Vo2 max

[Annisotropic]

I'm a bit confused about VO2 max;
Mine is "average" for my age (approx 30ish, 61yo F)
But my rowing level is apparently "advanced", bordering on "elite" at some distances.

Is VO2 somehow not as important as in other sports? (seems highly unlikely), or are there just very few women my age rowing/erging, making me a medium-sized fish in a very tiny pond? (seems extremely likely )

In any case, is VO2 max likely to be the limiting factor on my performance? Is there a targeted way to improve it?

[gvcormac]

How did you measure it? Smart watch estimates aren't worth much.

That said, your reported VO2 max is excellent for your age, accordig to this table:

https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice ... 2-max.html

[Annisotropic]

I used both the calculator and the chart on the concept 2 website.
My best recent 2k was 8.43, but isn't my best event.
I don't plan to test again until I finish the BPP, hopefully in late October.

[Rowan McSheen]

Interesting results from the calculator linked in the article linked above: https://www.worldfitnesslevel.org/#/

I told it I exercise most days for over 30 minutes and go all out, and it told me I have the VO2 max and fitness of a 27 year old. When I opted for the mid level of some heavy breathing and sweating, I was bumped up to 39. I'm actually 64 so accurate or not, I'll take it

[Annisotropic]

Yeah, I had a polar watch about 20 years ago, which performed some kind of fitness assessment which iirc, involved lying on a sofa for 20 minutes without moving. It graded me as something like a fit 20yo man at the time.
We have to enjoy the little wins in life!

[dabatey]

Garmin connect tells me I have the fitness of a 21 year old (based on my cycling). As written evidence this 52 year old does sometimes point this out to my other half lol.

[Annisotropic]

I'm confident that you have a lot more in common with a 21yo man than I did..... Apart from my highly tuned ability to lie motionless on a sofa.....

[Tsnor]

yet another vo2max calculator. This one from concept2:

https://www.concept2.com/training/vo2ma ... yxEALw_wcB

tool is based on thousands of real data points collected by Dr. Fritz Hagerman of Ohio University. Over the years, Dr. Hagerman performed VO2max tests using gas analysis on many subjects. He also had the same subjects row a max 2000m test piece on the indoor rower. He then correlated the two tests to create the formulae used in this prediction tool.

[Sakly]

Interesting results from the calculator linked in the article linked above: https://www.worldfitnesslevel.org/#/

Used this calculator and got 59.

yet another vo2max calculator. This one from concept2:

https://www.concept2.com/training/vo2ma ... yxEALw_wcB

Concept 2 calculator tells me 70.

My Polar watch tells me 61.
So probably the truth is somewhere in the middle of that stuff.

In a sport being very technical and depending on body proportions like rowing, it is only a (small?) part of the complete picture of the performance.

[dabatey]

The c2 calculator gives some very weird results.

Ticking untrained instead of highly trained raises my score +4 from 60 to 64, but entering Sakly's figures changes them the other way -13 from 70 to 57.

[jcross485]

The calculators provide a general guideline but I would not put too much stock in the number unless you're going to a lab and having an actual test performed.

https://www.worldfitnesslevel.org/#/ - 60

Concept2 - 54 (not highly trained) to 64 (highly trained)

Garmin - 54

With that said, I've recently made a connection at our local university and might be able to have actual testing done in the lab. They're generally set up to test using a treadmill but they said I could also bring in my own erg and set it up to test on. It would be interesting to test and compare rowing vs. running results.

I think testing on a modality that you're trained in and proficient in makes a difference as well, meaning the actual score (for me) if tested cycling vs. rowing vs. running would vary. If you're a rower who doesn't run much, you might not be able to fully express during a VO2 max on a treadmill.

[nick rockliff]

The calculators provide a general guideline but I would not put too much stock in the number unless you're going to a lab and having an actual test performed.

https://www.worldfitnesslevel.org/#/ - 60

Concept2 - 54 (not highly trained) to 64 (highly trained)

Garmin - 54

With that said, I've recently made a connection at our local university and might be able to have actual testing done in the lab. They're generally set up to test using a treadmill but they said I could also bring in my own erg and set it up to test on. It would be interesting to test and compare rowing vs. running results.

I think testing on a modality that you're trained in and proficient in makes a difference as well, meaning the actual score (for me) if tested cycling vs. rowing vs. running would vary. If you're a rower who doesn't run much, you might not be able to fully express during a VO2 max on a treadmill.

The test is sport specific and fairly uncomfortable rowing wearing a face mask.

[jcross485]

The test is sport specific and fairly uncomfortable rowing wearing a face mask.

I can imagine, but I also can't imagine it being comfortable running to max with a face mask either.