VO2 max is the maximum volume of oxygen your body can consume per minute during all-out effort, usually expressed in millilitres per kilogram of bodyweight per minute (ml/kg/min). It reflects how efficiently your heart, lungs and muscles deliver and use oxygen, making it one of the best single measures of aerobic fitness. Endurance athletes have very high VO2 max values, and while it's partly genetic, consistent aerobic training can improve it significantly.
Key points
- Measured in ml/kg/min
- Higher = better aerobic fitness
- Improvable through endurance and interval training
- Recreational runners often 35-45; elites 70+