I achieved a Level 20 that day, however I do not consider that result as too relevant as it was not the full 20 metres Bleep Test, which the official regulations should be.
Before I go into last Wednesday's Bleep Test, my performance and my previous best Bleep Test record, I am going to tell you a bit of information about what a 'Bleep Test' actually is and what it means.
A Bleep Test, sometimes also known as the '20 metres shuttle run test' is a progressive test of pacing ability which is to test a person's aerobic, cardiovascular and endurance fitness levels. It essentially tests a person's maximum oxygen uptake (VO2) ability. It is definitely a test which is best suited for people who have a strong cardiovascular system.
After doing my research I know that the test was created in 1982 by a coach at University of Montreal called Luc Leger. However, in 1983 the test was officially published, with a starting speed of 8kph at level 0.1 with a two minute duration. In its present form, the test was re-published by the European Journal of Applied Physiology in 1988 where the test now has a starting speed of 8.5kph with 1 minute stages, making the test that bit more challenging.
There has also been other slightly modified versions released but the 1988 version is the official test specifications. In the correct versions there are 21.0 levels, leading up to a final level speed of 18.5kph. The idea of the Bleep Test is that you have to reach a 20 metre line and beat the bleeping sound, you two bleep's to beat, if you fail to beat a bleep, you have a second chance by turning back on yourself and beating the bleep at the other 20 metres line, if you fail twice, you are officially out of the test.
Level 15.0
AGE: 15
In high school, we did bleep tests pretty regular in P.E. (Physical Education), usually twice in a school year. There were quite a few very fit kids in my year group. The boys did a separate test the the girls, the girls also didn't run as far as the boys. In my side of the year, more often than not it always used to be me, a lad called Jamie and a lad nicknamed Woody who were battling it out in the last three. It used to be great fun and we always got the lads who had dropped out chanting our names to keep going.
My record was in Year 10 or 11, I can't remember which year but I was 15 and I reached level 15. I should have carried on but I just really wanted to get to 15.0. I was so proud. Jamie and Woody always seemed to just have a little edge on me most times though.
14.1
WHEN: 21/10/2015
WHERE: Kirkstall Leisure Centre
WITH: Kirkstall Harriers
Having missed the last Kirkstall Harriers Bleep Test due to five a side football commitments, I was really looking forward to this one when I only found at club training just days before. I haven't tested my cardiovascular aerobic fitness on this platform for a long time, since I was 17, so nearly 14 years ago.
I was very excited but not nervous, I am naturally fit, which always helps in tests like these but also I work hard on my fitness. On top of that I have recently started running properly again and feel like I am getting really fit again.
As the Bleep Test gets harder and faster, it challenges you to be more explosive and use your acceleration ability to ensure you get to the 20 metres line before the bleep. As I play football every week and competitively, my explosive speed would always benefit me on a bleep test too, or so I hoped.
I managed 14.1, which I am very happy about. I know I got level 15 when I was 15 in high school, but I am definitely fitter now than I was then, back then I weighed about 7 stone and had almost zero body fat, where as now I have a man's body, more body fat, more muscle and I do binge drink regularly, so I am very pleased with my 14.1. I was also pleased I finished top of the leader-board out of the 31 club members who did the bleep test, so for now and until the next club bleep test, I am officially the fittest.
My result shows that for 30 years old, my fitness is in the excellent bracket, in fact, my level is above the excellent bracket, so I am very pleased with my performance and fitness. I am now looking forward to the next Kirkstall Harriers Bleep Test in about six months time.
THANK-YOU TO ALAN BRYDON AND JAMES WOODMAN FOR ORGANISING THIS FUN EVENING OF FITNESS TESTS.
DID YOU KNOW?
I HELD THE BLEEP TEST RECORD IN 1995 & 1996 AT IVESON PRIMARY SCHOOL...
I did my first ever official Bleep Test when I was in year 5, so I was 10 and I remember it like it was yesterday. We were on the top playground and cones were placed opposite sides. We were told instructions and me being the daydreamer I was (and probably still am), my mind was somewhere else and I wasn't listening. So the bleeps began and me being a bit stupid, I still didn't realise we were supposed to be beating the bleep, even though after quite a few - other kids were being taken aside. I remember just thinking, why are they all being taken away?
Anyway, eventually I got the gist, so I just kept running and running, I just found it really fun, just running. By the end, for about 3 levels it was just me running on my own, all the other kids were on the bottom playground queueing up for dinner and I was thinking 'am I going to miss out on dinner'? Eventually I got a bit tired so stopped running. What happened next I did not expect. I walked down the steps to the bottom playground with the Bleep Test teachers and all the kids were still in their queues, the teachers made them all wait for dinner for me (which was nice) and every single kid and teacher clapped me and gave me a round of applause, I didn't even realise what I had done was so good until then and it made me feel so good, one of my best memories from school at Iveson
In year 6, I won't bore you with this story but again, I finished first in the Bleep Test again, beating my level from the previous year and again I got a round of applause but it felt nowhere near as beautiful as the year before but it did really make me feel proud. It was then that I knew I had this natural fitness. Not long after I was sent by some teachers with a few other select pupils to do a fitness test on a treadmill at Carnegie (formerly Leeds Met - now Leeds Beckett) University Campus - again I ran for the longest, they were so excited they asked my school for me to go along for a second test on my own week's later. I ran for 12 minutes exactly both times, where the speed and the incline was increased every minute. I think at that age I was way ahead of my age group but in high school, as I was so small, other kids caught up as they developed physically a lot quicker than me.
WITH KIRKSTALL HARRIERS
We usually include some graveyards in our run too and some woods too, just to make it that little bit spooky. When we arrive back at the Kirkstall Leisure Centre, we all go over to our club house over the road at the LPSA (Leeds Postal Sports Association) Club and a few of our members make some nice chilli and other foods for us all to enjoy. We always have a competition of best dressed scary female and male runners. It varies every year but we sometimes have other little games on and stuff.
I've joined the run a few times in the past, and with Halloween being one of my favourite times of the year (we all know about my paranormal and spiritual interests), I always get excited. A few year's I haven't being able to join the event due to work commitments. In the past I have ran dressed as the 'Grim Reaper', but this year I changed my outfit to a 'Ghost' as you can see ABOVE.
It's a funny story actually, with my outfit, which I bought from the 'Discount Store' in the St John's Centre in Leeds, came a white hood with holes for my eyes so I can see through the hood, I put it on and looked in the mirror and I swear I looked more like the Klu-Klux-Klan than a 'GHOST' so I took it straight off and just put some face paint on instead to make myself look pale. Ha.
There were also some good news announcements on the Halloween Run night as the two club places for next year's Virgin London Marathon was announced.
Jill Buckley and Samantha Broome were both handed the two club member places and Catherine Barrett was given the stand-by place in-case for whatever reason Jill or Sam cannot compete.
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