SUUNTO t6c RUNNING GUIDE

Suunto Running Guide6.7 Oxygen ConsumptionHeart rate indicates the transfer of blood and oxygento muscles. Oxygen consumption indicates how themuscles use the oxygen for work. Oxygen consumptionincreases in a more linear manner as exertion increasesand is considered to be the most reliable variable toestimate running intensity.%VO 2max< 30% – daily physical activities, very lightaerobic training< 50% – light to moderate pace, basicendurance training< 75% – moderate to hard pace, hardendurance training> 75% – very hard, VO 2max trainingOxygen consumption (VO2 ml/kg/min – millilitresper kilogram of body weight per minute) is directlydependent on the amount of work your body does.Maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) is a personal value,affected by your training history and genes and forrunning is measured in millilitres per kg of body weight(ml/kg).A common misconception is that maximum oxygenuptake directly describes a runner’s performancelevel. Performance is determined by how close tothe maximum level a runner is able to maintainperformance throughout a running session and by theeconomy of the performance. Economy means howmuch of the oxygen consumed by the runner’s bodyconverts into performance.Oxygen consumption remains more or less the sameor slightly decreases for a set standard running session,while maximum oxygen consumption may increase asrunning fitness improves.The Suunto t6c estimates your MET value (metabolicequivalent) also shown as Max performance capabilityin the Training Manager Software. One METcorresponds to the oxygen consumption of a person’sbasic metabolism so the maximum performance levelin METs represents the ratio of energy and oxygenconsumption during maximum performance comparedto the consumption at rest.One MET, the oxygen consumption at rest, is 3.5 ml/kg/min – millilitres per kilogram of body weight.Based on the Training Manager Software calculatedMET value you can estimate your maximum oxygenuptake (VO2max ml/kg – millilitres per kilogram ofbody weight) by multiplying your MET value by 3.5. Ofcourse if you have had your maximum oxygen uptakemeasured you should use that value or you can estimateit from the Tables in Section 3 and enter a MET figurecloser to its real value.52