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

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.

What are you training for?

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

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.

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

I'm training for another half marathon.

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.

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.

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.