The 12 Minute Run

When walk/run tests are used to assess cardio-respiratory fitness in adults, The duration of the test should be at least 12 minutes.

The 12 minute run was found to be the better predictor of VO²max in all age groups (correlation ranging from 0.67 to 0.88). Shorter tests of around 9 minutes or less would be suitable for children less than 12 years. Because walk/run tests demand a maximum or near maximum effort, it is essential that people are properly screened so that at risk individuals do not participate in this form of testing.

It is preferable that before testing, subjects are engaged in some form of training involving combinations of brisk walking and jogging.