Fitness Testing
Fitness Testing > Tests > Aerobic Endurance > Walk or Run Tests
Run or walk for set time or distance
There are quite a few variations of the walking or running test as a measure of aerobic fitness. Here is a general description of this type of test. For specific instructions for a particular walking or running test, see the tests listed in Related Pages below. Also see the comparison page for a overview of the walk and run tests.
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description / procedure: There are several tests which involve running for a set time (e.g. 9, 10, 12 minutes) or a set distance (1 mile, 1.5 mile, 1200m), and the distance covered or time required being recorded. The time required for these tests normally range from 8 to 15 minutes, depending on the population being tested.
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modifications: In addition to different times and distances used for this test, different exercise modes such as swimming can be used. There are a few standard variations of this test, see Related Pages below.
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scoring: norms are available for many of these tests. It is important to compare results to normative tales that have the same test procedures and with a similar target group.
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target population: This test can be modified to be suitable for most populations. For adults, the test should be at least 10 minutes to ensure the energy demands are primarily supplied by the aerobic system. Shorter runs are more suitable for children.
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equipment required: oval or running track, marking cones, recording sheets, stopwatch.
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validity: Published studies generally have a correlation of 0.65 or better for runs of greater than 9 minutes or a mile.
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reliability: reliability would depend on practice and pacing strategies and motivation level. There should be good reliability if these issues are addressed.
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advantages: large groups can be tested at once, and it is a very cheap and simple test to perform.
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disadvantages: practice and pacing is required, and performance on this test can be affected greatly by motivation.
Related Pages
A few specific walking / running endurance tests are described elsewhere
