Well that is encouraging because I read that the research says VO2MAX is genetic and can only be changed slightly. Glad I read your post. Maybe there is hope for me yet.
Per my Garmin, I increase my vo2max by taking a couple days off, and doing a tempo run in the cold.... then if I want it to go down... I just run slowly in the heat :o)
got exactly the same. got y first garmin at the start of the winter, started with 56 and it just plumetted due to all the slow runs i have been doing. sitting at 45 now...
@@aaronjohnson508 I'm reading phill maffetone's book right now and he states that VO2max is a seriously overrated metric. You can only test it properly with an anaerobic effort, but the endurance effort is 99% aerobic...
i'm not sure what i loved more - Fraser's look during the coin toss, or the super synth soundtrack during the ramp test! also, ***67.3!!*** well done, Fraser!
I'm 62 years old. VO2 max currently 78.0. It's been as high as 84.0. I ride 4 Watts/kg in HR Zone 2. Just did 3 Watts/kg for twenty minutes, Av HR 101 bpm.
the coach in this vid is actually a great guy, he did my test today when I was on a school trip lol, scored 58.9, which i thought was decent considering I've been off peak recently lol
In this example, the estimated VO2 Max is not too far off the measured one. However, wouldn't the accuracy of the estimate, based on resting heart rate and HRV be compromised by completing a max effort just earlier? Or maybe the ramp test was short enough to not increase the subject's fatigue/stress too much.
69? That is impressive. Garmin watches (same) are also capable to provide VO2 but not in static environment but you need to run of course Seeing VO2 max is not to compare with others but to see your progress - but of course you/we all know it ;-)
VO2 Max depends greatly on genetics and represents your innate ability to do constant exercise; some people really do just have good genes! But you can improve VO2max by simply losing weight.
Would be nice if you take more time in how to use VO2max at the end...this Table was confusing and I dont get your Message here...%VO2max equals %HR-zones??? My garmin shows 51 btw
The factor you have not mentioned in regard to VO2 max is age! I am 66 years old and when tested 18 months ago in a lab on a bike, I had a VO2 max of 50mL/kg/min. The average value mentioned in your video was for a much younger person. The average for my age would be somewhere around 27mL/kg/min. It also seems that VO2 max varies with sport. My cycling VO2 max is higher than my VO2 max when running!
That's kind of a strange table you've provided on 8:55. Suppose I don't know my heart rate zones, but only know my V02 max value - 57. From the table I can calculate which training zone matches which V02 max range. E.g. Zone 1: 26-37 (of VO2 max). However, how do I now calculate a particular heart rate range from the corresponding VO2 max range? My Garmin watch doesn't show VO2 max ranges.
curious how much max heart rates differ on a bike vs. running. i don't recall doing a "ramp" test for a run or a Vo2 max, but have done many on the bike and my bike zones are pretty accurate, but i assume my running zones would be different?
Excellent video, wondering why you didn’t whip off that mask as soon as your test was over. Did your HR need to return to baseline? Can you do more videos like this, some that are HR based, like time to drop by x BPM as an indicator of fitness. I ditching my Garmin for a Polar Vantage V
Maybe because cardiac response to stress is more of an indication of activity specific efficiency/adaptation? The same athlete might get wildly different gaps between resting-exertion across different activities?
Well explained video.. I recently did the chester step test and failed at a vo2max of 29 I am 55 years old and was told to stop at level 3..I felt fine and was not even starting to feel it in any way difficult. Some people have told me to get a proper test as in this video.i know a diver who failed the step test..went and paid for a lab treadmill test and passed. Can anyone explain in lay terms the comparison and accuracy of the 2 tests
It is an expensive lab test for me but maybe for a few years I will have money that did VO2 Max test but now I will try to train a lot maybe when I do test I was very surprised result of my training
The point of this test (Vo2max) it isn’t only to give you a number, but to find your Anaerobic threshold(AT) that is the most important, and with this information to create your training program. If you follow the guidelines from maximal VO2 test you will be surprise with you from the results.
Eric Tobias good question. Most people will still use their %Max, even after a Vo2 Max test. Particularly if you’re using a watch, as it doesn’t give that level of detail. Therefore Vo2 Max is simply a very good performance marker to track
I have VO2-max of 57 and I can't for the life of me run a marathon faster than 3:50 h. It is not possible for me to train much harder than I do. I should run it in 2:50 h instead. It sucks to suck!
If I used my heart rate monitor at rest to find my V02 number, can I use that number without an actual running pace to figure out what my paces SHOULD be?
Does my oxygen intake dictate anything to do with my leg strength ,ie will my legs perform better with more oxygen ,do they start to struggle because of lack of oxygen I’d
According to my Polar Vantage my vo2 max is higher than Fraser's (70). Assuming that is accurate (and i realise that's a big one) what else is it that makes me so much slower in a race?
how can my new polar decide what my vo2 max is. It said it was 61 wich is very good. Is it so high and maybe inaccurate because it's new and not used to me or because of my young age (16). I don't understand how they can calculate it by just you HR
Question: if you take a cyclist with 90 vo2max, a skier with also 90 Vo2max and a runner with 70 vo2max, put all of them on tredmill (not simultaneously of course)...I mean the oxygen consumption is oxygen consumption.. How would this test work?
Ralph Stoever using your heart rate from the test, that matches with that point on the vo2. Obviously a lot of watches won’t give you this detail. Instead you can simply use your max heart rate from the vo2 max test or other activity, as you normally would. In that case the Vo2 max would simply be a performance marker
@@markthrelfall3577 Thanks Mark, it's very appreciated! It looks like a device limitation in my case. I'll try to grab my experienced Ironman colleague and have a chat about it. It might also help shed some light on the effects of my zone 2 training.
Hi, Thanks for the great video. I have the vantage v and just did this test but still a bit confused as to how to get the zones from the chart with regards to the heart rate at vo2 max. Sorry, I am a little simple
I workout religiously I take 6 to 7 Mile power walks,do calisthenics and lift weights. I got a fitness watch and found out my VO2MAX score is extremely low. Damn wish I never found out about VO2MAX, especially since I understand it's genetic and nothing much can be done to improve it.
@Johannes Kokozela, those are not predicting my vo2 max correctly, I have tested several times and it is about 77-78 at weight 76, so racing it's 80-82, and now garmin shows 69 (but bit earlyer when I did testing garmin showed 59)
How much does your VO2 max differ between different disciplines? I did recently a VO2max test an ergometer, can I use these data to determine my zones for running? I don't think so, but it should still be more accurate than the algorithm on my watch.
VO2 is typically higher running than biking, though the amount varies by individual; so yes it's sport-specific. XC skiers typically register even higher VO2max numbers because more muscle groups are used. Similar to the running treadmill test, on a stationary bike/smart trainer you can do an increasing load test to failure and get your VO2max. Programs like Zwift, TrainerRoad, etc. even have this as a pre-programmed workout you can do. I use a Garmin, and it actually gives me different VO2max estimates for biking and running.
@@Jon-lf2dj VO2max varies across exercise modality and across which sport is your main one. For e.g., while it's fairly common knowledge that non-cyclists will score highest in running VO2max, a trained cyclist will score 100 - 105% of running VO2max, see Astrand and Rodahl, 1986. Additionally, even when asked to do extra work when for e.g. doing hand cranking while riding an ergometer VO2max doesn't increase further.
what is the benefit of using such short protocol increasing speed evey 1min. I read somewhere that in order to stabilise lactate its better to stay on the speed at least for 3 min. Lactate is very individual but maximum 7.7 seems to be very very low. I not an expert but such short test seems to be not too accurate.
Its because they wanted to have their VO2max as their primary measure. In a perfect world VO2max tests should end in 9-12 minutes as to have the cardiopulmonary system be the reason for test termination, not muscular fatigue or shortage of energy substrates. A lactate of 7.7mmol/L is relatively low, but also consider the vast majority of the energy required for the VO2max test would have been produced aerobically, which produces minimal lactate. Now if they were to do a Wingate or Quebec test which examine anaerobic power and capacity, respectively, their lactate may be as high as 20mmol/L or exceed the measurement capabilities of the lactate analyzer.
Measured VO2 max on Garmin Vivoactive 3 and over the last four months it has decreased from 46 to 41 but with no let up in intensity of training. Any ideas why this might be?
scientist: "well - technology is getting much better, but it's still not the same as a lab test. our figures are exact, controlled and provide more information than a watch - plus you get printouts to put on your fridge."
I also noticed FC was wearing his Polar during the lab test, so the watch had very recent data from that effort to consider in the calculation. I wonder what it would have read is he did the watch test before the lab test. That being said, I have a Garmin and its VO2max estimate for me is within 2-3% (it's a passive calculation from the data it get from me wearing the watch, not a specific test).
Hat Tip good spot. Just to be clear, it wasn’t recording during the test, as we didn’t want it interfering with the heart rate monitor that was being recorded by the lab machines
@@markthrelfall3577 Good to know. I've also found the calcs based on training data to be within a couple % of results from dedicated tests (for my n=1).
lol according to my Garmin, my V02 manx has always being poor and has got worse despite running only 5k at a struggle 12 month ago and now being able to run 10k?
Watching this, in my hotboxed room, during nz lockdown, watching my vo2 max gradually decline over the weeks of lockdown, also a women and like damn I have to fight biology a bit here 🤣😂😭
"In theory"? It's literally the measure of an athlete's metaphorical "heart"; as opposed to the literal measurement taken from ejection measurements, lolol..
Before I was running garmin gave me a score of 37 which is poor. 2 years later with consistent Running now at 53 which us excellent
good job!
Well that is encouraging because I read that the research says VO2MAX is genetic and can only be changed slightly. Glad I read your post. Maybe there is hope for me yet.
My Garmin says 48, my labtest says 43. So I have a feelgood watch.
Finnaly sommeone does a lab test vs heart rate test , namaste very much !
Per my Garmin, I increase my vo2max by taking a couple days off, and doing a tempo run in the cold.... then if I want it to go down... I just run slowly in the heat :o)
got exactly the same. got y first garmin at the start of the winter, started with 56 and it just plumetted due to all the slow runs i have been doing. sitting at 45 now...
Hill runs bring it down
@@aaronjohnson508 I'm reading phill maffetone's book right now and he states that VO2max is a seriously overrated metric. You can only test it properly with an anaerobic effort, but the endurance effort is 99% aerobic...
@@stijndesmet4811 what's the name of the book?
At last a good video showing the full test. We normally use Jonathan at the lab so this video is brilliant to show A level PE students
i'm not sure what i loved more - Fraser's look during the coin toss, or the super synth soundtrack during the ramp test! also, ***67.3!!*** well done, Fraser!
I'm 62 years old. VO2 max currently 78.0. It's been as high as 84.0. I ride 4 Watts/kg in HR Zone 2. Just did 3 Watts/kg for twenty minutes, Av HR 101 bpm.
Love how sport scientists always look like they’ve never ran
lol
Lol coaches look plump too
the coach in this vid is actually a great guy, he did my test today when I was on a school trip lol, scored 58.9, which i thought was decent considering I've been off peak recently lol
They look pretty fit to me. And nice running on that treadmill.
Love how 98% of people that work in health look like they’ve never walked further than front door to car door.
Great info. I was surprised to see how accurate the watch was.
Mine is 61 from 49 I cycle 20 miles to work and back 4 times a week
Liked it. maybe an example for the table at the end would be nice.
In this example, the estimated VO2 Max is not too far off the measured one.
However, wouldn't the accuracy of the estimate, based on resting heart rate and HRV be compromised by completing a max effort just earlier?
Or maybe the ramp test was short enough to not increase the subject's fatigue/stress too much.
69? That is impressive.
Garmin watches (same) are also capable to provide VO2 but not in static environment but you need to run of course
Seeing VO2 max is not to compare with others but to see your progress - but of course you/we all know it ;-)
VO2 Max depends greatly on genetics and represents your innate ability to do constant exercise; some people really do just have good genes! But you can improve VO2max by simply losing weight.
Instablaster.
Would be nice if you take more time in how to use VO2max at the end...this Table was confusing and I dont get your Message here...%VO2max equals %HR-zones??? My garmin shows 51 btw
The factor you have not mentioned in regard to VO2 max is age! I am 66 years old and when tested 18 months ago in a lab on a bike, I had a VO2 max of 50mL/kg/min. The average value mentioned in your video was for a much younger person. The average for my age would be somewhere around 27mL/kg/min. It also seems that VO2 max varies with sport. My cycling VO2 max is higher than my VO2 max when running!
That's kind of a strange table you've provided on 8:55. Suppose I don't know my heart rate zones, but only know my V02 max value - 57. From the table I can calculate which training zone matches which V02 max range. E.g. Zone 1: 26-37 (of VO2 max). However, how do I now calculate a particular heart rate range from the corresponding VO2 max range? My Garmin watch doesn't show VO2 max ranges.
Your Max Heart Rate is 220 - Age. If you´re 30 years old, your Max Heart Rate is 190. Than for example 75% from 190 is 142.
What is the name of the 1st professional VO2 Max test that you did that you compared with the watch? Thank you
Crazy that the test on the treadmill didn't reach kipchoge marathon pace. 20.5kmh failure point
curious how much max heart rates differ on a bike vs. running. i don't recall doing a "ramp" test for a run or a Vo2 max, but have done many on the bike and my bike zones are pretty accurate, but i assume my running zones would be different?
Excellent video, wondering why you didn’t whip off that mask as soon as your test was over. Did your HR need to return to baseline? Can you do more videos like this, some that are HR based, like time to drop by x BPM as an indicator of fitness. I ditching my Garmin for a Polar Vantage V
Maybe because cardiac response to stress is more of an indication of activity specific efficiency/adaptation? The same athlete might get wildly different gaps between resting-exertion across different activities?
Well explained video..
I recently did the chester step test and failed at a vo2max of 29
I am 55 years old and was told to stop at level 3..I felt fine and was not even starting to feel it in any way difficult.
Some people have told me to get a proper test as in this video.i know a diver who failed the step test..went and paid for a lab treadmill test and passed.
Can anyone explain in lay terms the comparison and accuracy of the 2 tests
I thought I was bad, 60 years old and VO2 of 39. All I do is walk the dog regularly.
At 8:53 you show Zone 2 as 75-85 HR (%MAX), but Polar say it is 60-70% OF HRMAX...? Confused (www.polar.com/blog/running-heart-rate-zones-basics/)
what was the polar watch that was used in this video i want one
Awesome video! Thank you
Is there a way to measure V02Max using a formula?
It is an expensive lab test for me but maybe for a few years I will have money that did VO2 Max test but now I will try to train a lot maybe when I do test I was very surprised result of my training
It's like 100-150 euros probably? So it shouldn't break the bank, since you don't need to do it often.
The point of this test (Vo2max) it isn’t only to give you a number, but to find your Anaerobic threshold(AT) that is the most important, and with this information to create your training program. If you follow the guidelines from maximal VO2 test you will be surprise with you from the results.
The graph listed the zones as both %Max (VO2max) and %Max (Heart Rates), So why do I need to know my VO2max since I can just use the %MHR zones?
Eric Tobias good question. Most people will still use their %Max, even after a Vo2 Max test. Particularly if you’re using a watch, as it doesn’t give that level of detail. Therefore Vo2 Max is simply a very good performance marker to track
My VO2 Max is 75.5. I do Soccer refereeing for college games and jog multiple days a week. Max Heart rate of 199 and 23 years old.
So what is a training zone?
Top quality content 💪
I have VO2-max of 57 and I can't for the life of me run a marathon faster than 3:50 h. It is not possible for me to train much harder than I do. I should run it in 2:50 h instead. It sucks to suck!
Thanks for making VO2 Max interesting lol
If I used my heart rate monitor at rest to find my V02 number, can I use that number without an actual running pace to figure out what my paces SHOULD be?
why are the zone percentages of HR different here?
My v02 max was 38 on mylast smartwatch but my new smartwatch when i did a 5k said 25 minutes what does this mean?i normally run a 5k in 30 mins
Does my oxygen intake dictate anything to do with my leg strength ,ie will my legs perform better with more oxygen ,do they start to struggle because of lack of oxygen
I’d
According to my Polar Vantage my vo2 max is higher than Fraser's (70). Assuming that is accurate (and i realise that's a big one) what else is it that makes me so much slower in a race?
Efficiency coefficient, mine is 65, the problem is surely technique related imo
how can my new polar decide what my vo2 max is. It said it was 61 wich is very good. Is it so high and maybe inaccurate because it's new and not used to me or because of my young age (16). I don't understand how they can calculate it by just you HR
How about vo2max in apple watch ?
Does it accurate ?
At what % of hr max is vo2 max typically seen
Hi Guys, amazing video. This had the perfect information for my IB sport science students. Thanks you.
Should you have done the fitness test on the watch first? His HRV is likely effected by the earlier run.
Can you increase VO2 max with age or does a slower max heart rate pose as a bit of an impediment?
It's a representation of your current fitness so if you can get fitter then there's no reason you can't improve your VO2
How accurate is the garmin in analyzing vo2 max??
my experience.+- 50%
Has Frasier gone back and retested his watch base VO2 after returning to a resting state?
What's the criteria for terminating the test ?
My maximal lactate is 15.8
Does it means that my VO2 max is more then 70 or somewhere between 65 and 70
What are VO2max values (ml/kgBW/min) corresponding to (very) poor, fair, good and excellent aerobic fitness?
I just started running and after my first benchmark run garmin gave me a vo2 max of 61
what is it now after 11 months?
What is Mark's Vo2 max?
Great video! But 7mmol/l lactate is pretty low after a vo2max test?
Its part mental and part genetic but thats not terrible.
DarthBane1024 not terrible, just personally never seen anything below 9mmol/l which is why i commented. And I completly agree on the genetic point!
Question: if you take a cyclist with 90 vo2max, a skier with also 90 Vo2max and a runner with 70 vo2max, put all of them on tredmill (not simultaneously of course)...I mean the oxygen consumption is oxygen consumption.. How would this test work?
The runner would consume less while going faster. Don't know who's VO2M would be lower, though.
How do you translate that Vo2 Max figure into training zones?
Ralph Stoever using your heart rate from the test, that matches with that point on the vo2. Obviously a lot of watches won’t give you this detail. Instead you can simply use your max heart rate from the vo2 max test or other activity, as you normally would. In that case the Vo2 max would simply be a performance marker
@@markthrelfall3577 Thanks Mark, it's very appreciated! It looks like a device limitation in my case. I'll try to grab my experienced Ironman colleague and have a chat about it. It might also help shed some light on the effects of my zone 2 training.
Hi, Thanks for the great video. I have the vantage v and just did this test but still a bit confused as to how to get the zones from the chart with regards to the heart rate at vo2 max. Sorry, I am a little simple
I workout religiously I take 6 to 7 Mile power walks,do calisthenics and lift weights. I got a fitness watch and found out my VO2MAX score is extremely low. Damn wish I never found out about VO2MAX, especially since I understand it's genetic and nothing much can be done to improve it.
You should probably do more intense cardio
mine VO2 is 43 :P ( i have 39 few month ago if garmin watch is true)
thats a great improvement, either you lost some weight or you have become much fitter! Ride on
Garmin is really incorect
@@maxw5229 well now i have 95kg and i have like 109 first few walk run now i run 4days in total 40km and ride on me bike to work 70km per week
@Johannes Kokozela, those are not predicting my vo2 max correctly, I have tested several times and it is about 77-78 at weight 76, so racing it's 80-82, and now garmin shows 69 (but bit earlyer when I did testing garmin showed 59)
@@Anton-zb9dc my Garmin test gave exact same results as lab
How much does your VO2 max differ between different disciplines? I did recently a VO2max test an ergometer, can I use these data to determine my zones for running? I don't think so, but it should still be more accurate than the algorithm on my watch.
VO2 is typically higher running than biking, though the amount varies by individual; so yes it's sport-specific. XC skiers typically register even higher VO2max numbers because more muscle groups are used. Similar to the running treadmill test, on a stationary bike/smart trainer you can do an increasing load test to failure and get your VO2max. Programs like Zwift, TrainerRoad, etc. even have this as a pre-programmed workout you can do.
I use a Garmin, and it actually gives me different VO2max estimates for biking and running.
@@Jon-lf2dj VO2max varies across exercise modality and across which sport is your main one. For e.g., while it's fairly common knowledge that non-cyclists will score highest in running VO2max, a trained cyclist will score 100 - 105% of running VO2max, see Astrand and Rodahl, 1986. Additionally, even when asked to do extra work when for e.g. doing hand cranking while riding an ergometer VO2max doesn't increase further.
My VO2 max is 59 which I assume is quite good. I did not expect my VO2 max to be that good😅
what is the benefit of using such short protocol increasing speed evey 1min. I read somewhere that in order to stabilise lactate its better to stay on the speed at least for 3 min. Lactate is very individual but maximum 7.7 seems to be very very low. I not an expert but such short test seems to be not too accurate.
Its because they wanted to have their VO2max as their primary measure. In a perfect world VO2max tests should end in 9-12 minutes as to have the cardiopulmonary system be the reason for test termination, not muscular fatigue or shortage of energy substrates.
A lactate of 7.7mmol/L is relatively low, but also consider the vast majority of the energy required for the VO2max test would have been produced aerobically, which produces minimal lactate. Now if they were to do a Wingate or Quebec test which examine anaerobic power and capacity, respectively, their lactate may be as high as 20mmol/L or exceed the measurement capabilities of the lactate analyzer.
Measured VO2 max on Garmin Vivoactive 3 and over the last four months it has decreased from 46 to 41 but with no let up in intensity of training. Any ideas why this might be?
another way to find it out : do the cooper test.
Costs you nothing but 12 min of running as you can do for 12 min
Surely doing the watch test an hour after a maximal test isn't the right protocol..
Why?
If anyone tells me what their Vo2 is that hasn't been measured in a lab I tune out
According to your table, your maximum HR is enough to define your training zones. I dont’t understand how knowing your VO2Max helps in any way.
25 kph dang that's fast. As fast as an entry level electric kick scooter!
For everyone who came here to brag, mine is 31. Hope you feel better about yourself now.
I’m bragging about a Vo2 max of 35 acc to my Garmin. I am 65 yrs old. But sadly I still struggle on hills when running. Can someone help me?
Mine is 50 and I am woman
how long have you been doing that training? amazing low heart rates!!!
45 - 54 is good. Mine is 56-65 I am. Woman
@@limwowo5902 thanks thanks i knew the first part.
So what's the average for non athletes , just those walking and doing everyday things??
Would have been interesting to ask the lab guys what they think of the method used by the watch
scientist: "well - technology is getting much better, but it's still not the same as a lab test. our figures are exact, controlled and provide more information than a watch - plus you get printouts to put on your fridge."
Polar is a "channel partner" for GTN (good of GTN to call this out), so this video is really about promoting the VO2max feature on their watches.
I also noticed FC was wearing his Polar during the lab test, so the watch had very recent data from that effort to consider in the calculation. I wonder what it would have read is he did the watch test before the lab test. That being said, I have a Garmin and its VO2max estimate for me is within 2-3% (it's a passive calculation from the data it get from me wearing the watch, not a specific test).
Hat Tip good spot. Just to be clear, it wasn’t recording during the test, as we didn’t want it interfering with the heart rate monitor that was being recorded by the lab machines
@@markthrelfall3577 Good to know. I've also found the calcs based on training data to be within a couple % of results from dedicated tests (for my n=1).
Ton eh mon💪
What is the watch you use and where to buy?
It's a Polar Vantage V
Where's yours Marc? 🙂
So it was all an elaborate ad for POLAR. I see.
38 for me, Garmin says it’s fair.
After you know your number, what does the zone mean?
If you are following a training plan it will often tell you what zone you should be working in for what sessions.
@@heatherfell591 It still isn't super clear. Isn't Zone 5 basically going all out? People with a low VO2 Max should still go all out at times.
who else is here because of school :]
lol according to my Garmin, my V02 manx has always being poor and has got worse despite running only 5k at a struggle 12 month ago and now being able to run 10k?
Is this the only way to work out your VO2 max? At a lab?
You can perform the beep test on yourself. The beep test is pretty reliable
메지온 유데나필 vo2 max
I have only 53, at the time ...
Ok
endurance channel and heel striking? really?
Some Olympic runners heel strike
Watching this, in my hotboxed room, during nz lockdown, watching my vo2 max gradually decline over the weeks of lockdown, also a women and like damn I have to fight biology a bit here 🤣😂😭
Mine is 82.1, I do Triathlon obvious
Great... Congrats!
"In theory"? It's literally the measure of an athlete's metaphorical "heart"; as opposed to the literal measurement taken from ejection measurements, lolol..