Periodic talk about this variable. It is important, but only when you also have economy data to pair it with, so you get a vVO2max value (which is important, as long as it is measured while performing your chosen sport). A high value while running doesn't necessarily correlate well with similar data collected during a swim or ski or cycle test. I got a guy with a 60 max one time while just arm cranking (no leg involvement at the time), but he was an Olympic canoe paddler so arms were important for him. 3 women runners (each of whom had run between 9:02 and 9:08 for 3k) had VO2max values of 73, 69.9 and 60.4. Economy values thrown into the mix put their vVO2max values at just about the same for all 3. The girl with the 60.4 was NCAA champ that year in the 10k. If you can trust your analyzers then it does give useful information to do periodic tests to compare an individual over time. With poor calibrating of equipment (which is more and more common place these days because of the "high-tech" analyzers that tend to be far less dependable than older, slower, chemical analyzers) I have seen the same runner whose tests over a period of 6 months, changed from 86 to 76 and the guy was national champ in XC during the 86 and national champ in the 10k with the 76 -- very doubtful his max dropped by 12% while dominating under both sets of circumstances.