The purpose of this study was to determine whether an individually designed incremental exercise protocol results in greater rates of oxygen uptake (VO_2max) than standardized testing. Fourteen well-trained, male runners performed five incremental protocols in randomized order to measure their VO_2max: i) an incremental test (INC_S+I) with pre-defined increases in speed (2 min at 8.64 km·h^–1, then a rise of 1.44 km·h^–1 every 30 s up to 14.4 km·h^–1) and thereafter inclination (0.5° every 30 s); ii) an incremental test (INC_I) at constant speed (14.4 km·h^–1) and increasing inclination (2° every 2 min from the initial 0°); iii) an incremental test (INC_S) at constant inclination (0°) and increasing speed (0.5 km·h^–1 every 30 s from the initial 12.0 km·h^–1); iv) a graded exercise protocol (GXP) at a 1° incline with increasing speed (initially 8.64 km·h^–1 + 1.44 km·h^–1 every 5 min); v) an individual exercise protocol (INDXP) in which the runner chose the inclination and speed. VO_2max was lowest (-4.2%) during the GXP (p = 0.01; d = 0.06-0.61) compared to all other tests. The highest rating of perceived exertion, heart rate, ventilation and end-exercise blood lactate concentration were similar between the different protocols (p < 0.05). The time to exhaustion ranged from 7 min 18 sec (INC_S) to 25 min 30 sec (GXP) (p = 0.01).The VO_2max attained by employing an individual treadmill protocol does not differ from the values derived from various standardized incremental protocols.

• The mean maximum oxygen uptake during the GXP was lower than for all other tests.

• Differences in the maximum rate of oxygen uptake between the various protocols exhibited considerable inter-individual variation.

• From the current findings, it can be concluded that well trained athletes are able to perform an individually designed treadmill running protocol.