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Training result: High VO2 max impact but still, VO2 max is decreasing

afarnedi
2 months ago

Hi all, it's probably me not understanding correctly how the training results work when you finish a run and go through the data pages with all the information provided by the analysis of the last run. To make the long story short, I've just finished my run and received the result of my training, which was "High VO2 max impact." Happy to see that, since I'm quite addicted to VO2 max info, but afterwards, when I scrolled down to the VO2max widget, with the history of my last training sessions, I noticed a significant drop in VO2 max corresponding with my last training, which was supposed to be a "high VO2 max impact." So what's the point? Wasn't it supposed to show an increase instead of a drop? What am I missing here? thanks to whom is so kind to clarify this point.

UPDATE I've added two pics showing my last run results and the VO2 max history (before my last run it was above 52 and now , after my run, it's close to 51

  • +1 2 months ago

    I think the idea is that a "VO2 Max" activity will result in a future improvement in your VO2 max.

  • 0 2 months ago

    And that makes sense, but I still don't understand how an activity that will lead to future improvements could cause a significant drop in VO2 max... that's nonsensical.

  • 0 2 months ago

    VO2 Max score is a measure of your fitness/endurance, while Training Effect tells you how hard your workout was. You cannot expect your fitness level to be only increasing, it might decrease due to many factors, like stress, sleep, age, illness, etc.

  • 0 2 months ago

    Judging from that graph it seems you only run every 4-5 days. Your fitness will decrease on those days.  You need to run more often.

  • 0 2 months ago in reply to ronand

    That's not correct, I'm running 3 times per week 

  • 0 1 month ago

    Thanks for the pictures and great job knocking out that workout. So what you are seeing are two different features on your Forerunner 965. The first is your Training Effect for the workout. There is a entire page written that goes into detail and examples of what Training Effect is communicating to you after your activity. https://www.garmin.com/en-US/garmin-technology/running-science/physiological-measurements/training-effect/

    Your VO2 may vary from activity to activity is what the graph is trying to communicate. Looking at the image it shows a slight decrease which is typical in training. Hope you continue to progress with your training and you may always reach out to our Customer Care team for further questions.
    https://www.garmin.com/en-US/garmin-technology/running-science/physiological-measurements/vo2-max/ 

  • +1 1 month ago

    Your vo2max score (52+/-) can go up or down to a number of things... its something you want to look at monthly and annual trends.  Ignore the noise of day to day.  

    Vo2max is based on your weight, heart rate compared to maximum HR setting and the pace of workout (or power on bike).  The big players at play is pace vs HR... if you run on gravel/grass your pace for HR will be slower.  If it is hot your HR will be higher then normal.  If you run in the afternoon vs early morning your HR will be different.  If your very fatigued often HR will be lower / non-responsive a bit.  If you are amped up for a race your HR will be really high at a certain pace.  Wind?  Hills?  all play into it and mess it up.  

    Just make sure you are getting in a mix of workouts , longer and shorter easy runs... hard fast intervals.... and steady (or long intervals) medium hard tempo / threshold runs.  The vo2max score should slowly go up.  Howefver the accuracy of vo2max is heavily reliant on a good HR sensor reading (recommend a chest strap or arm band style for better accuracy), updated weight, and also a REAL maximum heart rate (not calculated... but a best guess (maybe add 5bpm to a super hard workout HR) based on super hard workouts or hill interval 'max hr test'... or sprint finish at a 5k race).  Maximum HR effort is nearly impossible... so often want to add a beat or two unless you really think you nailed the effort... should have hazy/blurry vision, hard to stand, hard to keep eyes open, gasping for air... etc LOL ... real fun :-/ 

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to NickMN

    Thank you for your reply. It was a very exhaustive and clear explanation. So you recommend not relying on auto HR max rate analysis but instead entering the max HR obtained during a sprint or hill interval run or so?

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to afarnedi

    My preference for is for a manual setting on it.  Auto set is a good place to start, but best to sort activities by maximum HR on Garminconnect online.  Then review them, look at the run effort - how does HR data look ?  Make sense?  How does that compare to your current max setting?  Was that workout a full all out finish ?  Not just a steady 400-800m or 1km interval?  Should have a full gas effort at end until exhaustion. Was it a race that you had something in the tank to hammer the last 40-60sec at full sprint to beat someone in front of you?  Maybe at 5bpm if you don't think it was full all out effort.  

    If your max HR setting isn't a true good value, your vo2max scores will always be low.  Cuz when you are running a hard vo2max effort 92% of 'max HR' , in reality it might only be a 87% threshold effort.