Haven't raced in a while - determine VDOT/ V02 Max? Is mile trial accurate?

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  • Blorb

    Anonymous Poster

    7 years ago 01/16/2017 2:11pm EST

    Hey there-

    I haven't had a serious race since September, where I took some time off.

    I've been back running for a couple months now, but am trying to come up with a general ball park for my VDOT/ current fitness.

    Once, a couple weeks before a half marathon, I did an all-out mile as an "estimate" for my potential half-marathon pace.

    Well, the mile pace (From a few calculators) predicted a half marathon pace much faster than what I actually ran (which was a pretty mighty effort, maybe not a soul-searching finish but close). So either those mile calculators are not exactly accurate, my race strategy was too conservative, or I didn't have enough mileage under my belt (averaged about 40 mpw).

    Anyway, to get my current VDOT again, should I just run another all-out mile? Maybe an all out-5k, but that might be tougher to hit mentally outside an actual race.

  • Speaker of hard truths

    Anonymous Poster

    7 years ago 01/16/2017 2:14pm EST
    re: Blorb

    Blorb wrote:

    So either those mile calculators are not exactly accurate, my race strategy was too conservative, or I didn't have enough mileage under my belt (averaged about 40 mpw).

    All of the above.

  • feldman

    Anonymous Poster

    7 years ago 01/16/2017 2:15pm EST
    re: Blorb

    What are you training for?

  • registered

    Jimmy21

    Member since 09/01/2016.

    1,763 posts. Last post 1 day ago.
    7 years ago 01/16/2017 2:32pm EST
    re: feldman

    It seems like you should be able to get a good estimate off of your training..... tempo @ xx:xx pace felt pretty comfortable and I think I could go 15 seconds faster in a 10k race. Then take that estimate and do some kind of race specific workout. Like, if you can do 3 x 2 mile @ a given pace with 4 minutes recovery, then you should be able to hold that pace for a 10k

  • Macdaddy

    Anonymous Poster

    7 years ago 01/16/2017 2:33pm EST
    re: feldman

    The best way to measure V02 is a 2 mile time trial.

    If you are lazy and want to use a mile, use that time + 15.

  • VoiceofReason

    Anonymous Poster

    7 years ago 01/16/2017 2:37pm EST
    re: Macdaddy

    Yeah I'll try a 2 mile all-out effort.

    I'm training for another half marathon.

  • registered

    Mr. Obvious

    Member since 09/22/2005.

    14,089 posts. Last post 6 years ago.
    7 years ago 01/16/2017 2:44pm EST
    re: VoiceofReason

    For training purposes, a mile (or 2 mile) is not a great determination of VDOT if your goal race is a half marathon. A race closer to your goal race will be better (10k would be great).

    For just returning to running, I would guess you can run by feel for a little while and then enter a race.

  • VoiceofReason

    Anonymous Poster

    7 years ago 01/16/2017 3:09pm EST
    re: Mr. Obvious

    Mr. Obvious wrote:

    For training purposes, a mile (or 2 mile) is not a great determination of VDOT if your goal race is a half marathon. A race closer to your goal race will be better (10k would be great).

    For just returning to running, I would guess you can run by feel for a little while and then enter a race.

    Hmm ... maybe I'll enter a 10k. Next one around me though is in about 40 days, but that'll have to do I guess.

    I thought VDOT wasn't necessarily distance specific, but maybe it is.

  • registered

    Mr. Obvious

    Member since 09/22/2005.

    14,089 posts. Last post 6 years ago.
    7 years ago 01/16/2017 3:12pm EST
    re: VoiceofReason

    VoiceofReason wrote:

    I thought VDOT wasn't necessarily distance specific, but maybe it is.

    VDOT is not distance specific---if you are equally well trained for the 2 distances.

    It is infrequently the case that you are equally well trained for a mile and a half marathon at the same time.

    It may be that your mile time trial (or 2 mile) is sufficiently good to give you a place to start your training until you could get into a 10k. But since you are relatively low mileage, underperformed in your last 1/2 and are returning from a break, I would wager that it would give you paces that are too fast for your current 1/2 marathon fitness.

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