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VO2 MAX malfunction?

Spectre
over 5 years ago

I purchased a va3 in January largely because of the VO2 Max feature.  I'm 64 years old, exercise 7 days per week for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours per day, have a standing heart rate of 56, and always score very high in fitness tests.

My first VO2 Max test scored me at a disappointing 35.  The unit would only perform the test for between 4 to 5 minutes, not the 15+ minutes that it's supposed to take.  I tried several tests, both walking and jogging, and always scored 35, and the watch only ran the test for 4 to 5 minutes each time.  I always make sure that I was above 70% of my max HR when I did the test.  The watch started recording walking trips at night while I slept, and the GPS had me roaming through my neighbour's property,  so Garmin replaced the unit, and I assumed that the VO2 Max issue would be resolved with a new watch.

Not so.  I got the same short tests on the replacement watch, and the same score of 35 on each test.  I did several tests.  So, I  thought that perhaps the wrist HR monitor wasn't recording my HR properly and bought a Garmin Dual chest strap monitor.  Same issue.   Short tests and always the same score using the chest strap.

Does anyone have similar issues and possibly a solution?

  • +1 over 5 years ago in reply to Dirtkahuna

    Thanks for your comment.   So, I have to assume that VO2 max estimates don't necessarily take the 15 to 20 minutes that Garmin suggests, given that your test was completed in just over 4 minutes.  Good to know.

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to MB201

    Hi MB201.  Thanks.  I'm unfamiliar with lactate....I'm referring to VO2 Max.

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to Spectre

    As i'm running 45-75 Minutes, i dont know..

    But i dont think 4 Minutes of running gives you an realistic VO2max.....  Its like saying i'm doing an km in 2 Minutes, so i can run an marathon in 82 minutes....

    If you arnt able to run more then 4 minutes, your vo2max is unpredictable and of course - useless! Go running every 2nd day, youll be able to run longer then 4 minutes in some weeks. In 2 months youll be able to run 30 minutes and do the vo2max test...

    The Clock has an nice option in activities. Its called Run/Walk. Use it. Maybe start with 3:00 Minutes running and 1:30 walking. Run slowly. Do this for 45 minutes, 3 times a week. Add every week 0:30 to your running time,

    What do you exercise 7 days per week for 1,5-2h? sound funny if you train this much but cant run longer then 4minutes,

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to MB201

    It's not that I can't run longer than 4 minutes.  I can run a long time - but the VA3 only continues doing it's VO2 Max test for about 4 minutes, then it tells me that it has completed the VO2 Max calculation. 

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to Spectre

    Select the run option for your activity and then run for 20 min. This will give you a more accurate reading. Don’t be surprised if it is close to what you are already getting thou

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to Spectre

    You dont need to do the Vo2Max test in menu. In fact i didnt knew there is an option for it, i just go running and getting vo2max updates after every run.

    Just go running and start an run activity.

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to Gadams99

    So, are you suggesting that I not do a VO2 test, but rather just run and let the watch automatically calculate a ZVO2 Max score?

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to Spectre

    I do the same- just record my runs and VO2 Max will be calculated automatically for every run. You can check them under Health & Performance in your Garmin connect app. If you don't see recent VO2 max records for your runs check that Garmin connect has permission to access your calendar. 

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to Tarask

    I did two VO2 Max tests using the outdoor run activity as mentioned by a couple of members here.  Test 1 was for 25 minutes at a jogging pace of 8 min per km.  Slightly sloping up and down route. I used the wrist HR monitor.  As predicted by gadams99, my reading was actually lower by 1 point than the manual test that only ran for 4 minutes. I then re-ran the course a couple of days later using the HRM chest strap monitor, and got a reading 2 points lower than the manual test.  What I find surprising is the test numbers of 35, 34 and 33.  I'm in pretty good shape for my age, not overweight, never smoked, and I score a VO2 Max of 39 using the Rockport Walking Fitness Test.

    I'll just use these numbers for comparison purposes and do the VO2 Max test once a month or so for interest only.