User Guide
Effective VO2max for Endurance Decisions
How to interpret effective VO2max trends with training load and plan execution context.
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.