VO2 max
 

You all know that VO2 max is a factor to be elite in endurance activities. I have read from the web about VO2 max but I only find more confusing things. They don't provide the same thing and my VO2 max tends to differ. Furthermore, to have the VO2 max of Lance Armstrong, you might even have to run at faster than 6m/s for a long distance of over 2km, that is like 6.5 minutes for 2.4km(a fitness test run in Singapore).

How is that supposed to be possible to achieve, I only know of people running at over 7 minutes for 2.4km.

Also, does a person's heart have a lot to do with a higher VO2 max? I think it has a lot to do with it. A person's heart is also about the size of his fist. Does it mean that when a person increases his VO2 max, he increases the size of his heart, as well as the size of his fist?

Anyway, have anyone of you went for a VO2 max test at some laboratory? How much does it cost for such a test?

Hi ,

I had VO2 Max testing done at Center for Sports in NYC. The test was not as accurate as could it have been because I did it on a bike . The place normal does the test on a treadmill .Therefore I got to find out what my heart range should be which is very good to know .The cost was $180 .

I might do the test again some day just to see what my heart range is after losing weight and excerising more.

I would try calling some local Sports Doctors or Trainer Centers to see if the do the testing .


YogisPal

Lance can't run a 6.5 minute time on a 2.4 km course. Thats just over a 4 minute mile and riding a bike 6 hrs a day will not make you run a 4 minute mile nor be able to hold that pace for 1.5 mile(2.4km).
Lances heart is 1/3 larger than the average human and since the heart is a muscle, and if you train you heart, it will therefore gain more muscle mass. Doing so will increse your Vo2. This is not easy though. Thats why you should aim to train at like 80%-90%(I think) of your maximum heart rate in order to reap the best benifits. LSD will not increase your Vo2, but will help better your body's energy systems and the such. If you arent breathing hard, your not working on the Vo2 systems so shorter rides, but not too short, with a higher speed will help you increase your Vo2. You don't want to reach the anerobic level either, this is considered over-doing it on longer rides, but its perfect for speedwork and the such. Anyways, Lance trains insanely hard and has IMHO earned that Vo2 of his. BTW....your fist will not get bigger when your heart does:D

Another question, did Lance train very hard before 16? He got a VO2 max of over 80 when he was just 16 as I read from other sources, that's really great!

VO2 Max has a Lot to do with genetics. Its really hard to make huge strides in increasing ones VO2. However its really, really easy to decrease your VO2 by doing nothing.

VO2 max is a lot of things to a lot of people.

It is hard to get consistent results testing VO2 maximums. Usually the test subject "practices" the testing several times so that when the "real testing" is done he is familiar with the stress.

Usually the "average values" from several tests provides the basis for a statement of "VO2 Max".

Remember, the results are an expression of the most O2 utilized per minute per kg of body weight. This doesn't translate well between differing muscle group recruitment. (running-biking)

At least this is what I think - but I just made it all up.

Maybe there's a sports doctor out there who'll give us the inside "poop" on whether tests are really accurate or not....

I wanna know more about this! I find this very interesting. Especially because I just did this internet VO2 calculator thing and it said mine was 100?? nuh uh...can't be right, can it? I'm gonna go surf around on it, but if anyone has a website they particularly find useful, I wanna see :) Thanks...