Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) values and running performance

Forced Vital Capacity is more related to body size than training. A 300-lb NFL lineman would have a much larger FVC than a 140-lb runner simply due to being larger. Also, training has little effect on lung capacities or function. A world champion marathon runner may have a lower FVC than an average runner. The lungs function so well that everybody ends up breathing out oxygen that simply cannot be absorbed by the aveoli.

Besides, aerobic performance is more related to how much oxygen you can get to your muscles and be utilized by them than it is to how much you can inhale/exhale.

Bekele would dust us all with one lung removed.

So are you saying that it is simply genetic that I have a higher FVC? Because my teammate and I are the same body size - height and weight. A higher FVC won't give me any benefits in running performance?

This is what I was thinking...I can take in 6 liters of oxygen per whatever. Another can take in only 5 liters but they are making better use of it (delivering it to the working muscles). Well, does that mean if I continue to train, and train, and train, I can eventually use all of my potential lung capacity and become a lot better?

hard working runner wrote:

So are you saying that it is simply genetic that I have a higher FVC? Because my teammate and I are the same body size - height and weight. A higher FVC won't give me any benefits in running performance?

This is what I was thinking...I can take in 6 liters of oxygen per whatever. Another can take in only 5 liters but they are making better use of it (delivering it to the working muscles). Well, does that mean if I continue to train, and train, and train, I can eventually use all of my potential lung capacity and become a lot better?

Not necessarily. Having a FVC of 100 liters would do no good without the inherent "plumbing" required to deliver the oxygen to the muscle cells and the ability to convert energy into fast miles. VC is meaningless, unless you have an impairment such as asthma.

So that "plumbing" can not be acquired or improved through VO2 max sessions? Isn't that the purpose of VO2 max session - to improve the amount of oxygen that can be delivered to the muscle cells in the body?

hard working runner wrote:

So that "plumbing" can not be acquired or improved through VO2 max sessions? Isn't that the purpose of VO2 max session - to improve the amount of oxygen that can be delivered to the muscle cells in the body?

Yes but there is a genetic limit. training does not produce infinite improvement. Forget this FVC crap and just learn how to train and improve at your own level. These "researchers" didn't uncover some secret talent for you. You may improve tons in the future, but it will have nothing to do with blowing into a tube.

it's a deal wrote:

You may improve tons in the future, but it will have nothing to do with blowing into a tube.

However, blowing a tube on camera can make you very famous and wealthy!

Thanks for all the explanations everyone.

I agree with you.