Running Test

Using the Running Test table below:

See how your time for the 1.5-mile run compares to that of other men in your age-group. Just locate the row in your age-group table with your 1.5-mile run time and look across to the corresponding percentile ranking. For example, if you are 31 years old and run 1.5 miles in 13:22, the row in the 30-39 age-group table corresponds to a percentile ranking of 45. That means your Running Test performance was faster than 45% of the men in your reference age-group who took the test.

The table row with your run time also shows the VO2max that typically corresponds to your Running Test performance. VO2max is the gold standard of aerobic fitness. It refers to the maximal rate at which the body can process oxygen to produce energy and reflects the physiological capability of body systems, especially the heart, blood, blood vessels, and muscles.

WARNING: You should not attempt a maximal running test unless ALL of the following criteria are met:

• You are at low risk as indicated by our exercise risk questionnaire or have been cleared by a physician for strenuous exercise.


• You have been running regularly for several weeks and have done several runs at near-maximal effort.


• You accept that during maximal aerobic efforts you are at increased risk of life-threatening cardiovascular events.


• You avoid testing yourself during combinations of heat and humidity that can lead to heat stress.


• You wear proper running shoes.


• You do your 1.5-mile run on a smooth, level surface with good traction, preferably a high-school or college track. Most tracks are 400 meters long, a little short of a quarter-mile, so you must move the finish line forward or the starting line back so you run 6 laps plus 46 feet. If necessary, an automobile odometer will provide a very rough estimate of 1.5 miles.


• You warm up with light running before your effort and warm down with light running and walking afterwards.


• You discontinue your effort if feel any symptoms of adverse reaction, such as dizziness, light-headedness, chest pressure or pain, or musculoskeletal pain.

Consideration of body size: For physiological reasons, it is easier for a smaller man to run faster and have a higher VO2max relative to body weight than a larger man. Thus, if you're a large man, your percentile ranking on the Running Test relative to men your own size should actually be somewhat higher than your percentile relative to the overall male population indicated by the table. Also, compactly-built people are at somewhat of a disadvantage in distance running, so their scores may somewhat underestimate their true fitness level.

Percentile Tables

1.5-Mile Running Test and VO2max

20-29 Year-Old Men
Percentile	1.5-Mile Time (min:sec)	VO2max (ml/kg/min)
99	7:29	58.8
95	8:13	54.0
90	9:09	51.4
85	9:45	49.6
80	10:16	48.2
75	10:42	47.0
70	10:47	46.8
65	11:18	45.3
60	11:41	44.2
55	11:49	43.9
50	12:18	42.5
45	12:20	42.4
40	12:51	41.0
35	13:06	40.3
30	13:22	39.5
25	13:53	38.1
20	14:13	37.1
15	14:24	36.7
10	15:10	34.5
5	16:12	31.6
1	17:48	27.1

30-39 Year-Old Men
Percentile	1.5-Mile Time (min:sec)	VO2max (ml/kg/min)
99	7:11	58.9
95	8:44	52.5
90	9:30	50.4
85	10:16	48.2
80	10:47	46.8
75	11:18	45.3
70	11:34	44.6
65	11:49	43.9
60	12:20	42.4
55	12:38	41.6
50	12:51	41.0
45	13:22	39.5
40	13:36	38.9
35	13:53	38.1
30	14:08	37.4
25	14:24	36.7
20	14:52	35.4
15	15:20	34.0
10	15:52	32.5
5	16:27	30.9
1	18:00	26.5

7

40-49 Year-Old Men
Percentile	1.5-Mile Time (min:sec)	VO2max (ml/kg/min)
99	7:42	55.4
95	9:30	50.4
90	10:16	48.2
85	11:18	45.3
80	11:44	44.1
75	11:49	43.9
70	12:34	41.8
65	12:51	41.0
60	13:14	39.9
55	13:22	39.5
50	13:53	38.1
45	14:08	37.4
40	14:29	36.7
35	14:47	35.6
30	14:56	35.1
25	15:26	33.8
20	15:41	33.0
15	15:57	32.3
10	16:28	30.9
5	17:23	28.3
1	18:51	24.2

50-59 Year-Old Men
Percentile	1.5-Mile Time (min:sec)	VO2max (ml/kg/min)
99	8:44	52.5
95	10:40	47.1
90	11:18	45.3
85	12:20	42.4
80	12:51	41.0
75	13:22	39.5
70	13:45	38.5
65	14:03	37.6
60	14:24	36.7
55	14:40	36.1
50	14:55	35.2
45	15:08	34.1
40	15:26	33.8
35	15:53	32.5
30	15:57	32.3
25	16:23	31.1
20	16:43	30.2
15	16:58	29.4
10	17:29	28.0
5	18:31	25.1
1	19:36	22.1

60+ Year-Old Men
Percentile	1.5-Mile Time (min:sec)	VO2max (ml/kg/min)
99	9:30	50.4
95	11:20	45.2
90	12:20	42.5
85	13:22	39.5
80	13:53	38.1
75	14:24	36.7
70	14:53	35.3
65	15:19	34.3
60	15:29	33.6
55	15:55	32.4
50	16:07	31.8
45	16:27	30.9
40	16:43	30.2
35	16:58	29.4
30	17:14	28.7
25	17:32	27.9
20	18:00	26.5
15	18:31	25.1
10	19:15	23.1
5	20:04	20.8
1	20:57	18.3

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