tried to run uphill in a beginning of a run. I should mention that I am a strong and experienced trail runner - I am a relatively better trail runner than I am a road runner. Overall, I had a consistent downward trend in my VO2max, and at some point a couple of months ago it had almost touched 49.5.

    Then I had enough of that and turned Trail VO2max off. Immediately the trend had reversed and my VO2max has been steadily climbing up, and now it is about 51.2

    FYI, you can see accurate VO2max on the watch in Training Status --> VO2 MAX.

    So yes, I don't think Trail VO2max works as it is supposed to, at least not for me.

  • 0 6 months ago in reply to silentvoyager

    yes it looks like Coros still has a long way to go with 'trail vo2max' or runs with elevation gain.
    Garmin was my first watch & I was instantly amazed by this 'vo2max' that nicely increased as my training did which by the way had much more trail than road or cycling or swimming for that matter Slight smile

    Now with Coros there's no vo2max 'option' for trail run it's simply ignored and thus as I barely have any road run or track run my vo2max is low and doesn't move at all as I increase training which is 90% trail run with high elevation Lol.

    vo2max of some 53 on garmin is now 39 on coros !!
    well I may try this fitness test but currently the watch is going into faulty mode fast.