User Guide
Effective VO2max for Endurance Decisions
How to interpret effective VO2max trends with training load and plan execution context.
Effective VO2max for Endurance Decisions
effective VO2max is most useful as a trend signal.
Use it to validate whether current training stress is producing useful adaptation.
What it does well
- Flags medium-term changes in performance response.
- Helps detect stagnation earlier than race-day feedback.
- Improves context for load adjustments.
What it cannot do alone
- It cannot explain execution quality by itself.
- It cannot replace pacing, power, and heart-rate analysis.
- It should not be treated as a single-score verdict.
How to use it with load metrics
Pair effective VO2max with:
- ATL for recent stress.
- TSB for freshness.
- Training Stress Score for session load.
If effective VO2max stalls while ATL stays high, reduce intensity before increasing volume.
Suggested review cadence
- Daily: scan for abrupt drift and obvious recovery issues.
- Weekly: compare trend direction with plan completion.
- Block-end: confirm whether adaptation matched objective.