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[[File:VO2max.jpg|right|thumb|x200px|A graph showing that O<sub>2</sub> consumption increases with exercise intensity until a maximum is reached, which is V̇O<sub>2</sub>max.]]
V̇O<sub>2</sub>max is the maximum (max) volume (V) of oxygen (O<sub>2</sub>) you can use during exercise. Measuring V̇O<sub>2</sub>max requires specialist equipment, but there are many locations with the facilities and the cost is usually under $100. The procedure involves running on a treadmill while wearing a mask to capture your breath. There is a warm up period, and then you run at a reasonably stressful pace while the treadmill gradient is steadily increased until you can't keep going. For most of the test, as the workload increases so does the O<sub>2</sub> you use. However, there will come a point where the increased workload does not have a corresponding increase in O<sub>2</sub> usage. This is the point where you are using as much O<sub>2</sub> as you are capable of and you the increased workload is coming from anaerobic systems. While V̇O<sub>2</sub>max is interesting, it does not include details of [[Running Economy]], so it does not give a complete picture of a runner's capabilities. Arguably, [[VDOT]] is a more useful measure of fitness.
Where V̇O<sub>2</sub>max is in ml/Kg/min and vV̇O<sub>2</sub>max is in km/hr.
=V̇O<sub>2</sub>max and V̇O<sub>2</sub>peak=[[File:VO2peak.jpg|right|thumb|x200px|This graph shows that V̇O<sub>2</sub>peak, which is the highest O<sub>2</sub> observed, without the plateau that defines V̇O<sub>2</sub>max.]]Some research uses the term V̇O<sub>2</sub>peak rather than V̇O<sub>2</sub>max, and while the two are similar, there is an important difference. Where V̇O<sub>2</sub>max is the highest O<sub>2</sub> uptake seen, even though exercise intensity has continued to increase, V̇O<sub>2</sub>peak is simply the highest O<sub>2</sub> seen<ref name="Whipp"/>. While V̇O<sub>2</sub>peak can be the same as V̇O<sub>2</sub>max, there is a lower confidence in the V̇O<sub>2</sub>peak value.
=References=
<references>
<ref name="Léger-">{{Cite journal | last1 = Léger | first1 = L. | last2 = Mercier | first2 = D. | title = Gross energy cost of horizontal treadmill and track running. | journal = Sports Med | volume = 1 | issue = 4 | pages = 270-7 | month = | year = | doi = | PMID = 6390604 }}</ref>
<ref name="Whipp">THE PEAK VERSUS MAXIMUM OXYGEN UPTAKE ISSUE, Brian J. Whipp, Ph.D., D.Sc., Institute of Membrane and Systems Biology, University of Leeds,Leeds, UK</ref>
</references>
