If the only type of fitness you have ever done was PE at school, then you may never have had the pleasure of coming across the dreaded beep or Bleep test as it is known.
The test is a way of measuring a person's aerobic fitness - or maximum oxygen uptake (V02 max).
The test is made up of 23 levels with each level lasting approximately one minute. Each level comprises of a series of 20m shuttles with a starting speed of 8.5km/hr. This increases by 0.5km per hour each stage. So, what's the point you may wonder?
With training it is possible to improve your oxygen uptake and the beep test is a simple tool to mark your progress. And in terms of improving your fitness and sports specific goals it is worth being able to improve your V02 max levels.
Why? During most forms of exercise, the body depends on oxygen to help provide the nergy it uses. It is extracted from the air by the lungs and transported via the blood to the working muslces. As intensity increases, there's an increase in the body's demand for oxygen.
But at a certain point, oxygen demand can not satisfy the muscles and the body switches to anaerobic (without oxygen)metabolism. The only disadvantage to this is that the body can only sustain high rates of energy production for a short while. Therefore, improve oxygen uptake and you are more liklely to avoid the high levels of fatigue that come with anerobic methods.
