VVO2max


vVO2max is an intense running or swimming pace. In a constant rate exercise, this is the minimum speed for which the organism's maximal oxygen uptake is reached ; at higher paces, any additional increase in power is provided by anaerobic processes. In an incremental exercise, it is the first speed at which any increase in exercise intensity fails to elicit an increase in oxygen consumption.
The vVO2max of world class middle- and long-distance runners may exceed 24 km/h or 2:30/km pace, making this speed slightly comparable to 3000 m race pace. For many athletes, vVO2max may be slightly slower than 1500 m or mile race pace.

Training

Research by :fr:Véronique Billat|Véronique Billat has shown that training at vVO2max pace improves both VO2max and the economy required to maintain pace at this intensity.
Training at vVO2max takes the form of interval workouts. For example, 3 x 1000 m with 3 minutes recovery between each repetition.

Determining vVO2max from VO2max

The formula from Léger and Mercier links the VO2max to the vVO2max, supposing an ideal running technique.
where vVO2max is in km/h and VO2max is in mL/.
Note: This formula is identical to that used to calculate the Metabolic Equivalent of Task score for a given VO2max estimation.