Vo2 Max, At, And All That Stuff

[[old] GeorgeD]

I read a fair bit, (probably to much at times ), about how our physiology works and can be improved through different training methods.<br><br>When talk turns to training at a % of VO2 max or at our AT level I often wonder how that relates to a 'balls out' 2k time. I would have to think that the 'watts' of a 2k was a figure beyond our AT given the anerobic portion at the beginning and often the end .... how does this relate to our possible VO2max.<br><br>I realise that it is going to be a fairly abitrary figure and maybe a better distance would be a max 5k I dont know, but would like to get an idea of what a session at say 80% of VO2 max would equate to in watts as a % of something known.

[[old] Cran]

Probably need to do step tests and/or vo2 tests to be able to work out these levels acurately.

[[old] Mel Harbour]

AT would typically be at about 70% of 2k wattage for a rower.<br><br>A good estimator is to do 30 minutes r20 as hard as you can. The score you get is very close to AT wattage.<br><br>Mel

[[old] bhutz]

I've never tried the 30' r20 test, but I did try to compile some ancedital evidence sometime last year on VO2max scores versus 2k scores.<br><br>Essentially I was taking the 2k wattage and converting it to calories by the C2 formula and then to oxygen consumed. For me personally I have found the conversion to be close enough for general comparison to actual VO2 numbers(ie if I convert wattage from a given split it is rather close to my oberseved oxygen consumption for that split).<br><br>For the couple people who had both a VO2max and a 2k from about the same time period, the wattage sustainable for 2k was a fair bit higher than the conversion from V02max. I unfortunately don't remember the exact numbers, just that it was higher for actual 2k wattage.<br><br>For example asuming the top lightweight men have ~6L/min VO2max(~80L/kg.min) which is at least in the ballpark, but probably a little low, that converts to 1:34/500m. Even 6.5L/min(~89L/kg.min) would still convert to 1:32/500m. 6:08 is not *that* uncommon for international lightweights(I can think of at least 5 people right now under that) and 6:16 is definately not at the top of the pile.<br><br>For me personally, my 2k wattage occurrage at a wattage that was 93% of VO2 max during a step test(equivalent by conversion). Clearly I need to work on the speed end of my training...<br><br>As for 2k versus 6k(as there is national team testing data to look at here), it looks like 2k versus 6k is mid-low 80's percentage by wattage(for example, if your 2k is 400Watts your 6k is something like 330Watts), which is also in line with my own times by percentages.<br><br><br>For all you sticklers out there, yes I know this conversion is completely useless from a physiological perspective(C2 gives +-10% error on their formula for VO2 based on observation), but it is one way to play with numbers if you are so inclined.<br><br> Ben

[[old] Jim Barry]

I think Terry O'neill on the Uk site sort of blankets the 6:00 rowers as having an absolute vo2max of 6L/min. I'm just playing with the numbers here on that assumption, but I guess that would put my 300watt 2k at 3.75L/min. (although to be fair I should get a 6' test too). Ml/kg give me an V02max of 53.5 which corresponds with other "estimates" from my biking 40k time trial and my running 5k.

[[old] GeorgeD]

<!--QuoteBegin-Mel Harbour+Jun 26 2004, 02:21 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'><span class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></span> (Mel Harbour @ Jun 26 2004, 02:21 AM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--> A good estimator is to do 30 minutes r20 as hard as you can. The score you get is very close to AT wattage.<br><br>Mel <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><br> Tks ...will give this a go today and report back