What Is A Good VO2 Max For A 50+ Year-Old Runner?

Brad Nadauld & sport scientist Lindsey Parry dig into VO2max numbers for runners over 50. If you're over 50 and would like to improve your VO2max then grab your spot in our upcoming online training: coachparry.com/rzbf-Masterclass
When you're ready we'd love to help you become a better runner:
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[@CoachParry]

We'd love to what your Vo2Max number is. Let us know below (and your age). While you're here, if you'd like to improve yours, then check out this free training: coachparry.com/cqm5-Training-Workshop

[@evanhadkins5532]

64y.o. 35

[@michellemcburney6375]

I’m 63 female. Garmin vo2 is 40. Fitness age apparently an average 20 year old.

[@MartinCharlton-ds7ro]

I’m a 71 year-old male - my VO2 Max per Garmin hovers between 50 & 51 - I ran 47:23 for 10km & 1:45:15 for 1/2 Marathon last year.

[@DarkoVrsic]

54 years, 47.

[@DarkoVrsic]

​You are much faster than me at the moment. But my FR 935 says my VO2 is 47. I'm 54 years old. @@MartinCharlton-ds7ro

[@rondawson7577]

I’m 61. VO2 max according to my Garmin 965 is 58. It’s been as high as 62 last year. I train daily and am running my 6th Boston Marathon next month. I’m also a triathlete and do multiple Sprint, Olympic and 70.3 triathlons each year.

[@S1n6341]

Excellent

[@ildkoulm]

Congratulation!

[@juanmatute575]

I'm 61 and runner as well. My Garmin shows my fitness age as 59. VO2Max is good 40% percentile. My goal is to set it at 55

[@guitarmanchester]

Impressive!

[@BobutBrody]

Ok, this is a very high V02. But also you are the legend Ron freaking Dawson. So it checks out. Get out there and run!

[@thomasorchard]

So the 93 year old man in the thumbnail is not featured in the video? Isn't that a little misleading?

[@bobwilliams9061]

yeah and “coach” Parry has manboobs …. go figure.

[@erics7226]

I'm 21 with the VO2 Max of a 93 year old

[@chrismullin8304]

Son, how about you join me for a walk…

[@hassanmuhammad8901]

Lollll

[@viktorask]

Take you a*** and go for a walk man now!

[@kipponi]

Fast food and video games...

[@andyhagan6466]

Hilarious 😂😂😂

[@johanrg70]

I'm 53, my VO2 Max is 45, but I started running a year and a half ago with a VO2 Max around 30 so it's still climbing.

[@danieldiehr926]

I am a 75 year old runner that last qualified for the Boston Marathon in 2022. I recently purchased a Garmin Fenix Pro and it is telling me my VO2 max is 46. I have no trouble walking up stairs or balancing on one foot.

[@PrayEndureLove]

Sir your VO2max is higher than mine and i am half your age.

[@MarkFraserGrant]

Hi there, I'm 56 and currently according to Garmin I'm at 53 V02Max when I started running during COVID it was at 46. Sounds like I should be fairly pleased.

[@ivanmanzur1197]

55 with 67 VO2max and 2:50 in marathon and training for a sub 2:50 this November at NYC 2024

[@DavidTremblay]

Impressive

[@tanker218]

Show proof of a 67 VO2 Max

[@jameschaves5723]

With all due respect your not 67

[@ivanmanzur1197]

Why need I to proof that? I know that and God knows that! I don’t need to proof nothing to nobody my friends and my times reflect that.

[@AhmetOzel-ui9fs]

Liar liar pants on fire....🎉🎉

[@negomi340]

I'm a 63 year old female, and my VO2 max according to my Garmin is 46. According to the charts, that'd be excellent for a 30-39 year old :) I run everything from 5K to 50 mile ultras.

[@dcharlybrown]

I’m 48 & my Vo2max according to my Garmin is 53-54. My Vo2max according to the comments below, is somewhere between 125-128.

[@videosuchen]

My vo2max value according to my fenix 7 pro is 52, I am 75 years old and have been doing a variety of sports my whole life. 1-3 hours a day, road cycling, running, skiing, weight training, gymnastics, volleyball and other sports. I am also a trainer for general sports.

[@sedgieroobets]

Good job!

[@texasscot6669]

Great job! I thought mine was good! 67 yo, 51 vo2 max.

[@jef.hutchby944]

Great video! Had a VO2 max test 10 days ago at an assessment facility. Im 61 and came in at 47.2 so pretty happy with it. Now looking to try and train on to close in on that 50 mark.

[@magicmcg]

59 yr old , V02 max currently 56

[@rscott6512]

Insightful. Thx team!

[@peterfweinmann]

Great presentation! Short, concise and convincing. I just love it!

[@Veroweithofer]

Totally different numbers for women! Would have been good to include them! I am Female, 55, and a VO2Max of 41. Another channel tested Watches and compared to Lab and found it pretty accurate, btw. My VO2 maxx is according to tables in an “ excellent” range. I also improved from 39 to 41 in the last 6months. Running distance marathon and hm.

[@thirdfromlast]

Amen. So difficult to swallow that this is not included.

[@hexchad765]

☠️

[@DynissRainer]

Lindsey spoke very well; thank you.

[@TimPoulton]

Such a great video, I always wondered how VO2 max was measured... You guys are awesome!

[@Azzenstudent]

I'm 75 and climb the stairs to my 14th floor condo daily. I've also started climbing to the rooftop (18 floors), which I accomplish easily. I do cardio every other day at the gym where I run 8 minute miles on the treadmill for around 25 minutes. I have no firm idea about my VO2 Max but I suspect it's between 42 and 49.

[@mikeflanagan4096]

That’s one of the best videos for us +60 years olds.

[@musonello]

Lindsay summarizes in a very consistent manner the definition of Healthspan that Dr. Peter Attia makes in his book (Outlive) and the difference with Lifespan. Grip Strength as an aging indicator as well as Balance and the most important VO2 Max, very good episode 👍🏼👍🏼 PS.- I’m 61 and last Thursday at College gym we did the 12min treadmill test 2,530 m, according to Pike Fitness = 56.41 VO2 max (I’m the vintage of the class and I believe I outran the rest of the class😉)

[@50Something]

Very interesting, my VO2 max is 42 at 56 years old. I never do intervals so I'll try adding them in to some of my runs. Thanks

[@CurtZilbersher]

62 yrs old and 32 v02max. Just started zone training about 3 wks ago. Soon to incorporate strength training and HIIT to try to move that v02max number up.

[@LarsKallin]

Incredible valuable information. Really presented in a good way. I am 60 and my Garmin says I got between 42-46 vo2. In the summer when I do high intensity runs on the track vo2 max is raised to 45-46 and in the winter it use to decrease to 42.

[@Seby-biketrial]

very simple & clear explanation! good point to move from just longevity to HEALTH span. live healthy & fit not long and sick. Grow strong foundation (aerobic engine, cardio, strengh) early in life so when you lose some later, you still have more than enough at older age. I am excited by this ideea as it adds fire to my motivation to workout now. Thanks!

[@sedgieroobets]

I'm 58yo, took up triathlon in lockdown and lost 18kg. June 2023 my VO2 max got to 57. Then I got an achilles injury and couldn't run at all or cycle much for 6 month. V02 max dropped to 49. Now creeping back up - currently 52 - but injury matters so train hard and regularly but also listen to your body as you age.

[@jeremyleake6868]

I’m 54, my current VO2 max estimated on Garmin is 76 all from cycling. It peaked at 81 last year. I use a HR strap Polar H10 and most rides are on a Kickr trainer. Suspect its an overestimate - most of my rides are high Z2, eg around 280-300W for 2 hours. I’m around 76kg.

[@fenderperry]

Do you do any high intensity, interval workouts?

[@jeremyleake6868]

@@fenderperry yes. Usually one per week, usually VO2 max or threshold or over-unders. Though I have had a month or so when I just did high Z2. Most of the year I did 5 rides a week plus weights. One long endurance ride on a Sunday, followed by a short high intensity ride. A day’s rest then Wed-Friday 2 hours (time constraint of my mornings) at top Z2 as per my top Z2 HR (around 128-130bpm). In reality that was more like 1.5 hours top Z2 given slow ramp up for 20 mins and 10 mins cool down. Found the power I could do at that HR was gradually increasing over time (it fluctuated a little depending on what else was going on in my week but drift was up) so over weeks and months gradually increased the power. At the moment I’m doing a VO2 max block so doing that twice a week and dialling down the Z2 to low Z2 to make sure my VO2 max can be done full gas. When doing 3 days in a row top Z2 I found that really impactful - then a rest day as they are not ‘easy’, but then my power gradually levelled out at around 300W for top Z2. That may be my personal limitation or else a limitation of my life, eg having 2 hours in the mornings plus work etc.

[@fenderperry]

@@jeremyleake6868 Thanks that is an impressive VO2 max.

[@Burps___]

Can you please record a video detailing the Cooper Test, its meaning and accuracy, and demonstrate one of your channel runners actually performing it. Thank you, Lindsey and Parry.

[@AaronBrand]

I’m nearly 48 years old and pretty new to running. My VO2 Max (from Apple Watch) has gone up recently from about 40 to 44.

[@marlinweekley51]

Glad this guy is so health but it should be noted many 21 year olds probably have crappy vo2 maxs. We’ll probably never no the vo2 max of the average 21 year old (or any average age group) because extremely unlikely the average persons will ever take a vo2 max test. The 21 year old like to have taken a vo2 max test are college atheletes who probably score higher than average. If his vo2 max are higher than that group of 21 year olds i can only say, “amazing, keep doing what your doing” 😀👍🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️

[@pammeaux4570]

I’m a 63-yr old female. Garmin says 54 but I had it done in a lab and it’s 46, which based on the chart they provided me is considered “athletic”. Next and highest category is Elite.

[@Gillibrand65]

Another great video. I’m 59 in June with VO2 max of 56

[@richyo6412]

Excellent explained video.

[@jeffsmith7617]

I’m 47 and my VO2 max is 50. It has been improving I’ve increased my running mileage. I hope to continue that trend and get my VO2 max up to the mid 50’s.

[@kipponi]

58 I ran Cooper last autumn 2830m so my VO2max about 51. My weight is 74kilos. Garmin 645 says 50 then, pretty close it knew👍. I use it 24/7.

[@gregdk3791]

I'm 65, workout 5-6 times weekly alternating between 60-90 minutes zone 2 on a rowing machine (with the occasional unpleasant HIIT piece) and core/kettlebell/bodyweight exercises. According to my Fitbit my VO2max is 48-52. According to Concept2s VO2max calculator my VO2max is 47-51 (2k/7.44.9}

[@briandriscoll1480]

Interesting. While my Garmin watch says my VO2max is 50.3, there is no way I can row on my Concept2 at that pace. I'm 68.

[@bobwilliams9061]

Right there with you Greg. I just discovered the Norwegian 4 X4 and it sucks BUT I get a rush of accomplishment afterwards.

[@mattraschke2889]

Thanks Coach. I love the way you can pack so much useful info into such a short video, using clear and concise explanations delivered so succinctly and calmly. Thanks for all you do. Quick question if I may: what do you think about the Cooper Test for those who can't afford a lab test? I'm 63 and my Garmin tells me my VO2 is 47. Cooper Test says 48. Should I trust either?

[@jonbarnes7877]

I turned 60 years old early in 2023 and had a goal to run at least 100 miles a month for that calendar year. I was on track to achieve the goal until six weeks from the end of the year ... I badly twisted my ankle finishing up a five mile run the week before Thanksgiving. At that point, my VO2 max had been running 56-57 (as reported by my Garmin 255). It took me 3-4 weeks to rehab the ankle enough to resume running. Though I technically missed the goal I had set, I allowed myself to feel like I had semi-achieved it, since I did at least "average" 100 miles per month for the 12 month period. 😅 My VO2 max slipped a few points, down to 54 or so, whilst rehabbing the ankle. Fast forward a few months to February 2024 ...I turned 61 and was still working on getting back up to my previous level of fitness. While running to work early one morning in the dark, I failed to see a golf ball sized rock lying in the middle of a paved residential street and ... yep, BANG ... twisted that same ankle again! I rolled it the opposite direction this time. Arghhhhh! 😥😥Back to the rehab. Man was I bummed. And now, though I am again making my way back, my VO2 max has since fallen to 52. FWIW ... I also am an avid cyclist. I only ride 4-6 times a month but my efforts are always at pretty much full gas, thanks to the power of Strava and chasing top tens on segments. 😎

[@jamesquigley4837]

That’s is insane. I’m 25 and the fittest I’ve ever been and am really struggling to get near 100 miles/month

[@jonbarnes7877]

@@jamesquigley4837 Well maybe it will make you feel better if I add that my race pace for a hilly 10K in Sept 2023 was 8:29, for a time of 52:41. When I was in my 20s, my 10k PR was 42:41!? And I def didn't think I was notably fast then. My training runs are usually at a pace of somewhere between 9 and 10 minutes. If I am feeling extra fresh, I might get under a 9 minute pace. Sucks to get old! 🤨

[@hanstenberg]

50 years old, 51,5 vo2max in professional lab 2022 and 50 vo2max on coopertest summer 2023.

[@willemvanriet7160]

My Garmin watch has been climbing from 45 to current 48 when I started running an 8km once a week and a track session of 400 and 800m sprints on the track every second week. I'm 54

[@pauljennings2425]

Really helpful video. My VO2Max is currently 46 (according to my COROS watch. I’m 49 but have only been a runner for 3 years Would love to get to 50+ as well as getting my 5K time below 22 minutes. Anyway, off to practice some balancing on one leg! 😂

[@CK-ho7zf]

64 year old female.Finished a 70 3. Vo2 max on Coros a shows consistently " poor" score of 28? I just stopped caring about it

[@jimperry4420]

60 year old male here. Been bodybuilding and very active my whole life. Been back running almost a year now. My wife bought me a garmin watch last November and it says my vo2 max is 28! It did go up last week from 27. lol. My fitness age is 79…. Weird.

[@susansieler9029]

I'm 67 and my V02 Max is 37 while riding my bike between 11 mph to 15 mph

[@anitahendrix7573]

I am an 80yo female and not sure what my vo2 max is but use chest strap HRM my resting HR is about 65 and I can do stairs pretty good and stand on one leg for a 30 count. Just got my second hip replacement in January and had the first one 17 years ago so am working my way back to fitness am doing zone 2 so far which for me is a risk walk at HR of about 106 will be able to do a few zone 3 or 4 in a few months depending on my recovery.Enjoy your videos.

[@azdhan]

one strategy that can be used to improve V02 Max while minimizing risk of injury is doing cardio or resistance training in combination with BFR bands/cuffs , BFR training has been shown to improve aerobic capacity, as measured by VO2 max, by increasing muscle activation, enhancing cardiovascular adaptations, increasing mitochondrial density, improving muscle fiber type, and increasing capillarization. Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of BFR training in improving VO2 max: * A study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that BFR walk training resulted in significant improvements in VO2 max, as well as significant decreases in 1.5-mile run time and significant increases in thigh muscle cross-sectional area. * A study published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology found that low-intensity cycle exercise training with BFR improved muscle size and VO2 max in young men. * A study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology found that BFR training improved cardiovascular adaptations and increased mitochondrial density in muscle fibers.

[@tHa1Rune]

I'm 28, my VO2 max according to my Garmin instinct is 41. Was a bodybuilder in my youth, and burned out during my early 20s. I am now trying to recover..

[@MrHaggyy]

Still a good number considering you spend most of your training far from VO2 max. If you get it to ~45 you're back on it and once you reach 50 you are in runner territory. But like gaining mass this one takes time and consistency.

[@petergeneva]

At 65, male, my Applewatch gives me 47 VO2max. My recent 5k is 23’55” at a steady pace, just to establish a baseline. Waking HR around 38, max HR at least 171. Cooper test is 2640m in 12min.

[@jimoconnor8597]

To me, it's always been what do you DO, with your Vo2Max, not what is the exact number. Most are going off their watch anyway and well, that's not the lab. And most can only go one time which is only good at that point in time. I'm 60 and mine fluctuates (by watch) from 58 down to 54. Depends on the race block I'm in. I still only do Vo2Max once every month but do 45-65mpw total running as well as a couple cross training sessions each week. Injury risk is too high for a marathon runner to do Vo2Max once a week. Strides at the end of my EZ sessions seem to be plenty work. My runner friend was 64. He had a Vo2Max of 52 and just died of a heart attack during a 5 mile run. 😓

[@fergusdenoon1255]

yeah Id say V02 is a good indication of your lung capacity rather than your hearts ability, you can easily improve one and destroy the other.

[@dingobeaver6919]

​@@fergusdenoon1255 yes I think your diet over the years plays a big part, such as high saturated fat and lots of junk food, booze, fags weed

[@RunningWithSauce]

notoriously innacurate is an understatement. Garmin has me at 47 vo2 max. In lab has me at 62.

[@StrideOrDie71]

52F, vo2 max currently (lowish mileage, not training for anything) is 41. I peaked at 47 back when I was 46, was training much harder then!

[@donwinston]

I remember cyclist Phil Gaimon saying VO2max is not all that trainable once you reach a reasonable amount of fitness. He's been retired for several years. Maybe he doesn't keep up with the latest reports.

[@moggy992]

My v02 max , according to my garmin 255s, is 57. I'm 55 years old.

[@jacquievanderwaals8381]

I'm female, 50 years old. My VO2 max according to my Garmin is 52. Would love to improve it

[@Piop2]

Where’s that old guy…? 🤔

[@davidgunther1282]

I’m 50. Have a Garmin Epix Pro. Ran my first marathon last year and did it in 3:54. Started doing 1/2 marathons then. Just finished my 3rd one with a PR of 1:42. My watch says my VO2 Max is 46.

[@SMarkGee]

i had a proper vo2max test at a sports university at the age of 50. It was 64. I am nowhere near an elite athlete but train regularly. the figures you quote ARE NOT GOOD VO2 levels, they just describe population levels. I would have though a good vo2max level for a 50 year old male is about 55. (The Garmin numbers are potentially rubbish)

[@cypriano8763]

70 vo2max at 49 years old, just gotta keep pushing

[@chrismawata8755]

The information we get is doable for a professional athlete who can parcel out time for each type of activity. What I have not heard is how separated the sessions have to be. On one extreme, can I do a 30 min zone 2 trot and immediately do a high intensity session, and on the other do they have to be on separate days? The long run will definitely take its own day and you will need rest days but what about the others? Can you do a hybrid.

[@user-mg5os8zk1w]

@coachparry I assume Muscle mass must also be a factor as it’s measured per kg? So do I need to be doing hiit, low slow cardio and strength work to improve my current plateau?

[@StoneRunning23]

Excellent .. just wondering how close a Garmin device is to a lab test? I'm reading vo2 of 52, I am 59. I realize this doesn't tell you enough, but I float between 49-52 depending on my running week.

[@davidosolo]

50 years old. Got tested in the lab. VO2max=43,6. Sports doctor saying: "that is a very high value for your age!”. (reference value for a 50 year old = 32.8) Coach Parry saying: “you’re not going to be able to look after yourself when you are older!”

[@MrSpeady111]

How does aerobic threshold affect the measurement of VO2 max? Some of us who do all zone 5 training have an appalling aerobic threshold and produce acidity rapidly that doesn't clear without stopping. This means can only run very slowly for anything longer than about a minute. VLA max is great though!

[@ro2778]

No mention of diet? Mitochondrial dysfunction is synonymous with insulin resistance, which is caused by excess carbohydrate intake.

[@kenfromphilly752]

I'm 65 ran my first/only marathon at 64. Garmin 265 had me at 56 vo2 max during peak training, I'm currently off my feet with hip injuries and 54. I assume it overestimates by 2% based on comparison studies of lab vs watch.

[@vikx02]

Why does the low intensity lead to better capillarization and increase in mitochondria than say moderate intensity (zone 3 or zone 4) workout? I guess it's something to do with aerobic vs anaerobic activity. But I'm not sure. Could you elaborate in any one of your follow on videos? Thanks a lot!

[@davelindsey2601]

So what is the big guy's VO2 max? Low with all that extra denominator.

[@peterbedford2610]

I just want morning wood back

[@rgb002762]

I got the morning wood . Just wish it would hang around for a while. Or come back latter , when needed.

[@joubex]

Garmin usually overestimate your VO2 max by ar least 5%

[@theoferreira4132]

I’m 71 and my weight is 80kg. Ive noticed that my Vo2max is higher (46) for my cycling and 44 for my nunning. Why is there a difference?

[@JacquesGauthier-yg7jq]

My VO2 max is 57. I am 66 years old and I have been training every day for many years. It seems impossible to me to keep the same VO2max til 93 of age !!

[@secretagent86]

Heavy. Five ten 228 pounds. Cycle a lot garmin says 34-36. As young athlete 16 - early 29s) proper testing was 72

[@andy3410]

Vo2 max of 7. Hover round HP 250

[@leafulchermasterunner]

50 years old 78.2 in a lab tested environment

[@Danny310563]

Balance is the key. VO2 max grip strength and muscle max are all key indicators of longevity. If you follow Dr Pater Attia you will know that 4 zone 2 sessions, 4 strength sessions and one HIT session per week are ideal

[@hassanmuhammad8901]

Thats 9 sessions in a week?

[@Danny310563]

@@hassanmuhammad8901 yes that's right

[@chrismawata8755]

That might not be practical as you also need rest days unless one is running as a professional

[@Danny310563]

@@chrismawata8755 yes its tough to fit it all in with enough rest getting the balance right is a test in itself especially as one gets older and injuries happen more easily

[@gdwlaw5549]

Listening to Brad 😅

[@dyvel]

So, regarding my garmin estimate, is it just generally inaccurate, or can I expect it to be higher or lower than indicated?

[@nateodonnell5117]

I’m 48 and been running for almost a year. Garmin estimated VO2 max has been hovering at 41 since I started but I’ve shaved 7 minutes off my 5k during that time. Am I just doomed to have a mediocre vo2 max?

[@sikwipeel8016]

Vo2 max, grip strength, stalk stand good one

[@kaydrayton1781]

I am a 60 year-old female pickleball & volleyball player. My iWatch shows 34-35 VO2 max. Just putting that out there since most comments seem to be from runners.

[@rogergeyer9851]

I noticed on some calculators for V02 like the Rockport test, that for senior citizen women, they showed SIGNIFICANTLY lower V02 rates as "superior". I have to wonder about the accuracy of these, for general fitness level, vs. using them as a relative point to measure your fitness over time. Just one layman's opinion, after looking around at data and methodology for the 60 and over set.

[@user-sg3xd4dj1p]

65 yr old runner who averages 1000 miles a year plus lift weights. My vo2 is 50

[@user-kn9zn6sk4y]

62 with VO2 max of 62....

[@user-cy3kb2vn8s]

67 year old male with 55 vo2max and 50 RHR.

[@johnd1727]

I do not run - I exercise on a road bike - same principle but different tables for VO2. I am 82yo/76 kgs - Chest Strap Heart Monitor - Fenix 7 - Garmin 830 VO2 Max 35 Fitness Age 62.5 Not possible. I have tried to lower this VO2 figure manually in the Garmin and then work from that to see what happens - unable. Any advice appreciated.

[@robkorczak]

I started running a little over a year ago, never did anything athletic before that. My Garmin claims that my VO2 Max is 49 which is exactly the age I was when I started running. I'm 50 now and I'm blown away by what I'm able to do. Never thought I could run a 5k, my standard daily runs are around 7k and I've run 10k without much hassle. I'd like to run my first half marathon but it's the mental block that's keeping me from trying. Finally, for someone who smoked the majority of his life I'm really proud of being in the shape I'm in now and my 49 VO2 Max. I don't smoke anymore but I do vape. Never could have done this with a lung full of tar. (I know I know don't say it)

[@rogergeyer9851]

Congrats. As someone who didn't smoke BUT had plenty of bad health habits like what I ate as a lifelong bachelor who's health tolerated me eating anything for 40 years as an adult -- until it told me that if I didn't change, it would HURT me a lot... The good news (I'm turning 65 this month), seems to be that if you're reasonably healthy and stick with fitness training, you can improve a LOT, at least for awhile. Just as was the case for me re lifting weights in my teens and 20's.

[@pclarke41]

Are you sure that this is correct @6:46 - "a VO2 max of 32ml per kg of body mass per minute is needed to climb a stairs independently later in life"?

[@rogergeyer9851]

I saw that on other fitness sites too (roughly that number). Mentioning ONE flight of stairs. I have to wonder about that. One can use a railing. One doesn't have to climb steps fast to climb a single flight of stairs with reasonable efficiency. Given that when I do some stair climbing to do informal leg strength training (as well as lots of walking for cardio), how it gradually gets more difficult to 4, 7, 10 flights, etc, and my VO2 max estimate for the mile walk and looking at a couple online calculators is only 40ish -- I am skeptical about this being accurate. Maybe there's a HUGE safety margin built in to safely say "independently" without fear of lawsuits, etc.

[@immers2410]

You can do twice a week if you’re fit

[@johndebes1060]

Would you recommend a lab test for V02 max for a 70+ athlete who has AF or SVT? I'm not that keen to push myself to my max HR.

[@johndebes1060]

I checked my Apple Watch and it tells me my V02max is 32 but I assume that is an estimate.

[@ceulemansleemans2536]

10 percent loss per decade, or 10 percentpoint ? Does it drop from 50 to 45 (is 10% decrease) or from 50 to 40 ? (Just example data)

[@raramuri940]

54yrs @58 VO2 max

[@mikehardwicke23]

70 year old squash player. 52 by calculation- must be wrong?

[@mindcache5650]

I’ve been running for 40 years. I use the elliptical and crank it up to the highest level of 25 then do the Norwegian 4x4 method combined with swimming 70 lengths combined with 10 x 50 m Swim sprint intervals twice per week . My Apple Watch tells me that my VO2 max is 30.3 😂

[@GaryWard-kd3sb]

Great fitness! It's my understanding that the AW VO2max calculation has to be done outside for GPS input.

[@europaeuropa3673]

Does creatine improve VO2max?

[@lenjanssen9600]

is VO2 Max impacted by weight?

[@coyote2565]

i am 55 and 55,4 VO2...

[@fender1000100]

This is B.S just train for 30 minutes once every 5 to 7 days hi intensity to failure. You will get all the strength fitness and longevity your genetic code is going to give you. When someone comes on social media and says look how great I am at 90 or whatever. Theyve been blessed GENETICALLY first and foremost. Most men wont even make 91. No matter what they do..

[@Dale-bf4js]

Guys, swimmers always have big lungs and it’s great for the heart. Well, if you don’t want to swim, you can train by inflating rubber balls and inflate your lungs and you will get your VO2 Max Cool!!!

[@stephenbethke4788]

I'm 53 and my garmin says mine is 50.

[@thomastemistokle1279]

I‘m 56 and Garmin says 58

[@stevenlowe5313]

Strength training way more important than VO2 max.

[@cannuckchick7522]

Totally agree in terms of quality of life and maintaining independence as we age. Apparently VO2 max is highly correlated with longevity though.

[@mattbba8451]

I'm 54, sit on my ass, and I'm obese. I tested with a VO2 max that was in the top 90 percentile for any age. That is what my nurse and Dr told me. I haven't trained or run for that matter in about 4 years. I can't run distance to save my life - literally. I sprint.

[@rogergeyer9851]

Somehow, that doesn't seem any more realistic than people who claim they're super-athletes with no training. In my late 30's, I discovered after being sedentary (desk job, lots of hours at work, joint pain problems for years), that my legs felt like ANVILS when trying to jog over a quarter of a mile. Genetics likely matters a lot, but I have trouble believing you can do a meaningful sprint if you "can't run distance to save your life".