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 the distance the test person ran, their age and gender. The results can be correlated with VO₂ Max. It is an easy test to perform on larger groups, but difficult for the runners, as the lenght of the run is considered to be that of a long distance run, since everything above 3km is rated "long distance" - which means the runner will have more use and focus on his red muscle-cells. The 5000 meters World record of Kenenisa Bekele is 12.37,35. In 12 minutes, he would reach a distance of around 4700 meters. The following is an example of the many tables that exist for the test:

Cooper test (Athletes & Juniors)

		Very good	Good	Average	Bad	Very bad
13-14	M	2700+ m	2400 - 2700 m	2200 - 2399 m	2100 - 2199 m	2100- m
	F	2000+ m	1900 - 2000 m	1600 - 1899 m	1500 - 1599 m	1500- m
15-16	M	2800+ m	2500 - 2800 m	2300 - 2499 m	2200 - 2299 m	2200- m
	F	2100+ m	2000 - 2100 m	1700 - 1999 m	1600 - 1699 m	1600- m
17-20	M	3000+ m	2700 - 3000 m	2500 - 2699 m	2300 - 2499 m	2300- m
	F	2300+ m	2100 - 2300 m	1800 - 2099 m	1700 - 1799 m	1700- m
20-29	M	2800+ m	2400 - 2800 m	2200 - 2399 m	1600 - 2199 m	1600- m
	F	2700+ m	2200 - 2700 m	1800 - 2199 m	1500 - 1799 m	1500- m
30-39	M	2700+ m	2300 - 2700 m	1900 - 2299 m	1500 - 1899 m	1500- m
	F	2500+ m	2000 - 2500 m	1700 - 1999 m	1400 - 1699 m	1400- m
40-49	M	2500+ m	2100 - 2500 m	1700 - 2099 m	1400 - 1699 m	1400- m
	F	2300+ m	1900 - 2300 m	1500 - 1899 m	1200 - 1499 m	1200- m
50+	M	2400+ m	2000 - 2400 m	1600 - 1999 m	1300 - 1599 m	1300- m
	F	2200+ m	1700 - 2200 m	1400 - 1699 m	1100 - 1399 m	1100- m

Cooper test (Experienced athletes)

	Very good	Good	Average	Bad	Very bad
Male	3700+ m	3400 - 3700 m	3100 - 3399 m	2800 - 3099 m	2800- m
Female	3000+ m	2700 - 3000 m	2400 - 2699 m	2100 - 2399 m	2100- m

See also

• Training effect
• VO₂ Max.

External Links

Cooper Test - Protocol, Tables & Calculator The Cooper Institute - Test Handbook [1]