Is a VO2max of 42 good?

A VO2max of 42 ml/kg/min means something very different at 25 and at 65. Here is how it rates for every age group, for men and women — plus the fitness age and race times it corresponds to.

AgeMenWomen
20–29Fair ~42th pctGood ~71th pct
30–39Fair ~49th pctGood ~78th pct
40–49Fair ~58th pctExcellent ~86th pct
50–59Good ~73th pctSuperior ~96th pct
60–69Excellent ~86th pctSuperior ~99th pct
70+Excellent ~95th pctSuperior ~99th pct

Ratings from Cooper Institute norms (as published by Garmin); percentiles are approximate, interpolated between the published 40th, 60th, 80th and 95th percentile values.

Race times for a VO2max of 42

5 km10 kmHalf marathonMarathon
23:0847:581:46:223:40:33

Predicted with Daniels' VDOT model for a trained runner; marathon predictions are optimistic for most people. Get your training paces in the running calculator.

Fitness age

A VO2max of 42 matches a fitness age of about 53 for men and 23 for women. Calculate yours.

How 42 compares

This is around or above average for many adults, and good to excellent after 50. Elite endurance athletes typically test at 70–85+ (men) and 60–75+ (women) — see VO2max of elite athletes.

How to raise it

Consistent aerobic volume plus one or two interval sessions a week usually adds several points within a few months: 12-week plan · VO2max workouts · 4×4 intervals.

Frequently asked questions

Is a VO2max of 42 good for a man?

It depends on age: 20–29 fair, 30–39 fair, 40–49 fair, 50–59 good, 60–69 excellent, 70+ excellent (Cooper Institute norms).

Is a VO2max of 42 good for a woman?

By age: 20–29 good, 30–39 good, 40–49 excellent, 50–59 superior, 60–69 superior, 70+ superior.

What 5K time is a VO2max of 42?

Daniels' VDOT model predicts about 23:08 for 5 km and 47:58 for 10 km if 42 is your running VO2max and you're trained for the distance.

What fitness age is a VO2max of 42?

About 53 for a man and 23 for a woman.

Other scores: VO2max 37 · VO2max 41 · VO2max 43 · VO2max 47 · full chart.

Sources