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Why Test Your VO2 Max?

The Best Time to Test Your VO2 Max

When to Skip Testing

How to Prepare for the Test

Lab testing your VO2 max can reveal a lot about your fitness, cardiorespiratory health, and the effectiveness of your training. But it’s an investment. There’s the monetary expense to consider, as well as the cost of your time and energy.

If you’re going to spend the money on what can be an uncomfortable experience, you want to make sure to get the best, most applicable results possible. That means testing and, potentially, retesting at the right times within your training block .

So we tapped experts to explain the best timing for a VO2 max test, plus what to know before you go.

Why Test Your VO2 Max?

VO2 max, which measures how efficiently your body takes in and uses oxygen, is a marker of overall health and longevity—perhaps an even better one than body mass index (BMI) , according to some research.…