Hello Paddersthebear,
Welcome to Apple Support Communities.
We understand that your VO2 Max is not tracked as expected. We are happy to help.
We recommend using the steps here to calibrate your Apple Watch: Calibrate your Apple Watch for improved Workout and Activity accuracy - Apple Support
"Check your settings
To make sure that your Apple Watch can get the information it needs, check these settings on your iPhone:
- On your iPhone, open the Settings app.
- Tap Privacy & Security > Location Services.
- Make sure that Location Services is turned on.
- Scroll down, then tap System Services.
- Make sure that Motion Calibration & Distance is turned on.
- Continue with the steps below.
Calibrate your Apple Watch
- While wearing your Apple Watch, go to a flat, open outdoor area that offers good GPS reception and clear skies.
- If you have Apple Watch Series 2 or later, you just need your Apple Watch.* If you have Apple Watch Series 1 or earlier, bring your iPhone for GPS. Hold your iPhone in your hand, or wear it on an armband or waistband.
- Open the Workout app, then tap Outdoor Walk or Outdoor Run. To set a goal before starting, tap .
- Walk or run at your normal pace for about 20 minutes.
If you don't have time to finish the workout, you can complete 20 minutes over multiple outdoor Workout sessions. If you work out at different speeds, you should also calibrate for 20 minutes at each of the speeds that you walk or run.
Whenever you walk or run outside using the above steps, your Apple Watch continues to calibrate the accelerometer by learning your stride length at different speeds. Calibration can also improve the accuracy of your calorie calculations in the Workout app, and the calorie, distance, Move, and Exercise calculations in the Activity app. "
Here’s additional information tracking your cardio fitness: Track your cardio fitness levels - Apple Support
"How Apple Watch estimates your cardio fitness levels
Apple Watch Series 3 or later can record an estimate of your VO2 max using the heart and motion sensors during an Outdoor Walk, Outdoor Run, or Hiking workout in the Workout app. Apple Watch supports a VO2max range of 14-65 mL/kg/min that is validated for users 20 years or older.
To estimate your cardio fitness level, your Apple Watch also takes into account your:
- Age
- Sex
- Weight
- Height
- Medications that might affect your heart rate
It can take at least 24 hours of wearing your Apple Watch, followed by several Outdoor Walk, Outdoor Run, or Hiking workouts* and passive measurements with your Apple Watch before you receive an initial estimate.
If the Health app detects that your previous cardio fitness estimates could be more accurate, you'll have the option to update your data. In Cardio Fitness, tap Update under Update Your Data. After you update, the Cardio Fitness Data Updated notification shows you the results of the update and how your estimates changed."
Let us know if you have further questions.
Take care.