VO2 Max Testing in Scarborough, Maine
Clinical-grade VO2 Max and Resting Metabolic Rate testing at Foley's Fitness Center in Scarborough — the same breath-by-breath measurement a hospital lab performs, for $149 and without the referral.
Upwave Labs has been testing athletes and health-focused clients across Southern Maine since 2024. Scarborough is our regular Maine location, and it was the first place in the state to offer VO2 Max testing outside of a medical office. Every test is administered in person by Neil Spillane, a Certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach, who walks you through your numbers before you leave.
Where we test
Foley's Fitness Center
33 Haigis Parkway
Scarborough, ME 04074
Foley's sits on ten wooded acres just off the Haigis Parkway exit of I-95, with parking directly outside. You do not need to be a Foley's member to book a test — testing is open to the public by appointment.
What gets measured
VO2 Max test
We use a VO2 Master portable analyzer to measure the oxygen you actually consume, breath by breath, while you work through a progressive ramp on a treadmill or bike. Nothing is estimated from heart rate. You walk away with:
- Your VO2 Max score, benchmarked against your age and sex
- Five heart rate training zones calibrated to your physiology, not a formula
- Ventilatory thresholds — the intensities where your body shifts fuel sources
- A PDF report you can load straight into a Garmin, Apple Watch, Whoop, or Coros
Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) test
A ten-minute test done lying down that measures how many calories your body burns at rest. It replaces the calorie calculators and the guesswork behind a nutrition plan, and it gives you a baseline you can retest against as your training changes.
Pricing in Scarborough
For comparison, hospital and university exercise physiology labs in the region generally charge $300 to $800 for the same measurement, and usually require a physician referral. See all Upwave Labs services and pricing.
What the appointment looks like
- Arrive and get set up. We fit the analyzer and headgear and calibrate the unit — about ten minutes.
- The ramp test. 15 to 20 minutes on the treadmill or bike, starting easy and getting progressively harder until you tap out. You control when it ends.
- Results, in person. We read your numbers together and translate them into training zones you can use the next day.
- Your report. A full PDF lands in your inbox the same day.
Plan on roughly 45 minutes door to door.
How to prepare
- No hard training in the 24 hours before your test
- No caffeine for about three hours beforehand
- A light meal two to three hours before — don't arrive fasted for a VO2 Max test
- Normal workout clothes and running shoes
- For an RMR test, arrive fasted at least four hours and skip the caffeine entirely
Who books a test here
Runners and triathletes dialing in race pacing. Cyclists setting power and heart rate zones for a season. People who have read the longevity research and want their VO2 Max on record as a baseline to improve. Anyone whose watch has been quietly reporting a number they don't quite trust — consumer wearables estimate VO2 Max from heart rate and pace, and those estimates commonly miss measured values by 20% or more in either direction.
Communities we serve from Scarborough
Scarborough is a short drive for most of Greater Portland, and clients regularly travel in from Portland, South Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Falmouth, Westbrook, Gorham, Windham, Buxton, Saco, Old Orchard Beach, Biddeford, and Kennebunk.
Testing somewhere else? We also offer mobile testing across Southern Maine and Greater Boston — we bring the analyzer to your home, pool, track, boathouse, hotel, or the road you train on.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a VO2 Max test cost in Scarborough, Maine?
$149 for a VO2 Max test at Foley's Fitness Center. An RMR test is also $149 on its own, or you can do both in one visit for $249.
Do I need to be a member of Foley's Fitness Center?
No. Testing is open to anyone and is booked directly through Upwave Labs. You are welcome at the facility for your appointment whether or not you have a membership.
How long does the appointment take?
About 45 minutes total. The VO2 Max test itself runs 15 to 20 minutes; the rest is setup, calibration, and going through your results.
Do I need to be in good shape to take a VO2 Max test?
No. The protocol starts easy and ramps gradually, so it meets you where you are. Your zones are calculated from your own physiology, which makes the data just as useful for someone six weeks into a training plan as for a competitive endurance athlete.
How is this different from a test at a hospital or university lab?
The measurement is the same — direct, breath-by-breath analysis of oxygen consumption. The differences are access and cost: no referral, appointments that fit around your training, and $149 instead of several hundred dollars.
How often should I retest?
Every three to six months is typical if you are actively training. That is long enough for a real physiological change to show up and short enough to tell you whether the training block worked.
More detail on both tests is on our FAQ page.
Book your Scarborough test
Appointments at Foley's are scheduled in advance and fill up around weekends. Pick a time that works, or get in touch with questions first.