VO2max and fitness age with S3F
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Short info about the new fitness function: with the last firmware update the fitness age was introduced as a new function for the S3F. And this works great - here’s my report:
I’m not as super athlete - as some of you in the forum - so I bought a S3F fitness watch. Because of vacation and laziness I was very very little active in the last two months. So my fitness accordingly very bad. My value for VO2max also dropped four points (shown on S3F) during that time. With the firmware update suddenly my fitness age also is displayed on the Suunto - oh dear!!! This value is three points above the target (my biological age) - I had feared it!
Let’s go: back in the running shoes and train regularly. The result after three intensive training sessions in the previous week: VO2max is improved by one value and my fitness age is reduced by 1 year (shown on S3F).
I think this is quite realistic, because after the break something had to happen. That my Suunto shows that now and motivates me, I find particularly great. For that I’ve bought the S3F and use the nice APP.
I am curious how things will continue in the next active weeks. Too bad that the other Suuntos do not have this feature as well
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Maybe the new Suunto 5 - if it appears
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After last FW upgrade I decided finally calibrate my S3F for running to see VO2max and the new fitness age ( I had it calibrated previously, but it somehow got decalibrated after one of previous FW upgrades - I guess). And I have some doubts… I took a run for 3,3 km. After end I got the result as VO2max=47 and age=20. Nice…
But I’m 42 y.o. and I have a feeling that my fitness level is not that high. I checked it against Cooper test - after 12 minutes of run there was c.a. 2200m. I do not believe I could go much faster at a time. Quick formula check -> (distance in meters – 504.9) / 44.73 and I get 37 VO2max.Big difference. So either app miscalculates or my understanding wrong. Any suggestions?
THX, -
@PC_et if you are a data lover (as I am) you should connect SA with Runalyze.
Then you will find tons of data, and your estimated VO2Max.I think 47 it’s a bit high (according to 2.2k in Cooper test).
BR
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@suzzlo So I did it. Data was synchronized and “effective VO2max” has value 44. So there is a differece but not that big I expected. Thanks for a hint.
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Now you are in the dark side of data lovers -> Runalyze!
Suunto: Race, S9Peak, Spartan Sport Wrist
Garmin: FR745, Edge 530
SA topics:- Guides - https://forum.suunto.com/tags/guides
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@suzzlo
does somebody know how asthma does effect VO2max and hence the estimated fitness age?
I’m surely by far not a fast runner, but not the slowest on a bike either… so I did the fitness age check and it shows age between 52 and 54 years… but I’m only 37living sideways
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I’m 42 years old.
On running or trail running
My VO2 max is between 49 and 48 and my age is always 20 years.I don’t know is it reliable?
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@Mi_chael
sounds like you’re a machine…
I am realistic, I know I am not a super athlete in general… and I know that I am not the fittest after my accident, but I did at least something… but basically I am the guy slipstreaming my friends home the last 30km’s after a roadbike trip over 3 passes with 3’000m and 170km total distance… maybe I just need to go even harder
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@Mi_chael hi, i have a same concerns esp. about Fitness age.
I’m 48 yo snd my FA is always 20. Fitness level is around 46-53. After watching Dr. Phil Maffetone interview P (link below) i had noticed that the endurance of athletes 40+ yo is better than youngsters and could be gradually increased up to 69+ yo. And that Statement is based on massive discovery of runners/bikers within decades. So seems we can rely on it. Therefore imo Fitness age Parameter is currently useless. Fitness level is opposite and valuable. -
@Atlen said in VO2max and fitness age with S3F:
@Mi_chael hi, i have a same concerns esp. about Fitness age.
I’m 48 yo snd my FA is always 20. Fitness level is around 46-53. After watching Dr. Phil Maffetone interview P (link below) i had noticed that the endurance of athletes 40+ yo is better than youngsters and could be gradually increased up to 69+ yo. And that Statement is based on massive discovery of runners/bikers within decades. So seems we can rely on it. Therefore imo Fitness age Parameter is currently useless. Fitness level is opposite and valuable.I just watched this video and went for a run, just Having watching that video increased my fitness by 20%
Thats why on endurance races like Tour de France you see people 60 and up at the top of their metabolic fitness. -
@TELE-HO Lucky you… I am a 54 yr old triathlete …and my fitness age is… 69
. Only had it a week and clearly something not right yet… a slow run gets me in zone 5 permanently… come on here looking for tips… -
@Fiona-Catrin-Hopkins it looks like HR measurement issue. Search for tips in other threads.
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@Atlen measurement issue or setup issue.
What are the HR numbers that bring you into zone 5? -
@Egika as i know, In case HR measurement is reliable, there are main setup parameters: max Heart rate, rest HR, split of heart rate zones. All of them can be settled automatically based on age in your profile. In my case rest Hr is 60 bpm, Other parameters inputted manually. No surprises, 80% of training workouts laying within 1-3 zones, rest - 4 zone. 5th zone is extremely rare “guest” for me.
I do believe the reason of your HR zone bias is either (1) HR measurement issue (means fast raise up to 220 bpm) caused by HR belt/sensor malfunctioning, or (2) the bottom line of 5th zone is very low ( e.g. 125bpm) caused by wrong setup of the zones split or because of HR max Level is very low. -
@Fiona-Catrin-Hopkins said in VO2max and fitness age with S3F:
@TELE-HO Lucky you… I am a 54 yr old triathlete …and my fitness age is… 69
. Only had it a week and clearly something not right yet… a slow run gets me in zone 5 permanently… come on here looking for tips…Don’t do automatic anything, find out your HR rest rate by having a full good nights sleep at most comfortable temperature. After you wake up, you should be in your 14th hour of fasting, avoid caffeine for 3 days as caffeine has half life of 12h and having to drink a lot can accumulate over time, if you need to go to bathroom go. Do not make any sudden moves, just do all lazily. Then sit down don’t move For 15min and measure your hr with regular breathing. Don’t try to think of your daily problems, you need to sort of meditate with a blank mind or mantra that has no meaning. You can record this as an excercise . Your lowest 5 minute average is your resting HR. What are you trying to accomplish is least interferences or disturbances from your sympathetic nervous system. Sounds easy but it takes practice.
Then repeat after 3-4 days same, after 4-5 measurements you will get the idea of your rest HR.
Your max HR should be a sprint upstairs Or uphill until you feel exhausted, this should also be done without caffeine alcohol or and with plentiful of rest Beforehand. Do 2 or 3 short burst sprints before test and by short burst I mean 5-10s. And walk easy 2 minutes between bursts.
To properly setup zones you should go to a sports doctor so you can get Lactate Threshold HR or do a Even paced race 30min with Your last 20average is approximately Your LTT, this is your zone4 end and beginning of zone 5.
This ill also take a few measurements but take it easy and have at least two weeks in between measurements. Or just pay up your fave sports doc to do it for you, with several pricks in your finger while bouncing up and down the threadmill.You enter your average weight with clothes and footwear.
This should be sufficiently good data for fitness enthusiast.
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@Fiona-Catrin-Hopkins said in VO2max and fitness age with S3F:
@TELE-HO Lucky you… I am a 54 yr old triathlete …and my fitness age is… 69
. Only had it a week and clearly something not right yet… a slow run gets me in zone 5 permanently… come on here looking for tips…Your HR zones are way off. Find your highest HR in a race for the entire year or so and set your max at 3-5 bpm above that. Monitor your HR on the watch all day for a few days and select the resting HR during the day for resting HR not the low at night. You can approximate your LT if you know the max HR you can sustain with a 40 min TT on the bike (this would be avg HR where you cannot go faster but you can hold it). You could then set your zones around those numbers.
I used to road bike race ages ago and I get my LT tested. It is very close to what I could sustain for a 40 min TT. Good luck. I am a 63 y old ultra marathon runner now and my fitness age is 20. You just need to set your zones correctly.
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@Brad_Olwin said in VO2max and fitness age with S3F:
@Fiona-Catrin-Hopkins said in VO2max and fitness age with S3F:
@TELE-HO Lucky you… I am a 54 yr old triathlete …and my fitness age is… 69
. Only had it a week and clearly something not right yet… a slow run gets me in zone 5 permanently… come on here looking for tips…Your HR zones are way off. Find your highest HR in a race for the entire year or so and set your max at 3-5 bpm above that. Monitor your HR on the watch all day for a few days and select the resting HR during the day for resting HR not the low at night. You can approximate your LT if you know the max HR you can sustain with a 40 min TT on the bike (this would be avg HR where you cannot go faster but you can hold it). You could then set your zones around those numbers.
I used to road bike race ages ago and I get my LT tested. It is very close to what I could sustain for a 40 min TT. Good luck. I am a 63 y old ultra marathon runner now and my fitness age is 20. You just need to set your zones correctly.
What is the scale for fitness screen? I know good starts at 44 because I was that in October but beyond that I would have to lose more weight and start running 100mile weeks again. You have superior so adding weight to see the scale would be much easier than say me removing 20kg of weight to reach superior fitness
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@lexterm77 I do not know the scale for fitness, it might be on the FirstBeat site. Both Suunto and Apple Watch provide VO2 max estimates for me that are about 5-8 mL/kg/min less than my dreadmill tests.
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@Brad_Olwin said in VO2max and fitness age with S3F:
@lexterm77 I do not know the scale for fitness, it might be on the FirstBeat site. Both Suunto and Apple Watch provide VO2 max estimates for me that are about 5-8 mL/kg/min less than my dreadmill tests.
My trail running moves are about 2ml/min/kg less than flat running moves, I don’t understand why trail running is included into FB algorithm when running with S9B, perhaps it would be better to use A3P in trail running. I don’t believe FB algorithm accounts for obstacles. My treadmill tests are off by 8ml/kg/min.
I have looked into runalyze running efficiency and it shows me into “likely the real of world elite class world runners”
