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Training for the Beep Test

This page is about training to improve your aerobic fitness and beep test score. If you don't want to work hard, and/or you don't have the time to make significant changes to your fitness, there are some other methods to help maximize your beep test score, as detailed on the beep max page. For links to more information about the test, see the Beep Test Home.

The beep test is a physical fitness test of your aerobic fitness. To significantly improve your beep test score you need to do specific and general aerobic type training. You cannot avoid it, you will have to do some hard work!

Although the aerobic energy system is primarily being tested, as in most activities it is not the sole energy source, and the anaerobic system (or speed endurance / lactate tolerance) also plays a part in the beep test performance as the speed increases and effort is required to slow down and accelerate away from each turn.

The amount of training that you need to do and the intensity required will depend on your current fitness level, though as a general guideline you should have 4-6 training sessions per week directed towards increasing aerobic fitness and your beep test score. The sessions could include the following:

• Some long slow running - between 3-10 kms or 2-6 miles.
• 1 mile/kilometer runs x 3-5
• Circuit training - incorporating whole body activities (running, cycle, stepper), body weight exercises and lifting weights.
• Interval or fartlek training - repeat 400-800m runs with a short rest or jogging in between.
• Repeat sprints (e.g. 10 x 200m)

lone runner practicing the beep test

These are just suggestions of different training sessions you can include. The key is to do a variety of distances and intensities to best stimulate the aerobic system, making sure that you are working at a high intensity so adaptation takes place. Make sure you have a least 1-2 days of full rest each week to avoid burn out and aid recovery.

Beep Test Training Audio Tracks

Beep Test Training Levels — audio files of extended sections of the beep test that you can use for training. These files can help prepare for the beep test by running at your target level, or even higher. This collection of audio files have been created to set the required running pace for the levels 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 21. Each file includes 20 minutes of the same pace, with every minute indicated. You can even try the final beep level 21 to see how fast it is! No one has ever reached that level in the full beep test - how long can you last at this speed?

Beep Test Blank — the 20m shuttle run "beep" test, with no levels annouced, only the beep sounds. This track is for those who "fear" the beep test. If the thought of hearing "level 4....level 5..." sends shivers down your spine, then this is the track for you! This is the audio of the standard beep test without level indicators, all the way up to level 21.

Related Pages

• Beep Test Tips
• Purchase the training audio tracks.
• Free download of the beep test mp3
• Maximizing Your Beep Test Score — maximizing your score is more than just fitness.
• Guide to variations of the beep / bleep test
• You can do a treadmill workout to replicate the beep test
• Fitness tests which are modified beep tests
• Test Procedure — Detailed instructions for conducting the beep test. Also video examples.
• Calculating Your Score — calculator to determine your VO_2max equivalent score
• Purchasing the beep test cd
• What's your best score? some results of athletes
• Beep Shuttle Listing — a listing of the number of runs for each level.

Any comments, suggestions, or corrections? Please let us know.