VO2Max using a paddle activity?
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I’m a new user to the Race 2 and I do not run…can’t run. My jam is paddling outrigger canoes. I use the SUP activity on the watch as it provides me with the real time data that I need. I’ve had my watch for about a week and I’ve logged a number of workouts and I’ve not yet received a VO2Max score. In addition to paddling I have recorded as fast as I can walk on a track and I even used the running activity profile on one of my paddles. Still, no VO2Max.
Am I being impatient as the watch is getting to know me, or is it just not going to give a VO2Max because I’m not actually running?
I’m wondering if all I do is paddle sports, will I ever be able to effectively get VO2Max data from this watch?
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@OutriggerPaddleJunkie VO2max “score” in watches is overhyped in my opinion (it’s just an estimate, BTW).
Your activities and fitness/health lose nothing without these types of numbers.
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@maszop they’re actually usually fairly accurate, but they are only calculated using things that are actually vo2 max calibrated-- cycling and running. There are no wide datasets of vo2 max tests for rowers since it is so uncommon vs cycle/run.
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@OutriggerPaddleJunkie unfortunately until you do gps tracked running or cycling you will never receive a vo2max. Even in labs these are only done on stationary bikes or treadmills(most of the time). You could try googling a lab that does rowing vo2 tests, but I suspect they don’t exist.
Edit: UC Davis does rowing vo2max tests!
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@Never2late2LookAlive said in VO2Max using a paddle activity?:
@maszop they’re actually usually fairly accurate, but they are only calculated using things that are actually vo2 max calibrated-- cycling and running.
It only takes a little uphill to see that there is no point in worrying too much about this parameter.
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@maszop
I thought VO2Max played a significant role in asessing and tracking physical capacity which in turn could factor in to the calculation of suggested recovery times. I get that these are all estimates, but what role does the VO2max play in the algorithms that put out estimates on performance and recovery? I thought that particular information is one of the whole purposes for using one of these sports performance tools.
Thank you -
@OutriggerPaddleJunkie This is done by Garmin, not Suunto, which uses different algorithms for training analysis (TSS, CTL, ATL, TSB).
Suunto measures VO2max for things like running, but it’s not particularly relevant for analyzing training and various statistics. It might suggest physical fitness, but it’s only one metric, not necessarily the most important one – especially given that its accuracy is debatable.