#47 - Is VO₂ max still important? Or is it just an old measurement from the past?

In this episode, we are joined by Anders Spanggaard from VO2lab, and together we dive into one of the most central markers of endurance performance: VO₂ max – the body's maximum ability to absorb, transport and consume oxygen during physical activity.

We'll start with the basics: How does the body work when you exercise? The heart, blood vessels, lungs, and blood work together in an impressive system that transports oxygen to your working muscles. But what exactly is VO₂ max? We'll explain how it's measured with lab equipment, and discuss different scenarios where the significance of VO₂ max is different.

But how do you improve your VO₂ max? We'll dive into what happens to your body during low-, moderate-, and high-intensity training, and how to divide your training into different zones. Finally, we'll look at the big picture: How does your VO₂ max change over time? How much can you actually improve it? And how important is it in relation to other factors like lactate threshold?

Whether you run, cycle or just want to understand how your body works, this episode gives you both knowledge and concrete advice that you can use directly in your training.

Find the episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5NdAxYrLn6BGhaAvkgIIuJ?si=172e206014f6409d