Have you ever wondered how to measure your level of fitness? Well, there 
are lots of ways but one of the best predictors of heart health / fitness is your VO2 max value (also called Maximum Oxygen Uptake level). This number reflects your body’s ability to efficiently use oxygen. You can read the Wikipedia entry for more about VO2 max.
To figure out VO2 max, professional runners do treadmill tests while hooked up to monitors or they even do specialized tests on tracks. It can get really complicated.
Check your VO2 Max
Fortunately, for us non-pro runners and jogglers who don’t have access to coaches and special equipment, we can get a fair idea of our current VO2 max (fitness level) by using the results from a recent race.
Check out this VO2 max calculator. Enter your time for a recent race, your age and sex & hit the Calculate button.
I did it for a few of my recent races.
10 miler (1:11:00) = VO2 max = 48
Half marathon (1:38:57) = 45.7
Marathon (3:21:38) = 46.8
Interesting. I felt good in the 10 miler and the marathon so those numbers are probably closer to my actual VO2 max level. This year, I’ll try to get over the 50 mark.
Speaking of 50s, my VO2 max for the 50 miler I ran in 2007 was…
50 miler (8:23:52) = 33.9
Not sure how accurate this value is for super long distances. I’m certain it wasn’t my oxygen uptake level that slowed me down. It was pain and exhaustion.
What is your VO2 max value? Leave a comment below
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I am a 38.8… LOL… I figured as much….
Wes – Still a good enough figure to be an Ironman!
Based on a 10K, my VO2 max is 43.3. I’d like to bump that up this year.