How does this work: did a PB 5k on Saturday and VO2 was at 49 (I’m 52 year old and a relatively new runner). Then yesterday I did a steady 10k but with 180m of elevation and the VO2 dropped 2 points! Does the Garmin not take into account elevation? My heart rate was never above 160 but the pace was slow at about 6 minute km, it I was surprised (no, gutted) that the BO2 went down!
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Have you tried putting your 5k PB in a race calculator? If the prediction for a 10k is lower than your actual 10k run then of course it will assume a poorer VO2
> Your Garmin can't know your VO2, those figures are just based on assumptions and a formula or two.
yes, I know that, and I know that it's only a very vague approximation, but given that it knows you're running up a hill it would add that information to the assumptions. it's pretty fundamental to any formula that it uses to make the estimate.
All it knows is that you were working harder for a slower pace - therefore a lower estimate.
It is only an estimate, and not something to rely on as a marker of progress because of this.
<div class="QuoteAuthor"><a href="/profile/Matthew%20Head">Matthew Head</a> said:</div>
<div class="QuoteText">You're right, it doesn't include any information about elevation or terrain.
All it knows is that you were working harder for a slower pace - therefore a lower estimate.
It is only an estimate, and not something to rely on as a marker of progress because of this.</div>
</blockquote>
So I guess that the calculation is based on track running at sea level?You would have thought that elevation would be factored into the algorithm, even taking a guess at it couldn’t make it any less of a vague estimate...
The true way to know your VO2Max is through a treadmill lab test, which still is only an estimate.
However, when it comes to your watch - be happy when it goes up, and don't worry so much if it goes down. If it was a hillier run bringing it down, it won't be long until it goes back to where it was.
Garmin uses First beat as far as i know...