Mine reads 70 consistently. I've been tested at 68. Kind of a joke since I can only run a 5K in the low 17's. I am just curious what other's have gotten on their OwnIndex measurement and what times they are running.
Mine reads 70 consistently. I've been tested at 68. Kind of a joke since I can only run a 5K in the low 17's. I am just curious what other's have gotten on their OwnIndex measurement and what times they are running.
What the hell's polar VO2 max? Somebody help me.
Some of the nicer Polar heart rate monitors have an OwnIndex feature that calculates fitness. It's supposed to be equivalent to VO2max.
Mine has also been dead on, though in the 58-62 range. I'm a 400m guy who runs 19:00 for 5k, and find nothing out of the ordinary with this value. Original poster, why is it a joke to you? VO2max does not equal 5k value, despite the 5k/VO2max test chart written in some exercise science texts. VO2max will only provide a general estimation of aerobic ability, not considering an athlete's efficiency.
By the way, I've no idea how Polar comes up with their OwnIndex. Their protocol is to lie down at rest for about 5 minutes. The OwnIndex test then measures resting heart rate and its fluctuations for a further 5 minutes or so while the subject rests and then posts a result. Mystery science...
its all BS. I don't trust anything that doesn't take a blood sample.
I think Polar is on to more than BS here. At least 2 posters, "AlicaK" and "in summary" have gotten Polar VO2's very near their lab VO2's.
The real asset of the Polar Fitness Test would be relative to itself, though. You could detect improvements in fitness, possibly prevent overtraining, determine efficacy of workout selection, etc.
I read this post and decided to see what my Polar HR monitor gave me. I have been tested at a V02 max of 81 in lab (my efficency has been my downfall over the years). The Polar HR monitor gave me a value of 72 on the fitness test. The variables it uses are:
# Resting heart rate
# Heart rate variability
# Gender
# Age
# Height
# Body weight
# Self-assessment of the level of long-term physical activity (last 6 months)
http://support.polar.fi/PKBSupport.nsf/0/42256c2b001e0f6a4225681f005f7355?OpenDocument
I always thought though that if you were tested biking and tested running those 2 V02 max values would be different (I have no idea how the watch figures the difference between them). Right now I am goofing around with the weight, height and age values to see if I can get a higher value (how much didderence those make.
yes that word was difference (the f and d keys are next to eachother).
go back to typing school!
Mine reads 56-58 and I run 18:14 for the 5k.
68, and I run 15'36 for 5K...
There is a lot of research comparing lab VO2max using a stationary bike vs a treadmill. Yes, there are differences but I'll be damned if I can remember what they are. But differences do exist.
The best measure of how fit you are as a runner is how fast you can run a race; let that be your guide. If times get faster, you are in better running fitness, and if they get slower you are not. It's pretty simple and inexpensive too
RUNBAD wrote:
its all BS. I don't trust anything that doesn't take a blood sample.
A laboratory VO2 max test doesn't take a blood sample either.
Mine gave a result that I consider dead on: 39!
It's a useful feature, if you remember just to compare like with like.
I actually contacted polar and they said it's an ANN (artificial nerual network) based on the variables listed above. They weren't very forthcoming with the program for the ANN, but, like one of the posters above, I see mid-70's all the time and I'm anywhere from 11:00-9:40 shape for 2 miles. It's really just an arbitrary measurement they use to try and make the instrument seem more scientific than it is.
As I am sure you have about something called "Running Economy". This is made up of your Lactate Threshold, along with your VO2 Max. The reason that VO2 Max does not really work in all circumstances to predict running performance or Economy as a whole is because you are missing Lactate Threshold. You can see this in the "Breaking 2" documentary when they measure the VO2 Max and Threshold of the 3 different athletes. They explain how the younger runner has the highest VO2 Max, and the older one has the highest Threshold, but Eliud Kipchoge has the best overall Running Economy. Once you get into the sub 5k range, a higher VO2 Max does not really mean a lower time, especially if you do no Speedwork whatsoever, and you will have a Monstrous VO2 Max. It is possible you will be able to run 5:50min/mile pace for 30min or 1hr, but you won't be able to run around 5:30min/mile for just around 15min. TO sustain higher speeds you require a good Lactate Threshold.
You my friend, probably don't have a high VO2 Max, like other Elite Long Distance runners, but I am willing to bet that you do lots of high-intensity interval, and speedwork, which means you have a Superb Lactate Threshold.