Vo2 max not corresponding to race times

Vo2Max is a predictor of what you could potentially run, not what you can run.

Basically, your lungs and heart are in shape to run about 18 minutes but your muscular system, running form, etc might not be caught up.

Vo2max doesn't mean sh!t.

Understand that VDOT is not the same thing VO2max. VDOT in effect, combines one’s VO2max with their running economy. VDOT will trend toward VO2max as one becomes more efficient in converting their consumed oxygen to running faster paces.

This is it. In Jack Daniel's testing of elite marathoners back in the day he found a ran of VO2Max in range of 42-82. His VDot is a modifier of Vo2max that takes economy into account.

Please stop with this nonsense and educate yourself

VO2 max isn't a measure of running fitness.

Running fitness requires a few years of dedicated training to help you get close to your true distance running potential.

The two most important factors are how efficiently you use that oxygen and the energy stores that are being used. And endurance, how long can you hold a given effort. Your 5k and 10k times, show that you do already have good endurance. Have you come to running from another sport?

This guy knows things.

This is a tale as old as time.

Alan

You need to tell Santa to bring you some more running economy. There are also several other factors that determine race success.

Here's my economy that I measure during track workouts every once in a while. I have terrible economy. But I sprint pretty good.

Running Eco

Source: Running economy: measurement, norms, and determining factors

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Running economy: measurement, norms, and determining factors

Running economy (RE) is considered an important physiological measure for endurance athletes, especially distance runners. This review considers 1) how RE is defined and measured and 2) physiological and biomechanical factors...

Open link

76 at my prime.

Incorrect.

The most important factors are TIME and PLACE. Vo2max, Lactate Threshold, Running Economy mean nothing as far a predicting your running fitness. TIME and PLACE over a specified distance is the best predictor of running fitness. If you are FASTER than the other guy or you PLACE is smaller than the other guy then you are more "fit". The other stuff is just a byproduct of TIME and PLACE.

Alan

I am trying to prove a point. Too many people train to improve some internal dynamic instead of working at TIME and PLACE over a specified distance. If you work on improving TIME and PLACE over a specified distance then the other stuff will improve.

Alan

Yep, by itself, VO2 Max isn't a very good predictor of running performance. Back in the day, Steve Prefontaine had a VO2 max of 84 ml/kg, while Frank Shorter's was only 71. Prefontaine, a 5-10K specialist, had a 5K PR only 4 seconds faster than Shorter's, who was better known for his marathon exploits (although he ran well at 5-10K and XC). There are a lot of other examples like this. VO2 Max is overrated as a performance predictor.

And I agree with runningart that if you train to improve race time/place, all aspects of performance will improve and things will take care of themselves.

I don't think Vo2Max from what I have read is a great predictor either. It seems kind of early in your running development to worry about such things. I would stay focussed on improving threshold pace in workouts--developing ability to hold threshold for more sustained periods of time. Or even just the number of miles per week.

malmo, Alan, please stop with the nonsense. Neither of you have taken the time to educate yourselves on the subject. You just keep repeating the same inane nonsense year after year, with made up numbers attempting to validate your ignorance.

Different sports require different physiology. At least make an effort to learn this.

I have an even bigger discrepancy. My VO2 max was lab tested at 66 ml/kg/min. Based off this, I should be able to run sub 16 5K. Yet my 5k time is only 18:41 and 3k time 10:37. My running form and metabolic efficiency is terrible.

Nothing is "made-up" all are facts, with citations. Do something about your misplaced anger.

If you know how fast you can run, what’s the point in getting your VO2 max tested to find out how fast you can run?