Know your VO2 max. Then know what to do with it.
Lab VO2 max testing in Aberdeen for runners, cyclists, triathletes and Hyrox athletes. Find out the size of your engine, get training zones that fit your body, and upgrade to lactate testing, biomechanics and an injury screen when you want the full picture.
Treadmill or your own bike. Every result explained by a coach.
Your number is only the start
A VO2 max test gives you your aerobic ceiling. Add more testing and you find out how to use it, how efficiently you move, and what might get you injured.
Your VO2 max
The maximum amount of oxygen your body can use. The size of your engine, and one of the strongest markers of fitness and long-term health.
Every testYour training zones
Heart rate zones from your own test rather than an age formula, so easy runs are easy and hard sessions are hard enough.
Every testThreshold and fuel use
Lactate testing finds your threshold, exact training paces, and how much fat and carbohydrate you burn at every intensity.
Complete ProfileForm and injury risk
Video biomechanics shows how you run, and the injury screen finds the weaknesses and imbalances that lead to niggles.
Biomechanics + CompleteThe size of your engine, and how to use it
VO2 max test
Tells you how big your engine is. Great for a fitness benchmark, tracking progress and setting heart rate zones.
Lactate testing
Tells you how to use that engine: the pace you can hold, where your threshold sits, and how to fuel it. If you're training for a race, this is the test that changes your training.
Choose your test
Start with your VO2 max, or get the complete picture in one visit.
VO2 Max Test
Your VO2 max and training zones. A great fitness and health benchmark.
£120
- VO2 max test on our treadmill or your own bike
- Heart rate training zones from your results
- Results explained by a coach
- Written report to keep
VO2 Max + Biomechanics
For runners who want to run more efficiently and stay injury-free.
£185
£205 if booked separately
- Everything in the VO2 Max Test, plus:
- Video biomechanical running analysis
- The technique changes that will make the biggest difference
- Drills to help them stick
Complete Performance Profile
For athletes training for an event who want every number that matters.
£295
£310 if booked separately
- Full lactate and metabolic profile, including VO2 max
- Lactate threshold and exact training paces or power
- Fat and carbohydrate use at every intensity, with a fuelling target
- Video biomechanical running analysis
- Injury prevention screen with Scott, our strength and conditioning coach
- One-to-one debrief and written report
Add a 12-week training plan to any test. Built from your results, so every session targets what will make you fitter. Choose it when you book.
+£65Want testing built into your training all year? Coaching from £99/month includes testing and analysis.
Runners, cyclists, triathletes and Hyrox
Whether you're chasing a marathon PB, building for a sportive, training for a triathlon or getting ready for Hyrox, your VO2 max and zones tell you how to train. Cyclists and triathletes test on their own bike, so the numbers match the bike you ride.
Total Endurance is one of the few places in Scotland offering lab VO2 max and lactate testing for every type of endurance athlete, all under one roof in Aberdeen.
Testing for your long-term health?
VO2 max is one of the strongest markers of long-term health. We'll measure where you are now, explain what it means for your age, and show you how to improve it, with retests to track your progress.
Ask us about health testingNeed VO2 max for work?
Direct VO2 max testing for medical and occupational clearance, far more accurate than a step test. Used by offshore workers, firefighters and other roles where fitness standards apply.
VO2 max medical testingVO2 max testing FAQs
How is the VO2 max test done?
You run on our treadmill or ride your own bike on our smart trainer while wearing a mask that measures the oxygen you use and the carbon dioxide you breathe out. The test starts easy and gets gradually harder until you can't go any further. The hard part usually lasts 10 to 15 minutes.
How long does the appointment take?
Allow about an hour for the VO2 max test, 90 minutes with biomechanical analysis, and around two hours for the Complete Performance Profile. That includes your briefing, warm-up, the test itself and talking through your results.
Should I choose VO2 max or lactate testing?
VO2 max tells you the size of your engine and gives you training zones. Lactate testing goes further: it finds your threshold, shows how much fat and carbohydrate you burn at every intensity, and gives you exact training and race paces. If you're training for an event, the Complete Performance Profile gives you both, plus biomechanics and an injury screen.
Can I test on my own bike?
Yes. Cyclists and triathletes test on their own bike on our smart trainer, so your numbers match the bike you train and race on. Runners test on our treadmill.
What is a good VO2 max?
It depends on your age, sex and sport. As a rough guide, many trained endurance athletes sit somewhere in the 50s to 60s (ml/kg/min), with elite athletes higher. More useful than the number itself is what's limiting you and how to improve it, which is what your debrief covers.
How often should I retest?
Every 8 to 12 weeks during a training block shows what's improved and keeps your zones accurate. If you're testing for health, every 6 to 12 months is enough to track your progress.
How should I prepare?
We send everything you need when you book. In general, avoid hard training for 24 hours beforehand, don't eat a heavy meal in the two hours before, and bring your normal run or cycling kit.
Is the test safe and suitable for everyone?
VO2 max testing is suitable for most people, from beginners to competitive athletes. It is a hard effort, so we monitor you throughout and follow safety protocols. If you have a medical condition, check with your GP before booking.