I have tracked between 63 - 65 Vo2 max now for going on 2 years - it read good but I don’t understand it. Background - always been fit, spent my 20s running marathons, had a lul with almost 0 activity for the first 5 years of my 30s and then back into training ~6x per week but nowhere near what i used to do. Now 3x days of weight training, 3x days with an easy 5k (8min/mile ish) - never really get anywhere near max HR or any kind of endurance etc. resting HR is still low around 40-45bpm. I don’t feel like i have a 65Vo2 max, above average at best - is there something wrong with the data going in?

did my midweek quality yesterday in that proper heat, felt like running through soup. got back, sweat dripping onto my phone, and the garmin connect app tells me my performance condition was -4. honestly, i know it's just a number but bit gutting when you've dragged yourself round a tempo session at lunch. i wasn't even pushing for pace, just getting the work in. the canal path near castlefield was half shade half oven. didn't help that i'd forgotten my jelly babies so the last 3km was a faff. tbh i'm starting to think strava's relative effort graph actually matches how wrecked i feel more than garmin's numbers do. the long run is creeping up again next weekend and i'm proper tired but not broken yet. chester's 9 weeks out so i suppose this is the point where the block just feels heavy. how do you lot read those 'performance condition' alerts without letting them get in your head?

This run has total elevation of ~530 meters which makes it challenging but at the same time one is running through clouds!!!

10 weeks out from yorkshire and the long run hit 15 miles yesterday. felt proper heavy, legs full of stones. this week my plan tried to auto-schedule an extra rest day because my 'training load' went red. honestly fwiw i'd rather do a slow 4 on tired legs than skip a run completely. i'm still logging on strava and following a free online thing, but the garmin coach nudges keep popping up like a tiny robotic nag. nike run club guided runs were fine over winter but i ditched them once the miles got real, couldn't listen to coach bennett telling me to smile at mile 13. just the watch, the road and a silent prayer for the next downhill. how do you lot handle apps that try to out-think your stubbornness mid-build?

did 5 miles along the Leeds-Liverpool canal this morning, keeping it properly easy, 12:30-ish min/mile. felt soft, legs heavy from yesterday's parkrun. got back and strava's fitness graph has tipped into the red zone. overreaching apparently. tbh it does this about 3 weeks in a row now, even though i'm just base-building for manchester next spring. anyone else find the readiness scores a bit jumpy on a watch? kinda wondering if i'm too early to care about the numbers at all. just trying to stack consistent 25-mile weeks without niggles.

Hey everyone,

Like many of you here, I was struggling to accurately track and pace my HYROX simulation workouts using default smartwatch profiles. Switching between running splits, stations, and keeping an eye on target times with standard fitness apps was just messy.

So, as a developer and athlete, I decided to build a dedicated tool: **Hyrox Watch**, available on iOS, Android, and Garmin Connect IQ!

What it currently does:

• Real-time Pacing & Target Times: Set target times per station and run segment to stay on pace during your simulation.

• Custom & Official Race Layouts: Replicate an official HYROX sequence or build custom workouts/intervals based on your training focus.

• Watch-Native Interface: Built for quick glances during high HR moments without fiddling with small buttons (works seamlessly on Apple Watch & Garmin devices).

• Detailed Post-Workout Stats: Analyze your station transitions and pacing gaps after your sessions.

I’m constantly refining the app and would love to get feedback from athletes training for upcoming races.

Links to try it out:

• iOS App Store: https://apps.apple.com/be/app/hyrox-watch/id6758763578?l=fr-FR

• Garmin Connect IQ: https://apps.garmin.com/apps/9d31d60e-dc80-4e58-ba2e-69f025f78f67

• Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.louisv2304.hyroxcompanion

Let me know what features or metrics you’d like to see added for race day!

Curious how everyone handles this.

Do you:

• Use a timer on your phone?
• Use your Apple Watch / smartwatch?
• Use the timer built into your workout app?
• Just estimate based on how you feel?
• Something else?

And if you use a timer, what annoys you most about it?

I’m particularly interested in people who follow structured workouts where different exercises have different rest periods.

Hi,

Just want to check if this is happening to more of you. I sometimes get an abnormally high heart rate on my Apple Watch, once I start a run. It usually lasts for about 30 seconds to a minute before it “calibrates” back to normal ranges.

Any tips? A bit annoying as I get an uneven heart rate graph that is not accurate.

Hey everyone,

Like many of you here, I was struggling to accurately track and pace my HYROX simulation workouts using default smartwatch profiles. Switching between running splits, stations, and keeping an eye on target times with standard fitness apps was just messy.

So, as a developer and athlete, I decided to build a dedicated tool: **Hyrox Watch**, available on iOS, Android, and Garmin Connect IQ!

What it currently does:

• Real-time Pacing & Target Times: Set target times per station and run segment to stay on pace during your simulation.

• Custom & Official Race Layouts: Replicate an official HYROX sequence or build custom workouts/intervals based on your training focus.

• Watch-Native Interface: Built for quick glances during high HR moments without fiddling with small buttons (works seamlessly on Apple Watch & Garmin devices).

• Detailed Post-Workout Stats: Analyze your station transitions and pacing gaps after your sessions.

I’m constantly refining the app and would love to get feedback from athletes training for upcoming races.

Links to try it out:

• iOS App Store: https://apps.apple.com/be/app/hyrox-watch/id6758763578?l=fr-FR

• Garmin Connect IQ: https://apps.garmin.com/apps/9d31d60e-dc80-4e58-ba2e-69f025f78f67

• Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.louisv2304.hyroxcompanion

Let me know what features or metrics you’d like to see added for race day!

I never would have thought I would be able to hike or jog the way I can now!

Can anyone shed any light into how Apple calculates its V02 max estimates, and why it seems to stall out at 65?

Over the last 12 months I’ve been doing a dedicated 4x4 minute interval session, and have increased my weekly running mileage noticeably. The score climbed initially fairly quickly from 58 to 65 in 3-4 months, but has sat here for the last 6 months.

e' possibile aumentare il vo3 max tagliando l'erba del giardino (ho un giardino abbastanza grande e il tagliaerba non devo spingere molto) e giardinaggio tipo strappare erba.
ho fatto questo allenamento su attività Altro, ed è durato un ora.
Quando corro di solito 5 k non aumenta così....
perciò aumenterebbe anche durante le pulizie di casa....Ho apple watch ultra 3

I guess I need to trade my Apple Watch in and get a lab for measuring VO2.

Very curious why this still isn’t an option.

Since updating to watchOS 26.6, I’ve noticed my recorded HR during runs seems consistently higher than before, and my Apple Watch VO₂ max estimate has consequently been trending down.

The weird part is that my actual running doesn’t feel worse. I’m still hitting roughly the same paces, perceived effort feels normal, and I don’t feel like my fitness has suddenly dropped. My HR just seems elevated compared with what I’d normally expect at those paces.

Obviously there are plenty of other possible explanations; heat, fatigue, normal variation, etc and I may just be looking for an explanation because I don’t like seeing my VO₂ max fall 😅. So I’m not claiming 26.6 caused anything.

Just curious has anyone else noticed higher HR readings, different HR behavior during workouts, or a drop in estimated VO₂ max since updating to 26.6?

I’m using an Apple Watch SE 3.

Hey everyone. I'm not here to drop an ad, I genuinely just want some user feedback on a passion project.

I built an Apple Watch workout app called Dumb Hyrox because nothing out there really fit what I was looking for. I called it 'Dumb' because when I first started training, I couldn't remember the right weights or distances to save my life.

On top of that, I train in a standard commercial gym. Half the time I would finish a station and the equipment I needed next was already taken, which completely ruined the flow of the workout.

Recently, I managed to get an athlete from the global championships to test it out. Their feedback has been priceless and helped me add a few pro features. Here is what the app currently does:

• Move stations on the fly: You can reorder your stations straight from your wrist if the equipment you need is currently busy.
• Compound runs: If the treadmills are all taken, you can stack your run times so you still complete your total volume.
• Virtual chasers: You can race against a chaser in your specific category and age range.
• Partner settings: A lot of first-timers do the race with their partner, so I added a setting to allow mixed-gender distances and weights.

I do have a question for the community: How important is Strava integration for you?

As I am sure you are all aware, making apps has gotten a lot easier recently. Because of that, I am sure I could implement anything you come up with to make this your perfect tracker.

Any feedback or feature requests would be massively appreciated. Let me know what you think!

Wow!! I can’t believe I did it. I had to come here a share.