The longer answer is that there are two main reasons to test – firstly to get an accurate snapshot of where you currently are, performance wise, and secondly to correctly identify future training areas and intensities in order to maximise performance gains.

Why do we need to accurately know our current performance? Think of your training plan as a map or route – it has all the right directions on it to get where you want to go – but it is useless if you don’t know where you are to start with. We are all unique individuals, with different strengths and weaknesses and are all at slightly different levels of physical conditioning, this is why the best training is truly personalised using intensities relative and distinct to each athlete. There is only one way to find the levels these intensities should be based on – To Test.

You wouldn’t just pick up any weight and do a random number of reps with it – the weight and reps are carefully planned according to ability and the outcomes required – so why do we not think the same should be done for fitness/cardio training?

Managers/Coaches – Why test your team? Find out in our Team Testing section.