The VO2 Cup: San Francisco’s Six-Month Fitness Gamble

Field notes

The contest ranks participants by VO2 max percentile adjusted for age and sex, rather than by an absolute running time. Applicants below the 95th percentile and outside the professional-athlete category can join the six-month cohort, which includes a private Slack, group workouts, and expert sessions. The organizers say they will cover one standardized lab test, typically priced at about $250, before the February 2027 winner announcement. The homepage also publishes a Rev A official-rules PDF and identifies the project’s organizers.