From WikiPedia: VO2 max (also maximal oxygen consumption, maximal oxygen uptake, peak oxygen uptake or maximal aerobic capacity) is the maximum rate of oxygen consumption as measured during incremental exercise, most typically on a motorized treadmill. Maximal oxygen consumption reflects the aerobic physical fitness of the individual, and is an important determinant of their endurance capacity during prolonged, sub-maximal exercise. The name is derived from V – volume, O2 – oxygen, max – maximum.
Over the last couple of years, fitness trackers (e.g. Garmin, Jabra and Fitbit) have started to make use of the VO2 Max formula to measure their users’ fitness levels. Previously only available to athletes in a laboratory setting with specialized equipment, these devices can estimate your VO2 Max close to laboratory results.
In saying all that, it’s not a value I have often checked. Garmin is only able to calculate/estimate it when I wear my heart rate monitor during training sessions, and that is not often. I think I will start wearing it more frequently to provide a wider data-set for analysis.
The reason I’m posting about VO2 now, is because I wore my heart rate monitor last week for a run and noticed an improvement in my VO2 score. I pulled up the Garmin app and compared my VO2 scores over the last 12 months. It was really rewarding to see such an improvement.
And this graph below is always encouraging as well, another year and I should be very close to goal weight. Slow and steady is the way to do it.
Alastair Vance 