Why Vo2 Max Isn’t Just for Athletes
It’s a Metric Every Executive Should Track - here’s why
About to test my Vo2 in 2024 (at a friend’s gym)
Wait... Isn’t Vo2 Max Just for Endurance Junkies?
While it’s true VO₂ max is popular in elite sports circles, it’s quickly becoming the go-to performance metric for a different kind of athlete: high-performing executives.
If you lead a company, manage teams, or operate under sustained cognitive load - you’re in an endurance sport whether you realise it or not.
What Is Vo2 Max, Really?
VO₂ max measures how efficiently your body uses oxygen during peak exertion.
Higher = better.
But it’s not just about running fast or cycling hard. It’s about your engine - your heart, lungs, and mitochondria (metabolism) and how well that engine performs when stressed.
The higher your Vo2 the better and longer you will live according to the latest science.
Why Should Executives Care?
Simple: VO₂ max is one of the best predictors of how long - and how well - you’ll be able to perform.
Low VO₂ max = low recovery bandwidth
Low VO₂ max = brain fog under stress
Low VO₂ max = shorter health span
Translation: you can look healthy on paper but still be underperforming at a cellular level.
The Surprising Link Between VO₂ Max and Productivity
Think about your average day:
Back-to-back calls.
Decision fatigue.
Emotional load.
Zero margin for error.
That’s metabolic demand - and your body either meets it or falls under it.
Executives with higher VO₂ max levels report better cognitive stamina, sharper memory recall, and faster stress recovery. That’s not vanity. That’s capacity.
How We Use It at Lockeroom
At Lockeroom, VO₂ max is part of The Physical - our flagship diagnostic for execs.
We don’t use it to turn you into an athlete.
We use it to design smarter training and track what actually matters: resilience, energy, and long-range performance.
You get a number. You get a baseline. And we build from there - no guesswork, no fluff.
My Vo2 Max is 55
How to Improve It Without Wrecking Your Calendar
Good news: you don’t need to train like an Ironman.
Small, strategic tweaks in your weekly routine — zone 2 cardio, interval training, recovery work — can move the needle fast.
We match it to your goals, your schedule, and your stress profile. Because high-performance shouldn’t feel like another job.
Bottom Line: Capacity Wins
This isn’t about looking good. It’s about being ready — physically, cognitively, emotionally.
You don’t need six-pack abs. But you do need an engine that can keep up with your work hours.
VO₂ max gives you the signal. We help you act on it.