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:

Once every 4-8 weeks as part of your program, you will be asked to perform a test session for your main sport(s). The purpose of this test is to check progress and to see how your performance has changed and also to set up your heart-rate training zones.