The Science of VO2 Max: How to Run Faster

Runners like numbers.

It’s why we’re obsessed with running around the block an extra two times to get our mileage to end on a whole number…I’m sure some kind of cosmic disaster happens if you end on .67.

We measure our miles, our pace, our heart rate and because those numbers do indeed give us indicators about progress, it’s natural to wonder if there are other numbers that might help us tweak our training.

So today we’re leaving Mr Rogers neighborhood and heading over to Bill Nye to get a little more sciencey (I bet he loves that term) with our data: RMR and VO2 MAX.

What is VO2 MAX?

One theory was that aVO2 Max test allows you to gauge someone’s fitness and put them on a continuum of least to most fit. This test specifically measures the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use while exercising at your maximum capacity.

VO2 max represents the maximum ability of your body to consume oxygen and is a key indicator of your potential as an endurance athlete. Your performance in endurance sports depends on your ability to consume oxygen at a high rate for a sustained period of time.

A high VO2 max is necessary for success in endurance events, but a high VO2 max alone does not ensure success.
From HSS.EDU

The above statement is what got so many runners to start testing their VO2 Max a few years ago! It sounded like a number we could track and prove to ourselves that we were improving.

So let’s dive in to the testing and the lessons we can learn!

PART 1 of VO2 Max Testing: RMR

An RMR (resting metabolic rate) test has you sit comfortably while a machine measures your respiration. The best tests will utilize a mask that covers your nose and mouth then allows you to breathe in and out through your mouth, while laying down.

The machine measures CO2 output to calculate results. Some places will simply clip your nose, but it’s slightly less accurate.You fast for 12 hours prior to the test and do as little activity as possible to ensure it’s truly measuring what your calorie expenditure for the day would be if completely at rest. After adding in numbers surrounding daily life an exercise you’ll have a more accurate number than any online calculator.

An RMR is a great way to find if your metabolism has slowed or to prove to yourself that it hasn’t and you just need to clean up the eating!

Do you need a VO2 Max test? RMR test? Find out what these numbers tell us #fitness Click To Tweet

When doing the test myself in 2012 (during the height of my health issues) I found my RMR to be only 1100 where every calculator said it was 1400!! 300 calories is a pretty big difference from losing to gaining weight.

I spoke with a nutritionist after the test and found out that another important component of this test is your respiratory quotient.

My respiratory quotient was .76 which equates to 19.2% carb and 80.8% fat utilization. This is pretty much where you want to be as a distance runner, but you’re burning carbs mostly carbs (an RQ closer to 1) it could explain frequent fatigue because your body requires more consistent fuel.

This V02 Max chart helps explain where the cross over happens from burning carbs to fat. As noted it’s different for everyone and improving your VO2 usually means you move your set point so that more of your running is done on fat for fuel.Chart source

Not surprisingly this is what made many people start touting the benefits of longer lower intensity workouts.

This information can also help you see where you need to make changes in your training…i.e. more muscle mass would help increase RMR (this certainly worked for me) and training in a glycogen depleted state can increase your fat usage.

Testing Part 2: Treadmill Run

VO2 Max is tested for your specific sport, which means my heart rate zones calculated via running will not apply to cycling or CrossFit.

The test is performed by putting you on the treadmill or bike trainer, then placing a mask over your mouth and nose. This is the most uncomfortable part for most people as it then requires you to breathe only through your mouth for the system to measure your levels.

The entire test will take only 10-15 minutes.Sorry no great image of me during this huffing and puffing. Thanks to DCRainmaker for the image, check him out for every possible new running gadget review.

The practitioner starts you at an easy level (like ho hum is the treadmill moving), then either increases the speed or the incline every couple of minutes. Eventually, you’ll reach a point where it feels like you just can’t catch your breathe and you cry “Uncle“.

Congrats you’ve just found your VO2 Max (and hopefully not barfed).

In my case, we actually ran the test twice and I definitely preferred sticking to a lower speed an increasing the incline, it’s less “I want to puke” instigating than running as hard as you can.

How to use the VO2 max numbers?

Most people use them to determine zones for Heart Rate Training or to create a baseline to measure how well their training program is working. If they do the test again in 3-6 months with no change then something in the program is not allowing them to progress.

What about fat burning?
This was actually the piece that interested me the most in the numbers!!! You can see at exactly what Heart Rate you switch from using fat to carbs as fuel!

This is huge for an endurance runner and supports my love of Low Heart Rate training because it proves that running below that threshold is teaching your body to go farther on fat stores, which is great for endurance!

In my case, my fat usage drops dramatically once I leave my LHR zone. This is also key because it helps you understand when you’ll need to fuel during a race! I.e. before you hit big hills and your HR spikes or before you enter the later half where HR is higher.

What is a good VO2 max?

This VO2 Max chart of elite athletes proves it can be used to help with training or guide changes, it isn’t really the be all end all of numbers.

VO2 Max	Runner	Details
92	Matt Carpenter	Pikes Peak marathon course record holder
87.4	Marius Bakken	Norwegian 5k record holder
85	Dave Bedford	10k world record holder
85	John Ngugi	World XC Champion
84.4	Steve Prefontaine
82	Kip Keino	Olympic 1500 champion
81.1	Craig Virgin	twice World cross country champ
81	Jim Ryun	US miler WR holder
80.1	Steve Scott	US miler 3:47
78.6	Joan Benoit	1984 Olympic Marathon Champion
71.2	Ingrid Kristiansen	ex-Marathon World Record Holder
67.2	Rosa Mota	Marathon runner

For non-elites here is a VO2 Max chart to see how you would compare. I won’t lie I like being in the “superior” category, but now I’ve totally got a goal to get on the elite level which would be closer to 50 for females.

Female (ml/kg/min)
Age	Very Poor	Poor	Fair	Good	Excellent	Superior
13-19	<25.0	25.0 – 30.9	31.0 – 34.9	35.0 – 38.9	39.0 – 41.9	>41.9
20-29	<23.6	23.6 – 28.9	29.0 – 32.9	33.0 – 36.9	37.0 – 41.0	>41.0
30-39	<22.8	22.8 – 26.9	27.0 – 31.4	31.5 – 35.6	35.7 – 40.0	>40.0
40-49	<21.0	21.0 – 24.4	24.5 – 28.9	29.0 – 32.8	32.9 – 36.9	>36.9
50-59	<20.2	20.2 – 22.7	22.8 – 26.9	27.0 – 31.4	31.5 – 35.7	>35.7
60+	<17.5	17.5 – 20.1	20.2 – 24.4	24.5 – 30.2	30.3 – 31.4	>31.4
Male (values in ml/kg/min)
Age	Very Poor	Poor	Fair	Good	Excellent	Superior
13-19	<35.0	35.0 – 38.3	38.4 – 45.1	45.2 – 50.9	51.0 – 55.9	>55.9
20-29	<33.0	33.0 – 36.4	36.5 – 42.4	42.5 – 46.4	46.5 – 52.4	>52.4
30-39	<31.5	31.5 – 35.4	35.5 – 40.9	41.0 – 44.9	45.0 – 49.4	>49.4
40-49	<30.2	30.2 – 33.5	33.6 – 38.9	39.0 – 43.7	43.8 – 48.0	>48.0
50-59	<26.1	26.1 – 30.9	31.0 – 35.7	35.8 – 40.9	41.0 – 45.3	>45.3
60+	<20.5	20.5 – 26.0	26.1 – 32.2	32.3 – 36.4	36.5 – 44.2	>44.2

*From RunningForFitness.org

How VO2Max Helps Us Run Faster?

Great now we have a new number, will it really help us run faster? Muscles run on oxygen, that’s one of the reasons trainers used to spend time measuring VO2 max. It told them how much oxygen muscles were receiving and therefore gave them means to improve their athletes and reduce muscle fatigue.

Better VO2 Max should mean you can more efficient send oxygen to the muscles, which means better endurance and speed.

How do you increase your VO2 max? The truth is it’s pretty straight forward, you have a couple of options:

• Increase total mileage
• Increase intensity of workouts

But of course there are also the nuances that come with training like eating whole foods, cross training and rest! You need your whole body to improve, not just the ability to run farther.

While VO2 Max is a point of debate for many coaches, I always find more information helps me understand my body and thus run better. So if you want the numbers and want to skip the extra test, apparently some of the newest Garmins will estimate it for you!

Have you ever done a VO2 Max test?

What numbers matter to you in running?

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