VO2 max

Jane said:

I have never paid too much attention to the technical
aspects of training so forgive my ignorance on vo2. I had a
stress test last summer and just realized that the results
that I got included my vo2 measurement. I wonder if there
is a calculator that would predict what race times I should
be able to achieve based on vo2. Also, at the time, I had
just started training for a half marathon so my distance
was increasing. Will vo2 change much with training?

You can try this calculator, which calculates based on a
race time, but also gives a VO2max estimate and predicted
times for a large number of distances. So you can adjust
race times until you get the desired VO2max, then look up
all the equivalent race times. The purdy column is the most
accurate for distance events.

run-down.comcalc.phpOpen ↗

I also have a calculator for Jack Daniels' Oxygen Power
equations that can calculate any distance from any other
distance and also gives VO2max estimates. As this is an
Excel spreadsheet, I can't post this, but send me an email
if you want it.

Lyndon

Lyndon "Speed Kills...It kills those that don't have it!"
--US Olympic Track Coach Brooks Johnson

Hi Lyndon:

I only wish VO2 max predictions were true...I measured 76.4
vo2 max at USC back in 81, which predicts a 28:40 10k and a
2:13 marathon.

I also held the record for a while as the person able to
stay longest on the vo2max treadmill (20 minutes with the 3
minute protocol with increasing grade & speed)

Unfortunately, my bests were only 33:35 10k and 2:37
marathon, although I retired from serious racing after only
3 years -- maybe I could have gotten faster if I'd been
more patient.

I was trounced by a friend who got only 62, but could run
32:30. He had a *very* smooth stride. I bounce quite a bit.
Apparently, I have a good motor, but "square wheels".

By the bye, since you are regional or national class in your
specialty, and a coach to boot, do elite competitors in the
100/200/400/800 world have high vo2 maxes?

--Dan

Lyndon, Thanks for the link. I think this tells me all I
need to know. My vo2 max

for the general population but clearly not very good
compared to other runners. It seems my best half marathon
would only be 1:52:05!!

Any chance I can improve on that? Jane

"Lyndon" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:20040522145807.10326.00002143@mb-
m03.aol.com...

Quoted message said:

Jane said:

I have never paid too much attention to the technical
aspects of training

so

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

forgive my ignorance on vo2. I had a stress test last
summer and just realized that the results that I got
included my vo2 measurement. I

wonder

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

if there is a calculator that would predict what race
times I should be

able

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to achieve based on vo2. Also, at the time, I had just
started training

for

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

a half marathon so my distance was increasing. Will vo2
change much with training?

You can try this calculator, which calculates based on a
race time, but

also

Quoted message said:

gives a VO2max estimate and predicted times for a large
number of

distances.

Quoted message said:

So you can adjust race times until you get the desired
VO2max, then look

up all

Quoted message said:

the equivalent race times. The purdy column is the most
accurate for

distance

Quoted message said:

events.

run-down.comcalc.phpOpen ↗

I also have a calculator for Jack Daniels' Oxygen Power
equations that can calculate any distance from any other
distance and also gives VO2max

estimates.

Quoted message said:

As this is an Excel spreadsheet, I can't post this, but
send me an email

if

Quoted message said:

you want it.

Lyndon

Lyndon "Speed Kills...It kills those that don't have it!"
--US Olympic Track

Coach

Quoted message said:

Brooks Johnson

How big are they Jane?

"Jane" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Lyndon, Thanks for the link. I think this tells me all I
need to know. My vo2 max

Quoted message said:

for the general population but clearly not very good
compared to other runners. It seems my best half marathon
would only be 1:52:05!!

Any chance I can improve on that? Jane

"Lyndon" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:20040522145807.10326.00002143@mb-
m03.aol.com...

Quoted message said:

Jane said:

I have never paid too much attention to the technical
aspects of training

so

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

forgive my ignorance on vo2. I had a stress test last
summer and just realized that the results that I got
included my vo2 measurement. I

wonder

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

if there is a calculator that would predict what race
times I should be

able

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to achieve based on vo2. Also, at the time, I had just
started training

for

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

a half marathon so my distance was increasing. Will vo2
change much with training?

You can try this calculator, which calculates based on a
race time, but

also

Quoted message said:

gives a VO2max estimate and predicted times for a large
number of

distances.

Quoted message said:

So you can adjust race times until you get the desired
VO2max, then look

up all

Quoted message said:

the equivalent race times. The purdy column is the most
accurate for

distance

Quoted message said:

events.

run-down.comcalc.phpOpen ↗

I also have a calculator for Jack Daniels' Oxygen Power
equations that can calculate any distance from any other
distance and also gives VO2max

estimates.

Quoted message said:

As this is an Excel spreadsheet, I can't post this, but
send me an email

if

Quoted message said:

you want it.

Lyndon

Lyndon "Speed Kills...It kills those that don't have
it!" --US Olympic Track

Coach

Quoted message said:

Brooks Johnson

First, unless they had you breathing into a mask or a tube,
the numbers they gave you from the GXT were estimates only.
The formula can be a bit off if you are active (the original
population for many of these estimates were not fit people).

Second, if they did use a metabolic cart, many are notorious
for being poorly calibrated. The technicians often do not
calibrate them properly or after every test as should be
done. I am skeptical of most VO2max readings unless I
personally know about the place doing them!

VO2max can be improved with training, but for a fit person
it will not rise by much. The most a fit active person can
expect to raise VO2max is 20% and that would be at the high
end. Data (unpublished) out of the Australian Institute of
Sport saw a 7% change in Vo2max amongst its pro cyclists
from start of the training year to Worlds.

VO2max is but one aspect of being a better athlete. In
running your pace at VO2max (vVO2max) is a better predictor
of performance. Pace at Lactate Threshold is probably an
even better predictor (I say probably only because I am not
aware of any studies that have compared the two). Running
economy is another factor. That is how much oxygen one uses
to run at a submaximal pace.

There are charts, but I would call them useless. In
your case (I am assuming) you did not get a real
VO2max measurement to begin with so you would be
putting in garbage.

"Jane" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have never paid too much attention to the technical
aspects of training

so

Quoted message said:

forgive my ignorance on vo2. I had a stress test last
summer and just realized that the results that I got
included my vo2 measurement. I

wonder

Quoted message said:

if there is a calculator that would predict what race
times I should be

able

Quoted message said:

to achieve based on vo2. Also, at the time, I had just
started training

for

Quoted message said:

a half marathon so my distance was increasing. Will vo2
change much with training?

As I will note many times, I distrust most if not all VO2max
measurements.

To answer your question about VO2max, good (national class)
800m runners will have a very high VO2max. The sprinters
less so. Part of the determination of VO2max is muscle fiber
type and the sprinters tend to have more fast twitch.

"Dan Stumpus" <[email hidden]> wrote in message ne-
ws:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi Lyndon:

I only wish VO2 max predictions were true...I measured
76.4 vo2 max at USC back in 81, which predicts a 28:40 10k
and a 2:13 marathon.

I also held the record for a while as the person able to
stay longest on

the

Quoted message said:

vo2max treadmill (20 minutes with the 3 minute protocol
with increasing grade & speed)

Unfortunately, my bests were only 33:35 10k and 2:37
marathon, although I retired from serious racing after
only 3 years -- maybe I could have

gotten

Quoted message said:

faster if I'd been more patient.

I was trounced by a friend who got only 62, but could run
32:30. He had a *very* smooth stride. I bounce quite a
bit. Apparently, I have a good motor, but "square wheels".

By the bye, since you are regional or national class in
your specialty,

and

Quoted message said:

a coach to boot, do elite competitors in the
100/200/400/800 world have

high

Quoted message said:

vo2 maxes?

--Dan