Cardio health recovery

[Riverz]

I know the vo2 max on Apple Watch probably isn’t that accurate, mine has always been pretty good and over time I watched it improve.

Im 45 and at a good point in the autumn my vo2 was 40. I started couch25k and was up to week 5 and running for up to 8 mins at a time. My heart rate was pretty good too

I then had a virus and it went to my chest and I was on anti biotics and steroids for a week.

Im back at running now after a month break. I’ve gone back to 90 seconds run then walk, then 3 mins run and it’s so hard, I am barely managing to finish! my VO2 has gone down to 38 and I am barely able finish the 3 min run. I’ve done this run 7 times now and still can’t move up to the next, still struggling! My HR is going into zone 4 on a light jog

Is this a case of persevering to improve my fitness or does it take a lot longer as you age to recover? What’s your recovery like? Or am I just ancient and this is the best I can hope to improve 😂

I don’t know what I’m asking but I’m struggling with how unfit I feel I am recently

That sounds like virus aftereffects. I would take it very easy and stay in z2 until you're back where you used to be pre virus. Fitness should come back but pushing too hard may delay things.

If you had the virus I had not surprised. I collapsed with chest pain just after and now 8 weeks after that I'm only just at the point I can put my heart below my hips without going tachycardic. It's not been fun but had been a wake up that I actually need to start doing some cardio! Slow and steady.