- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
VO2 Max results after my Garmin froze last week
Posted on 2/7/25 at 7:28 am
Posted on 2/7/25 at 7:28 am
My garmin was one of the models that experienced the Blue Triangle of Death crash last week and after a reset, my vo2 max went from 41 to 38.
Not a significant difference but still... I've scoured the internet on how to improve it and not finding any articles with much useful information so I thought I'd check with y'all.
any suggestions for improving my result? I am actually far better conditioned than I was last year so I am sort of confused as to why my result decreased after I had to do a hard reset on my watch.
I will say that the first run after the reset absolutely sucked - so that might be it, but I have had multiple GREAT runs since then and no change.
I am considering just doing another hard reset - that's the only thing I have not tried but I am sort of worried that it would decrease even further.
Not a significant difference but still... I've scoured the internet on how to improve it and not finding any articles with much useful information so I thought I'd check with y'all.
any suggestions for improving my result? I am actually far better conditioned than I was last year so I am sort of confused as to why my result decreased after I had to do a hard reset on my watch.
I will say that the first run after the reset absolutely sucked - so that might be it, but I have had multiple GREAT runs since then and no change.
I am considering just doing another hard reset - that's the only thing I have not tried but I am sort of worried that it would decrease even further.
8
Posted on 2/7/25 at 9:20 am to tigernurse
1. When you reset it did it update the software as well? It could be using a different algorithm, giving you a different result
2. You have way less data for the algorithm to analyze. It should adjust as you input more runs
2. You have way less data for the algorithm to analyze. It should adjust as you input more runs
Posted on 2/7/25 at 10:15 am to tigernurse
It most likely lost all of your old data and is starting over, as you said, a "reset".
I also wouldn't worry too much about your Garmin VO2 max score, as it is likely widely inaccurate.
I also wouldn't worry too much about your Garmin VO2 max score, as it is likely widely inaccurate.
Posted on 2/7/25 at 11:16 am to tigernurse
Had a similar issue with Apple Watch VO2. No matter how many runs I input and how much faster and more endurance I have my VO2 score continually goes down.
I’m guessing it’s a bug in the way they do the calculation. I know how frustrating it is because I know I’m in much better cardiovascular shape than I was 3 months ago, but my watch says I’m doing worse lol.
I’m guessing it’s a bug in the way they do the calculation. I know how frustrating it is because I know I’m in much better cardiovascular shape than I was 3 months ago, but my watch says I’m doing worse lol.
Posted on 2/7/25 at 11:24 am to tigernurse
I own a garmin and find the VO2 max stuff to be bullshite.
Posted on 2/8/25 at 6:58 am to Mingo Was His NameO
quote:
1. When you reset it did it update the software as well? It could be using a different algorithm, giving you a different result
No. It was a garmin glitch.
quote:
2. You have way less data for the algorithm to analyze. It should adjust as you input more runs
Thanks.
Appreciate the feedback from all y’all.
Happy running today y’all. About to head out for a long run.
It’s a chilly 55° here this am here so should make for a good run.
Posted on 2/8/25 at 11:26 am to tigernurse
Did a 5 miler this morning, got out later than I wanted and the sun was already burning. Humidity was brutal too. First humid hot run in a while, VO2 went straight down. I used to obsess over it, but I know if I do track work tomorrow, it will go back up.
Garmin loves harder paces with lower HR. It doesn’t account for illness, humidity, etc.
Ive finally come around not to obsess and just be consistent. My wife is much happier lol.
Garmin loves harder paces with lower HR. It doesn’t account for illness, humidity, etc.
Ive finally come around not to obsess and just be consistent. My wife is much happier lol.
Posted on 2/8/25 at 2:10 pm to tigernurse
How accurate are these Garmin devices for measuring VO2 max?
Would maybe borrow one for a one-time assessment vs scheduling an actual max stress test.
Would maybe borrow one for a one-time assessment vs scheduling an actual max stress test.
Posted on 2/8/25 at 3:23 pm to SoFlaGuy
quote:
Garmin loves harder paces with lower HR. It doesn’t account for illness, humidity, etc.
That makes sense because today was a 7 mile, uphill and against the wind run - so it was a lot more challenging but I made sure to keep my heart rate in the 160’s. After the run- my V02 went up from 38 to 39.
Posted on 2/8/25 at 3:31 pm to G Vice
I don't think it'll read from a one time test. If it remember correctly you have to wear it for a few outdoor runs to get a score, and even then it's not accurate compared to a lab test. It's nice number to look at but it doesn't really mean anything
Posted on 2/8/25 at 3:58 pm to G Vice
I’m not sure how accurate they are- but it hurt my feelings when mine decreased by 3 points when I felt stronger and better conditioned from the first reading when I got this watch a year ago.
Posted on 2/8/25 at 8:18 pm to tigernurse
I have no idea what that VO2 measurement means. My watch says it’s 45 and my Fitness Age is less than 1/3 of my actual age. I just can’t take it seriously.
I got the watch in December so maybe it doesn’t have enough data?
I got the watch in December so maybe it doesn’t have enough data?
Posted on 2/8/25 at 8:39 pm to tigernurse
quote:
I’m not sure how accurate they are- but it hurt my feelings when mine decreased by 3 points when I felt stronger and better conditioned from the first reading when I got this watch a year ago.
It's just an estimate - I ran a 100 miler last year and my vo2 Max estimate went down 2 points after. It's a great tool to just keep an eye on, but it's just an estimate, it's not a lab tested number and for some people it's really close to the real thing and for others it's not.
Posted on 2/8/25 at 9:22 pm to BobABooey
It’s a representation of how well your body uses oxygen and in some degree represents your level of fitness. Or at least that’s my best understanding of it.
I’m 51 and am in very good shape so I tend to pay more attn to it than I should probably. But I don’t want to get old and out of shape while I’m still able to maintain a high level of physical fitness.
I guess for me it keeps me accountable to myself for pushing through runs when I’d rather shave off distance or intensity.
I’m 51 and am in very good shape so I tend to pay more attn to it than I should probably. But I don’t want to get old and out of shape while I’m still able to maintain a high level of physical fitness.
I guess for me it keeps me accountable to myself for pushing through runs when I’d rather shave off distance or intensity.
Posted on 2/8/25 at 9:29 pm to BobABooey
VO2 max is the volume of oxygen your body can consume at the level of working tissues per kg of body weight per minute. This is not to be confused with the amount of air your lungs can inhale.
The more oxygen your body can use, the more in-shape you are, the more tuned up your enzyme and energy producing systems are.
The more oxygen your body can use, the more in-shape you are, the more tuned up your enzyme and energy producing systems are.
Posted on 2/9/25 at 10:10 am to tigernurse
Mine seems to at least trend correctly. I quit doing cardio and ate and drank like shite over the holidays and it decreased a good bit. Started to climb back up somewhat when I got back to my regular habits. Haven't started incorporating cardio again though but I'm about to so we'll see what it does
Posted on 2/9/25 at 10:55 am to tigernurse
I'm going to be "that guy" - if you're not connected to all the appropriate equipment, it is just an extrapolation of data based on algorithms, assumptions that may or may not be valid, etc.
My best advice, if you are critically concerned, is to find a sports medicine clinic that can do a "real one". Compare it to your results on your personal devices, and then periodically (6 mos, a year, etc.) update with a "real one". At least until you have confidence in your equipment to get a real estimate.
Otherwise, if you are doing more, workout-to-workout, having more endurance and other (more reliable) readings on your personal device are showing improvement, ignore an obviously false result on VO2 Max.
That's my big red flag with equipment. If I can't trust it for the intended purpose, I move on. Bad data is in many ways worse than no data.
My best advice, if you are critically concerned, is to find a sports medicine clinic that can do a "real one". Compare it to your results on your personal devices, and then periodically (6 mos, a year, etc.) update with a "real one". At least until you have confidence in your equipment to get a real estimate.
Otherwise, if you are doing more, workout-to-workout, having more endurance and other (more reliable) readings on your personal device are showing improvement, ignore an obviously false result on VO2 Max.
That's my big red flag with equipment. If I can't trust it for the intended purpose, I move on. Bad data is in many ways worse than no data.
Posted on 2/9/25 at 11:14 am to tigernurse
quote:
It’s a representation of how well your body uses oxygen and in some degree represents your level of fitness.
Also thanks to GVice for a great explanation.
I will start paying attention to the score. I just started participating in 5k/10k’s and I had no idea there was more to training than “go run the distance you’re training for a bunch of times.” My Garmin is giving me lots of info to sift through.
Posted on 2/10/25 at 7:33 am to Ace Midnight
quote:
I'm going to be "that guy"
I actually appreciate that from you and the others who have poised that perspective.
quote:
My best advice, if you are critically concerned, is to find a sports medicine clinic that can do a "real one". Compare it to your results on your personal devices, and then periodically (6 mos, a year, etc.) update with a "real one". At least until you have confidence in your equipment to get a real estimate.
I am a big evidence based practice nerd, so I think I may look into doing that.
quote:
That's my big red flag with equipment. If I can't trust it for the intended purpose, I move on. Bad data is in many ways worse than no data.
very good point.
thanks all.
Posted on 2/11/25 at 8:14 am to tigernurse
It's very possible to have improved your aerobic base and not improve or even lose VO2Max. To improve VO2Max you have to do really high intensity work. I spent most of last year improving my aerobic base while not doing much if any high intensity workouts and improved my FTP but didn't improve my VO2Max. As I build up into the race season I've done a lot of high intensity intervals and I've seen my VO2 max as estimated by Garmin and Intervals.icu jump from around 43 to 46-47. in 6 weeks of work.
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News