Cooper test

The Cooper test is a test of physical fitness. It was designed by Kenneth H. Cooper in 1968 for US military use. In the original form, the point of the test is to run as far as possible within 12 minutes. The test is meant to measure the condition of the person taking it and therefore it is supposed to be run at a steady pace instead of sprints. The outcome is based on how far the tested person ran, their age and gender. (The results can also be correlated with VO2 Max, see say ). It is an easy test to perform on a large group of people, but difficult for the runner, as the 12 minutes lie between a long-distance and a short-distance run.

Several tables exist, the following three are for ages 13-20 (the first), for 20-50 (the second) and for experienced athletes (the third):