Visit to George Mason University Fitness and Aquatics Center

Our team recently visited the George Mason University (GMU) Fitness and Aquatics Center to undergo VO₂max testing and evaluate their procedures. The facility is generally accessible to university athletes and research participants, though members of the public can also book sessions by scheduling approximately two weeks in advance. GMU is recognized as one of the top institutions offering VO₂max testing on the U.S. East Coast and is conveniently located about 30–45 minutes from the Global Fast Fit (GFF) headquarters.

Upon arrival, we found the main office closed—even at our scheduled appointment time—which resulted in roughly a 30-minute wait before staff arrived. We were eventually greeted by two technicians, likely graduate assistants completing practicum hours, who facilitated the testing process. No doctor or supervising professor was present during the session, and the technicians were unable to answer several technical questions regarding the methodology and interpretation of the test.

The base cost for VO₂max testing at GMU is approximately $175, though our total was around $300 after adding complementary assessments such as BodPod body composition analysis and Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) testing. The entire visit lasted about two hours. Following the session, the test results were analyzed by a supervising professor and delivered within roughly a week and a half. To discuss the findings in more detail, we were required to schedule a separate consultation call.

Procedures aside, we did learn that John (Founder of GFF) has an excellent VO₂max at 39.5 with a % VO2 max @ ventilatory threshold at 55%. 

A few noteworthy observations emerged from the final report:

• No comparative VO₂max grading was provided for individuals aged 70 and above, leaving a data gap in higher-age categories.
  
  

• Ethnicity was recorded simply as “general population,” suggesting that potentially valuable demographic variables are not being captured for future trend or population analysis.
  
  

Overall, while the GMU Fitness and Aquatics Center offers legitimate and scientifically valid VO₂max testing, the experience highlights opportunities for improved professionalism, accessibility, and data precision—particularly for those seeking deeper insights into fitness performance analytics.