Home > Fitness Testing > Tests > Anaerobic Capacity > 800 meter Run

The 800m run test can be considered an anaerobic capacity test that is a bit long, or an aerobic fitness test that is a bit short. As an aerobic test, it may be suitable for children. See also the 1km run test, which has a variation over 800m for teenage girls.

equipment required: oval or 400m running track, stopwatch, recording sheets.

pre-test: Explain the test procedures to the subject. Perform screening of health risks and obtain informed consent. Prepare forms and record basic information such as age, height, body weight, gender, test conditions. Measure and mark out the course. Ensure that the participants are adequately warmed-up. See more details of pre-test procedures.

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procedure: The aim of this test is to complete the 800 meter course in the quickest possible time. To start, all participants line up behind the starting line. On the command ‘go,’ the clock will start, and they will begin running at their own pace. Cheering or calling out the elapsed time is also permitted to encourage the participants to achieve their best time.

scoring: The total time taken to run 800m is recorded. Use the table below to get a rating from the test time for adults.

reliability: the reliability of this test would depend on practice and pacing strategies and motivation level. There should be good reliability if these issues are addressed.

advantages: large groups can be tested at once, and it is a very cheap and simple test to perform.

disadvantages: Practice and pacing are required to maximize the subject performance, and also the test results can be affected greatly by motivation.

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Similar Tests

• 1-km run — run 1km as past as possible
• 300m run test — time to run 300m on a track testing anaerobic capacity.

Related Pages

• Other anaerobic capacity tests
• Middle distance track and field events
• About Intermittent Sports Fitness Testing

Old Comments

Commenting is generally closed on this page, though I've kept some previous comments

• Running in the 800m is a challenge itself. It takes strong discipline for greatness, effort, focus, and heart. It IS hard to run a fast time in the 800m, wether it be 2:15, 2:00, or the world record of 1:40.91. But only if you truly want it, you will reach for the stars, and achieve greatness. I am Aiden Trusty, ran a 2:18 last year and am aiming for 2:03-2:00 as a Sophomore. *Tip: Stay in XC, work on strength and endurance, read Chad Metcalf's Mental Toughness, and get the Nike Zoom Victories. Also, if you happen to find any frauds on here, just find them on Milesplit. (from Aiden Trusty, Jan 2024)
• Yo, If you are an athlete, you should not worry about the chart, because the chart is referring to the fat America we live in. For a high school athlete male, you should be expecting about 2:30, somewhere in that area for the 800m, which is good. Comment by freshman athlete with a time of 2:34, soon to be 2:16. (Aiden Trusty, Dec 2022)
• Back in the 1980s in India, when we were in School and College, anything below 2.10 for 800 meters was considered quite good, though may not be enough to enter the nationals. (narayanan iyer, July 2021)
• Is the score related to age??? Arik balin (2014) -
  • The table has results for young adults. Ratings for children and older adults should be adjusted accordingly. Rob Admin (2014)
• KIᖇIᒪ ᔕEᔕTᗩKOᐯᔕ Moz (2020)
  Thats a lie because the quickest time ever recorded was 1:40 by David Rudisha and he was 26 years old and a professional athlete when he did it. So dont think your cool because your a 14 year old liar :)
• Sean (2020)
  What I find strange is that theres alot of people lieing about there best time and im being honest here my best time is 1:59 and im 14 if you dont believe your fine to have your own opinion
• Payton Wasson Sean (2020)
  Can you please stop lying stupid it doesn't get you any ware with lying and if you did have that time people would of herd of you
• Alejandro Torres Payton Wasson (2020)
  Don't be too sure about that. There are tons of high schoolers every year running 1:50-1:55, with the fastest running 1:48-49. Lots of kids, even freshman (which he would probably be if he's actually 14 years old) run sub 2 or even 1:55ish without ever being noticed. Not to say this Sean dude isn't lying, but it's 100% possible that he's not.
• 4re (2020)
  my best is 2:47, and I was 10, is that good for playing football (soccer and doing athletics twice a week? (btw I came second)
• Kodie Myers (2020)
  So covid really messed up my season my first 800 for the season was a 2:04 and I was planning on going sub 2 because at practice I was running 1:35 600 repeats 10 times and it was my senior year SO FML ima just enlist my scholarship were gone and all out of state JuGO
• Alejandro Torres Kodie Myers (2020)
  Did you actaully do 10x600@1:35? That's 6000m of volume at 4:15 pace, hard to believe that coming from a 2:04 guy. Not to say it's impossible though. If you actually did do that workout, you were ready to shatter 2 minutes.
• So benipal (2020)
  Hey, 16 year old
  and run 800m under 2.12
  I'm planning to go for athletics AS career. But can u tell me are all these efforts, are worth in terms of money? Like what you get if u be a champion.im India
• Jared (2020)
  The fastest i ran was a 2:20 is that good
• R.J (2020)
  I am a 10th grade girl who ran a 2:38 just recently. Is that good?
• Amirletahir R.J (2020)
  Yes that is very well, you will drop this time greatly over the two years, as a boy i ran a 2:35 last year and as a junior 2:03 now 10-11 just make sure to get in your weekend mileage and core at home. Also, make sure to join cross-country if you need anymore help with the 8 contact me on instagram at Amirletahir
• Andrew Wallace (2019)
  I'm 15, in 10th grade and have gotten as low as a 1:52.38, and do not believe this to be accurate
• Elijah Calhoun Andrew Wallace (2020)
  I smell it Andrew...you'd be on the top rankings for highschool 800m. At 1:52 you'd basically be the fastest 800 runner in the rankings across all grade levels. But quite frankly, I can't find a single thing about you. Which is very odd in the track world for somebody who has ran a 1:52
• Alejandro Torres Elijah Calhoun (2020)
  Not true. 1:52 is pretty quick in most states but pales in comparison to the best in the nation who run 1:48-1:50. Tons of kids no one has heard of run low 1:52-ish but are overshadowed by faster kids. He wouldn't be ranked nationally for 10th graders, let alone "all grade levels." Not to say he isn't lying, cause he very well could be, but you can't deny that it's realistic for him to actually run 1:52 as a 10th grader
• Tyler. (2019)
  Sir I am 13 and I ran myn is 2:32 is that good?
• Andrew Mckerell (2019)
  I did it in 1:48 when I was 14,,,, That's 37 years ago. Then I started smoking. I can run for a bus for about 2 stops before I have to give up. Maybe if the ~~~~~~#;s looked in their mirrors eh?
• Jeff RM Andrew Mckerell (2019)
  Do you have proof of this? 1:48 for a 14-year-old is a world-class level, in fact, it's almost NON EXISTANT. Please provide me with actual proof of this and don't pull someone else who ran a 1:48 and claim it's you. Lots of people here claim these times yet they don't have shreds of evidence
• Andrew Mckerell Jeff RM (2019)
  Let's not forget that I am actually 51 now. I don't need to make outrageous comments. But I do regret that I never continued with my athletics. I ran with Charlton Harriers for a year but unfortunately my emotions got the better of me and I was sectioned. Oh I also got the school record for the triple jump at 11.34 meters :) Announced over the tanoy on sports day.
• Andrew Mckerell Jeff RM (2019)
  Unfortunately I don't have proof of it. Perhaps it is on my old schools records as I ran this as part of the Victor Ludorum in which I came only 3rd. I do have a witness but he's my brother so that probably doesn't count. Also a guy called Roger Askew who was also an excellent 800 and 1500 meter runner. He would smash me at 1500.
• FaZe Censor Andrew Mckerell (2019)
  bro... 1:48 is 8 seconds away from the world record of all time, im positive you either got wrong information or that u ran 600m
• Dustin Harris FaZe Censor (2020)
  1:48 in the 800 yard, not the 800meter. Most U.S.A. high schools didn't run meters until the 90s
• Alejandro Torres Dustin Harris (2020)
  1:48 for 800yd would actually make sense because that converts to about 1:58 for 800m. While this is very fast for a 14 year old in the 80s, it's not unrealistic as the best freshmen nowadays can run low-mid 1:50s
• Jairo Hernandez (2019)
  I'm 176 lbs and in the 6th grade and can run it in 2:40
• Kain Howl (2019)
  I'm 15 and I run a 2:03 800. Does that make me mega excellent?
• Andrew Mckerell Kain Howl (2019)
  Yes that's quite brilliant. Perhaps you should find a trainer to help you. Or join a athletic club? Speak to your peers ie. Teachers etc
• GMoney (2018)
  I ran it in 1:15 my cooch wus weally mad a t me soo me ran as fast as me cold.
• Pete Neumann GMoney (2019)
  2:15 is what you meant? 1:15 would be about 25 seconds faster than the WR.
• Oceanman josh (2018)
  i am in 7th gr8d and can run a 800 in 2:26 and i am 14
• Junior blg (2017)
  I ran the 800m in1:58 and i am in 10th grade
• Storm b junior blg (2018)
  I ran the 800 meter in 1:34 and I'm 6th grade and 11 years old. It is a true statement because I play all five sports available at my school and I ran around the track everyday.
• Cody Aery storm b (2018)
  Youre thinking of a 400m. 800m is two laps around the track.
• Bob storm b(2018)
  You can't be right. The WR is 1:40.91
• Tim junior blg(2018)
  No way... That would be nearly World record
• Stormey (2016)
  my best on the 800 meter was at my district track meet I was in 7th grade and 12 years old and 5''0 im only going into 8th and im now 13 so I am above average I am good and my best was a 3 flat
• Aaron (2016)
  2:45 is poor for 800m but I get that this is meant for average non-runners
• AJ Aaron (2018)
  I ran 2:45 at age 10 female too
• Jalen Shelton (2016)
  I just ran 2:04 is this chart accurate
• Joseph Hart (JosephDoesGames) (2015)
  I am 13 and I ran 800m in 2:14 on a proper running track and on grass I ran it in 2:28. Is that normal?