You would be forgiven for thinking that you need to do a VO2 max test in order to know your VO2 max so that you can then train it. This is logical but flawed thinking. The truth is that you do NOT need to know your VO2 max in order to improve it! As a man who has done hundreds of VO2 tests in my time and (with occasional exception) no longer does them, I’m happy to tell you why:

VO2 max and “Zone 2” are all the rage right now, with people like Peter Attia and Andrew Huberman podcasting about it and your training buddies dropping it in to every conversation! Since you want to be the fittest you can be, naturally you want to know the full scoop.

So this article is all about VO2 max, what it is, why it matters and how to develop it.  

All Coach Gareth workouts (aside from swimming) are based on Heart-rate (HR). Heart-rate is an excellent guide to the stress created by a workout and also the intensity of the workout…

Interval training is one of the best ways to increase performance across all endurance sports. It is therefore a regular staple in all of Coach Gareth’s training programs. Here’s why and how to do them better…