VO2Max has been correlated to your best finish times in races of various distances by the well known running coach and physiologist Jack Daniels, PhD. He calls this the VDOT score and will be very close to your measured VO2Max. You really don't need to go through the expense of having that measured. Just go to the web address below and enter your best time for a realtively recent race distance. The calculation will give you a VDOT score which you can take directly as your VO2Max. The calc will also show "equivalent performances" in other race distances based on your current fitness level (i.e., the VDOT score). Remember, this assumes that you gave the race your best effort. If you have done several 5K's for instance, you use the best finish time for the calc.

The VDOT score can be used to design a training program that will improve the score (thus, your VO2Max). Paces based on your current fitness level are used. As an example, one fairly simple way to check progress is to do a 5K race to get a baseline VDOT score, then embark on a training program, and then do another 5K race to confirm improvement. Races tend to reflect your best effort and this is what correlates to VO2Max. Of course, you could also just run 31 laps on the indoor 0.1 mile track. However, for you, would this truely reflect the same effort as a race? If so, then you can do something as simple as that.

http://www.runworks.com/calculator.html

-----Original Message-----
From: TWMPM@...
Sent: Feb 11, 2008 7:57 AM
To: pfrpc@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [pfrpc] VO2 Max

Does anyone know a place that can actually measure our VO2 Max?  I have asked several clients who have the equipment, but none are willing - they claim they don't know how to do athletes.  VO2 max is VO2 max  no matter who you are, right? 

Surely we have a respiratory therapist somewhere within our large circle who can advise us on this.

 

I would really like to actually test mine and then do some serious speedwork and see if I can improve it (see if you can improve your physiology at an advanced age).

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