vVO₂max

vVO₂max (velocity at maximal oxygen uptake) 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 (after a few minutes of exercise at this intensity) ; 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 (15 mph or about 4:00/mile), 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.^{[citation needed]}

Training[]

Research by Véronique Billat has shown that training at vVO₂max pace improves both VO₂max and the economy required to maintain pace at this intensity.^[1][2]

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^[3] links the VO₂max to the vVO₂max, supposing an ideal running technique.

vVO₂max = VO₂max / 3.5

where vVO₂max is in km/h and VO₂max is in mL/(kg•min).

Note: This formula is identical to that used to calculate the Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) score for a given VO₂max estimation.

See also[]

• Anaerobic exercise
• High-intensity interval training
• Lactate threshold
• Respirometry
• Running economy
• Training effect
• VO2max
• Metabolic equivalent
• VDOT

References[]

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