VO2 max
BrianSharpe
Posts: 9,248 Member
I know that V02 max isn't the be all and end all measure of fitness but I'm pretty pleased with the it for my age (64), not sure how meaningful Garmin's "fitness age" is but I'll take it as a good thing....
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There's a lot of hard work that goes into that. I'm sure you're more proud of the hard work behind that than the actual number and you should be! Shows a lot of dedication, work ethic and discipline (and I'm sure resilience too). At just 55, I know a lot can go wrong with the body training as hard as that number requires, so kudos to you!3
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.MikePfirrman wrote: »There's a lot of hard work that goes into that. I'm sure you're more proud of the hard work behind that than the actual number and you should be! Shows a lot of dedication, work ethic and discipline (and I'm sure resilience too). At just 55, I know a lot can go wrong with the body training as hard as that number requires, so kudos to you!
Ditto! Many miles needed to produce those numbers.1 -
Nice work Brian.
I find the Garmin number a pretty good correlation to my fitness levels - I don't hate myself enough to torture myself with another lab test just to find out how close the numbers are so a reasonable track is good enough and quite motivational.
Curiosly I don't get the "Fitness Age" feature on my (Android) phone but that's seriously impressive to wind your clock back 22 years.
Chapeau!2 -
Kudos, Brian - nice work (and it is work)!Nice work Brian.
I find the Garmin number a pretty good correlation to my fitness levels - I don't hate myself enough to torture myself with another lab test just to find out how close the numbers are so a reasonable track is good enough and quite motivational.
Curiosly I don't get the "Fitness Age" feature on my (Android) phone but that's seriously impressive to wind your clock back 22 years.
Chapeau!
That's odd. I get it on my Android phone (with Vivoactive 3 as the device, so not top of the line).0 -
Kudos, Brian - nice work (and it is work)!Nice work Brian.
I find the Garmin number a pretty good correlation to my fitness levels - I don't hate myself enough to torture myself with another lab test just to find out how close the numbers are so a reasonable track is good enough and quite motivational.
Curiosly I don't get the "Fitness Age" feature on my (Android) phone but that's seriously impressive to wind your clock back 22 years.
Chapeau!
That's odd. I get it on my Android phone (with Vivoactive 3 as the device, so not top of the line).
Thanks Ann.
Garmin Edge 1000 and Samsung Galaxy. Might try uninstalling and reinstalling although it's saying I have latest version of Connect.
I use a Boditrax BIA device at my gym (Oh gym - how I miss you!) and it has a metabolic age score and it always makes me smile.0 -
Thanks all...I found this heplful as a way of keeping my motivation up this year as there won't be any races. At least it gives me another year of training before moving up an AG next year.3
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Good point about the motivation. That's been a challenge for me. I've even resorted to putting on my race kit and doing a race simulation occasionally just to get the juices flowing.
I"m also going to figure out why my iphone doesn't show my "fitness age" estimate.1 -
Mine tracks with my fitness, when the number goes up it's because I'm in a better place capable of more. I don't always understand short term changes but on the whole it does a good job.
My cycling VO2max has always been lower than my running value. I thought that's how it worked for everybody.
Sometimes I get the fitness age, sometimes I don't. Fenix 6X and Samsung Note 8.0 -
NorthCascades wrote: »Mine tracks with my fitness, when the number goes up it's because I'm in a better place capable of more. I don't always understand short term changes but on the whole it does a good job.
My cycling VO2max has always been lower than my running value. I thought that's how it worked for everybody.
Sometimes I get the fitness age, sometimes I don't. Fenix 6X and Samsung Note 8.
Mine may be a little backwards right now AS I didn't do a lot of running earlier this year but did spend a lot more time on the trainer. My running VO2 max has usually been higher than my cycling too.... my old 920xt used to irritate me as the running would update regularly but not the cycling.0 -
FWIW, in the Garmin Connect web browser version, Fitness Age shows up in Reports/All Activities/VO2max, too, if available. I'm pretty sure it's a Firstbeat thing, so it never occurred to me that it didn't always show up for everyone with a suitable device.1
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Nice work Brian!!0
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FWIW, in the Garmin Connect web browser version, Fitness Age shows up in Reports/All Activities/VO2max, too, if available. I'm pretty sure it's a Firstbeat thing, so it never occurred to me that it didn't always show up for everyone with a suitable device.
Ann, I must not have purchased the "Fountain of Youth" module from Garmin, because checking Reports/All Activites/VO2 Max in my Garmin Connect browser version tells me my numerical score and percentage ranking, but not a Fitness Age.
So, I guess I'll just have to act my age and move on 2 -
If you look at the compatible devices on the Firstbeat website https://www.firstbeat.com/en/consumer-products/products/ it shows that they each have different Firstbeat functions. Some do not have 'fitness age'. Regardless of that, in comparing VO2 Max between me and my colleague and my friend who have Garmin sports watches, frankly it's only a guide at best. I (age 55, fitness age 20) have a supposed VO2 Max of 45 and a solo/training 5k time of 24:47 recently. My colleague (age 50) has a VO2 Max of 45 and a 5k time of over 27 minutes. My friend (age 72) has a VO2 Max of 46 and a 5k time of 32 minutes. I honestly don't mind if either my friend or my colleague are fitter than me, have a higher VO2 Max than me or a lower fitness age, but the numbers are not consistent with performance, so do take them with a pinch of salt.
I would also say that I believe it is sensible that Garmin separates running VO2 Max from cycling VO2 Max. Someone who is attuned to running may not be attuned to cycling, and vice versa. Cycling, in my opinion, is more demanding on muscle power and possibly endurance. Running needs a different physique and different fitness traits. If I focus on cycling for a period, I know that my running VO2 Max will probably decrease, but equally I know that my overall condition will increase. My VO2 Max went up to 47 recently as I was running on smooth surfaces around my village. I don't enjoy that as much as cross country running so reverted to cross country in the knowledge that my VO2 Max (as interpreted by Garmin/Firstbeat) would most likely decrease, which it did, to 45. I don't mind that as I enjoy the countryside so much more than streets but I'm darned sure that my fitness and VO2 Max hasn't gone down!2 -
@richardbrownuk1
Thanks for the link Richard, confirms my Garmin has some Firstbeat functions but not Fitness Age.0 -
You're welcome 0
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@richardbrownuk1
Thanks for the link Richard, confirms my Garmin has some Firstbeat functions but not Fitness Age.
Yes, same here. Thank you.0 -
I took a test, cycling, 6-7 years ago when I first started triathlon. I’d be curious to see how that has changed.
I don’t really trust the Garmin numbers. But I could learn more...0 -
The numbers are estimates but will show trends.. what is important is the effort you have put in to change the trend :-) This link may be helpful to you.
https://www.wareable.com/health-and-wellbeing/vo2-max-guide-understand-and-increase-7891 -
My wife already thinks I'm crazy, I think I'll bring a marker home......
A little OT but I'm thinking of signing up for a couple of virtual tris (I just found out that Toronto will be putting one on as they actual race is cancelled)
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BrianSharpe wrote: »
My wife already thinks I'm crazy, I think I'll bring a marker home......
A little OT but I'm thinking of signing up for a couple of virtual tris (I just found out that Toronto will be putting one on as they actual race is cancelled)
Brian, makes perfect sense to me. Left and Right arm: Race Bib # Right Calf: M62 (sex and age)
And after years of this stuff, my wife has stopped rolling her eyes at this stuff. Now she just smiles and says "That's great, honey. You go have fun."
I haven't signed up for any virtual races yet, but I may do so.
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Are these types of v-races where you just go out and do the distance, self/family supported?0
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Are these types of v-races where you just go out and do the distance, self/family supported?
I can't speak for other formats, but a number of folks in my tri club have done or are doing the Ironman Virtual Club races. You sign up, do the workouts/challenges/races and track them on your device, then sync them to the Virtual Club profile. You can earn points, etc. and I think they even award some prizes. Ironman is marketing it as a way to keep athletes motivated to continue training.
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Are these types of v-races where you just go out and do the distance, self/family supported?
Pretty much, I know the one my club put on has a fairly broad time frame and Ottawa Race Weekend is allowing entries up to ealy September as they don't want 40,000 people out running a variety of distances all in one weekend.
I'm still waiting on the details for the Toronto Triathlon virtual race.1 -
Well done, Brian! I sent you a request on Garmin. It's always nice to get some inspiration 1
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I only trust the numbers (which were pretty close to my actual value the only time I was tested) when I wear my HRM strap. The HRM on the watch can be way off sometimes. Based on the HR, I once had Strava tell me my effort was less than normal. It was a one mile race (I couldn't go any faster if a bear was chasing me
). 1 -
I only trust the numbers (which were pretty close to my actual value the only time I was tested) when I wear my HRM strap. The HRM on the watch can be way off sometimes. Based on the HR, I once had Strava tell me my effort was less than normal. It was a one mile race (I couldn't go any faster if a bear was chasing me ).
I hear you on the chest strap......I put a titanium bracelet on the Fenix and got some utterly bizarre numbers running, as soon as I put the chest strap back on they went back to what I expected.
I've only ever done on 1 mile race.....it was grueling, I'd rather do a half-marathon any day of the week!
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@BrianSharpe I put a metal and sandalwood strap on my Fenix. Less adjustable than the one it came with (but nice looking) so I wear it slightly loose. My resting heart rate magically dropped by 10 points as soon as I put the new strap on!0
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NorthCascades wrote: »@BrianSharpe I put a metal and sandalwood strap on my Fenix. Less adjustable than the one it came with (but nice looking) so I wear it slightly loose. My resting heart rate magically dropped by 10 points as soon as I put the new strap on!
I wish mine would drop....no change with the strap...... a few years ago it was 48 not its 55 on a good day. I need to drop some weight and run more.
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