Quote Originally Posted by Veronica
OwnCal predicts my VO2 max to be 51. Testing showed it to be 41.
I'm very dubious about Polar's fit-test and VO2 max calculations. I've got the Polar F11 and the fit-test can vary over quite a large range for me - anything between 43 and 59, for example. 59 puts me in the elite group for my age. I don't think so!!
Interestingly, if I take the test under "ideal" conditions - ie rested, caffeine/alcohol free, no distractions, etc. the result is typically lower.
If I take the test when I've had my first cup of tea and/or have had a couple of glasses of wine the night before, the results are higher.
As I understand, the test is based not just on the resting heart rate, but on heart rate variability for the duration of the test (along with gender, height, weight, etc). A faster, more erratic resting heart rate puts me in a fitter VO2 category.