The Bleep Test – training, Wednesday, 10th December 2014

So, how fit are you?

On Wednesday 10th December, the Lothian Training session at Inveralmond will again be the Bleep Test.

Can anyone topple the Ironman, Andy Fish, who set the club record of 14.2 at the last test in February this year?

Arranged by Martin Hyman, this session is an ideal opportunity to gauge your fitness and, considering the current weather, a decent indoor session – all members including juniors welcome, and in fact encouraged, to come along.

The test involves a “track” 20m long with a line at each end. Each runner stands behind a line at one end and, on the start bleep, runs up their lane, to put a toe on, or over, the far line. Then turns to run back on the next bleep, and so on.

At first the bleeps are very slow (9 seconds to cover 20m. Fast walking pace). If you can just manage this, your fitness is “level 1”.

After a minute the bleeps become slightly faster for level 2. After another minute they get a little faster still for level 3.

You go on and on, without a rest. The bleeps get faster at each level till you can no longer keep up. You can’t transport oxygen fast enough. Your fitness level is the fastest one that you could manage. Most of you will get up to level 3, unless you are a super vet, or have a health problem. The super fit will get to level 12 or more.

So, how fit are you? Come along on 10th December at 7pm to Inveralmond to find out.

P.S. It takes a lot of preparation to organise this session. If anyone was available to attend early to give Martin a helping hand, I know he would appreciate it.