Endurance test
An endurance test may not be executed in following
circumstances, except when it is done under medical
supervision:
Serious and chronic illnesses of the respiration
•
Illnesses with fever attacks
•
Infectious diseases
•
Serious increased blood pressure
•
Disorders (ex. of the heart or longs)
•
Infections
•
Taking of medicines (betablockers)
•
When you aren't feeling well
•
The most know endurance test which is used in
sports is the "Cooper test". In this test you have to
run as hard as you can for 12 minutes and run as
much kilometers as you can on an flat underground.
Even it's aim is not to stop, you can slow down and
walk. The covered distance is noted and compared
with the numbers in the Cooper chart. This chart
gives us more information about your performances.
The benefit of this test is that you can do the test
whenever you want, you only need a chronometer
and a course with a fixed distance.
The disadvantage of this test is that you need some
running experience to become a good result. You
may not take this test if you are not feeling well
(tiredness, feeling unwell, etc...)
Cooper
Data in km, M = male, F = female
Test
Age
20-29
Very well
M 2,64-2,81 2,51-2,70 2,46-2,64 2,32-2,53
F 2,16-2,32 2,08-2,22 2,00-2,14 1,90-2,08
Well
M 2,40-2,63 2,34-2,50 2,24-2,45 2,10-2,31
F 1,97-2,15 1,90-2,07 1,79-1,99 1,70-1,89
Average
M 2,11-2,39 2,10-2,33 2,00-2,23 1,87-2,09
F 1,79-1,96 1,70-1,89 1,58-1,78 1,50-1,69
Weak
M 1,95-2,10 1,89-2,09 1,82-1,99 1,65-1,86
F 1,54-1,78 1,52-1,69 1,41-1,57 1,34-1,49
Too weak M
<1,95
F
<1,54
You also can take another endurance test: the
H arvard-Step-Test. For this test you need a hear
"
rate monitor, a chronometer, a stair or bench. The
height of the stairs or bench depends on your length.
Harvard-Step-Test
Height in cm
Height of the step
<152 cm
< 160 cm
< 175 cm
< 180 cm
> 180 cm
32
30-39
40-49
50-59
<1,89
<1,82
<1,65
<1,52
<1,41
<1,34
30 cm
35 cm
40 cm
48 cm
50 cm
To execute this test, step down and up the bench or
stairs every 2 seconds. This makes 30 times/minute
up the bench, which gives a total of 120 up –and
down steps. Whether you change leg or always use
the same leg, this has no effect on the result.
Measure your heart rate after 4 minutes. When you
are done with the exercise, take your pulse after 60
seconds, and again after 1 minute. In this way you
become 3 values which you have to use in the
following formula :
A + 3000 divided by heart rate B + 3000 divided by
heart rate C = endurance index.
Example: when your heart rate is 160 after ending
the exercise (heart rate A), 120 a minute later (heart
rate B) and 100 after 2 minutes (heart rate C), then
you have an endurance index of :
3000 : 160 = 18.75
3000 : 120 = 25.00
3000 : 100 = 30.00
Endurance index = 18.75 + 25.00 + 30.00 = 73.75
On the basis of the chart below you can adapt your
training and divide your powers better according the
result of this test. If you take the endurance index
from our example (73.75), you can see in the chart
below that this value is sufficiently for someone
younger than 35 and good for someone older than
35.
Endurance index
Less than 35
< 50
not sufficient
51 – 60
medium
61 – 70
medium
71 – 76
fair
77 – 85
good
86 – 90
very well
excellent
> 90
Training planning
Overload
Training means making an effort, using our energy
reserve. This effort will show a lower performance
afterwards. This effort can only be undone if we give
our body time to recover and to rest. So both effort
and rest are the ingredients of a perfect training.
Effort and relaxation are one.
To determine how long we have to rest is not simple
because it depends on a lot of elements such as the
number of executed exercises, the used weights, the
kind of exercise, how long we exercise...etc.
Furthermore, not every muscle needs the same time
to recuperate. A small muscle can already be ready
during practice, a big muscle can need extra time.
Over 35
medium
medium
fair
well
very well
exceptional
exceptional