Fluctuating VO2max

[Cornell Tsiang]

In the past 2 weeks, my VO2max readings have suddenly dropped for inexplicable reasons. I use the S5 for running mainly. Nothing has changed in my program and I am actually recording faster pace! I just recorded one of my fastest hill runs. Heart rate also seems to be within the normal range as well. Is this a bug?

[Dimitrios Kanellopoulos]

It also bases on hrv among others. Maybe you are not rested?

I had drops the last time on vo2max but I was overtraining or sick

[Łukasz Szmigiel]

Also, you mentioned hills. It’ll usually drop on trails vs running on flat as the algo doesn’t take grade into account.

[Dimitrios Kanellopoulos]

@Łukasz-Szmigiel it does take ascent though… Not sure how it uses it.

[Łukasz Szmigiel]

@Dimitrios-Kanellopoulos thanks for mentioning it, I didn’t know that. I have good experiences with vo2max estimation in my S5 as long as I run flat.

But even with simple hiking in the mountains it can drop suddenly. I guess that doing a slow but steep climb with high HR is being read as super-poor-performance regardless of incline or further walks in first zone.

I wish there was a way to disable vo2max estimation for trekking or other sports types per user preference.

[Dimitrios Kanellopoulos]

@Łukasz-Szmigiel I dont argue over the user preference but but but hehehehe.

Dont think about it like you do (assuming here lol) .

ITs like asking to disable max speed for some activities. Just dont worry, it will come back for sure. Dont expect this value to only increase. It will drop as you age.

[Łukasz Szmigiel]

@Dimitrios-Kanellopoulos nah I’m not crazy about it. There were some discussions about vo2max estimation, your experience included, and I agree that it’s more important to see trends (either raising or falling) instead of a hard number.

It’s fun to use it as a gamification factor for motivation though. So having a steady and slow rise while running for two weeks only to see it drop dramatically after a short and lazy hike can be maddening That’s why I’d disable it for non-performance activities.

[Cornell Tsiang]

Yes, maybe it is the hills. I introduced hills about 1-2 months ago. Its great for improving my fitness but probably games my VO2! Oh well, I think the sentiment that its just a metric is probably right. Had a fab hill run yesterday and fast so who cares about the VO2