TrailGenic™ VO₂Max Playbook — Measuring Fitness, Measuring Years

VO₂Max isn’t just a lab number — it’s one of the strongest predictors of how long and how well you’ll live. This Playbook shows how TrailGenic calculates VO₂Max from every hike, converts it into years of life expectancy, and uses it to track resilience over time.

1. What Is VO₂Max?

Maximal oxygen uptake, expressed in ml/kg/min.
Reflects your body’s ability to deliver and use oxygen during exercise.
Strong predictor of endurance, resilience, and lifespan.

2. Why VO₂Max Matters for TrailGenic™

Each hike is both an adventure and a cellular health test.
TrailGenic translates VO₂Max into Longevity Equivalent years, so every climb reflects not just effort but future life expectancy.
This bridges our North Star — enabling a longer life, lived sharper, steadier, and with meaning that outlives us.

3. How We Estimate VO₂Max From Hikes

Inputs we use:

Distance (miles/km)
Duration (hours)
Elevation Gain (ft/meters)
Body Weight (kg)
Fasted/Autophagy state (adjustment factor)

Output: VO₂Max ≈ effort score, then converted to METs, then to Longevity Equivalent years.

Step 1. Record your hike stats

Distance, duration, elevation gain, and conditions (altitude, heat, fasted vs. fueled).

Step 2. Estimate VO₂Max

Use field formula (pace + climb rate adjusted by weight).
Convert VO₂Max to METs (divide by 3.5).

Step 3. Translate to Longevity Equivalent

Each +1 MET ≈ 1.5–2 years of life expectancy gained if maintained over time.
Example: 13 METs = ~8 years longer life vs. average peer.

‍

GPS watch / phone tracker (distance + time)

Altimeter or trail app (elevation gain)

TrailGenic™ VO₂Max → Longevity lookup table above

‍

Q: Does one hike add years to my life?
A: No. One hike is a snapshot. The benefit comes from maintaining this fitness level consistently over time.

Q: How accurate are these estimates?
A: Lab tests are gold standard. TrailGenic’s field method gives a reliable proxy, especially valuable when repeated across many hikes.

Q: What if I bonk and use carbs?
A: Safety first. Using emergency fuel doesn’t erase the adaptation — it proves where your current threshold lies.

‍