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You Are Here:   Home  >>   Fitness and Bodywork   >>  How Fit Are You?

Q&A with Chris Carmichael

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Outside Magazine, September 2007

Bodywork: The Quiz
How Fit Are You?
Fitness is like a salary: You probably think yours is OK, wish it was better, and want to know how it measures up against others. Take our quiz to learn how you compare as an athlete. The best part? When it comes to raising your score, you—not your boss—are in charge.

1. How many aerobic workouts (30 minutes minimum) do you do each week? (Watching Sex and the City reruns doesn't count, even if it gets your heart rate up.)
(+1 for each )

2. What's your fastest 5K this year?
(a) <18 minutes (+3)
(b) 18–20 minutes (+2)
(c) >20 minutes (+1)
(d) What's a 5K? (-1)

3. How many push-ups can you do in a row?
(a) >50 (with CytoSport Muscle Milk, +3; without, +4)
(b) 25–50 (+2)
(c) <25 (Jack LaLanne would kick sand in your face; -1)

4. You can swim:
(a) 500 yards in less than five minutes (+3; check your time against U.S. Masters Swimming records at usms.org)
(b) 500 yards in less than eight minutes (+1)
(c) 500 yards with water wings (-1)

5. Energy bars:
(a) Buy them by the case (+2)
(b) à la carte (+1)
(c) Mooch off friends (–2)

Your Score
(<20) If fitness really was a salary, you'd be broke.
(20–40) Hey, at least you'll never be lonely in the middle of the pack.
(41–60) Better compete in the elite division; anything less would be cheating.
(>60) Need an agent?

6. Distance achieved in a one-hour cycling time trial?
(a) >25 miles (+4, and can you please pee in this cup?)
(b) 21–25 miles (+3)
(c) 15–20 miles (+2)
(d) <15 miles (0, unless you're on a cruiser)

7. BONUS POINTS! How many sport-specific pairs of shoes are in your closet?
(+1 for each; -1 for each pair not used in the past six months)

8. At his peak fitness, Lance's resting heart rate was near 34. Yours is:
(a) <40 (+4)
(b) 40–50 (+3)
(c) 51–60 (+1)
(d) >60 (-1; still watching Sex and the City?)

9. Do you know your maximum sustainable heart rate?
(a) Yes (+2)
(b) No (-1; see last month's Bodywork for instructions)

10. Take the Cooper test: How many laps (400 meters) can you run in 12 minutes?
(a) >8 (+4)
(b) 6–8 (+2)
(c) <6 (+1)
(d) 12 minutes?! (–1)

11. Do you know your VO2 max?
(a) Yes (+2)
(b) No (0; to calculate it, multiply the kilometers you ran during the 12-minute test by 22.351, then subtract 11.288)

12. BONUS POINTS! How many competitions have you entered in the past three months?
(+1 for each; charity "fun runs" don't count)

13. Rate your flexibility:
(a) I do the eagle pose before breakfast (+4)
(b) I can touch my toes with my palms (+2)
(c) I can touch my nose with my tongue (-1)

14. How many sit-ups can you do in one minute?
(a) >60 (+4)
(b) 51–60 (+3)
(c) 40–50 (+2)
(d) <40 (-1; um, there's a reason it's called "core")

15. How many pull-ups in one minute?
(a) >24 (+4; but don't brag until you can do them like Chris Sharma—with one finger)
(b) 16–24 (+2)
(c) <16 (+1)

16. How many doughnut holes in one minute?
(a) -1 for each
(b) Hey, is that a trick question? (+2)

17. Number of hours your dog sleeps after your runs together:
(a) Zero (-1)
(b) 1–3 (+2)
(c) >3 (-1; PETA will be calling)

18. BONUS POINTS! Is your body fat below 15 percent?
(+2 if so; if you don't know yours, get a Tanita BC-595 Segmental Body Composition Analyzer; tanita.com)

19. You shave your legs because:
(a) you're a cyclist, swimmer, or triathlete (+1)
(b) your girlfriend made you (-10)

20. Army Rangers must carry a 35-pound pack 12 miles in three hours 15 minutes. Can you?
(a) Sir, yes, sir! (+2)
(b) No, but I watched Stripes last week (-1)

21. Your bike is equipped with a:
(a) power meter (+2)
(b) computer (+1)
(c) bell (-1)

22. Spandex:
(a) Yes (-1)
(b) No (-1)
(c) Maybe (-1)
(d) On Halloween (-1)

23. BONUS POINTS! How many team sports do you play?
(+1 for each league you belong to; paintball doesn't count)

24. You exercise because:
(a) you want to win a triathlon (+2)
(b) you want to improve your health (+2)
(c) you want a and b, plus you want to eat more ice cream (+5)




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