Hey all,

I'll be taking a fitness test tomorrow as part of the application process for a local law enforcement agency. I usually work out 5-6 days a week, and am quite confident in my ability to pass the test. The test consists of meeting the following criteria, in this order:

Vertical jump, 16.5 inches
One-minute situps, 29
300m dash, 71 seconds
pushups, no time limit, 25
1.5 mile run, 16 minutes

There is adequate rest time between activities.

I went to the gym yesterday and worked out, and am wondering if I should go today. I wouldn't be lifting or doing situps, pushups, or lifting today -- just running. The question is this: If I took a two or three mile run today, would it have a positive or negative effect on my performance tomorrow? There would be about 24 hours of rest between today's and tomorrow's activities.

I'd appreciate any advice I could get. I'd like to get some running in, but don't want to negatively impact my performance when it counts. Thanks in advance!

I'd pick "rest". How pissed would you be if you tripped and rolled your ankle while running?

^What he said.

Rest today man. Whatever you do today is not necessarily gonna help you tomorrow. The test is for physical abilities only, not strategies or techniques. So whatever you do today (running or lifting), won't help you tomorrow... plus Murphy has a nasty habit of showing up when you least expect. You can twist an ankle or get sore muscles and ****.

So relax, eat lean and clean and get plenty of fluids. Stretch a bit if you must, and make sure you sleep well tonight. Good luck.

And that's for hiring people in their early 20s. After the academy, there are generally NO standards.

I'd pick "rest". How pissed would you be if you tripped and rolled your ankle while running?

Good point. The way my luck goes, it has been a few years since I rolled it, so that pretty much means I'm due.

As far as the standards go, I think they just want to make sure that the people they hire aren't completely physically inept to begin with.

Update: I passed. Though they didn't even bother testing us on the vertical jump. And they didn't set peoples' hands like they should've for the pushups (they should be at shoulder width, per Indiana Law Enforcement Academy requirements). But I'm not gonna complain that it was easier than what I expected ;-)

Four people failed the sit-ups. One couldn't manage the 1.5 mile jog.

This is out of a group of like 20 or 25 young adults, who should be in better shape than that.

I have a PT test on Thursday. I am not sure of my minimums - but for a 35 year old I do 77 push ups in 2min, 73 sit ups in 2 min, and my 2 mile run in about 14:45. I am no PT stud either.

If you can't meet the physical standards you listed above...wow.

Good to see our law enforcement has such high standards. HA

Whorian, do my job for a day and then talk about standards.


Pushups = 99 per 1 minute
Situps = 72 per 1 minute
Vertical = 23"
1.5 Run = 9:30

When I graduated from the Acad.

Of course all of this means nothing once you leave the academy as everyone who's not lazy goes into heavy weight lifting.

1.5 mile run, 16 minutes

Isn't this a fast walk? WTF

1.5 mile run, 16 minutes

Isn't this a fast walk? WTF

And I thought my 8:30 mile was bad.

1.5 mile run, 16 minutes

Isn't this a fast walk? WTF

I think of it as 10-minute miles with a one-minute break. So it's more of a slow jog than a fast walk...

I took my PT test on Thursday. For comparison sake the US Army puts my 82 push ups (2min), 77 sit ups (2min), and 14:30 2 miler at about 290 out of 300 for a 35 year old.

I would suggest getting in better shape.