1.5-Mile Run (Cooper)
Page updated: Evidence reviewed: What this means
The 1.5-mile run test records the time needed to cover exactly 1.5 miles (2.414 km). These age- and sex-specific rankings come from the CCS Cooper Standards scoring document, not from the different 1.5-mile table in the Cooper Institute 2013 monograph. They are descriptive reference percentiles, not pass standards or minimum job requirements. The CCS document publishes percentile rows but does not disclose a sample, collection period, or derivation. Its P5, P25, P50, P75, and P95 times differ from the 2013 monograph scan in 58 of 60 age/sex cells, so FitnessNorms does not claim the two tables are interchangeable or use the monograph's sample counts for this page.
How to Perform This Test (Protocol)
- Equipment
-
- Flat running course or track measured to exactly 1.5 miles (2.414 km)
- Stopwatch
- Protocol Steps
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- Avoid a heavy meal and smoking for 2-3 hours before the test, and warm up before running.
- Position the participant at the start line and begin timing on the start command.
- Cover exactly 1.5 miles as fast as possible without physical assistance or leaving the measured course.
- Stop timing at the finish line and record the result to the nearest second.
- Walk for about 5 minutes after finishing to cool down.
- Scoring
Record the total elapsed time in minutes and seconds. Lower times indicate better aerobic fitness.
- Notes
A nominal 2.4 km course is about 14 m shorter than 1.5 miles. Use the same exact distance, surface, timing method, and environmental conditions when comparing repeated tests. This summary does not replace pre-test health screening or supervised-test procedures.
Data source: CCS Cooper Standards About this study
Reference population: Not disclosed; the document supplies age- and sex-specific scoring rows for law-enforcement physical assessment
1.5-Mile Run (Cooper) Norms Chart by Age and Sex (mm:ss)
| Age | Sex | Percentile | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 95th | ||
| 20-29 | Male | 9:10 | 10:34 | 11:58 | 13:25 | 16:46 |
| Female | 10:20 | 12:07 | 14:15 | 16:43 | 21:05 | |
| 30-39 | Male | 9:31 | 10:59 | 12:25 | 14:10 | 17:30 |
| Female | 11:08 | 13:08 | 15:14 | 17:38 | 21:57 | |
| 40-49 | Male | 9:47 | 11:32 | 13:05 | 15:00 | 18:39 |
| Female | 11:35 | 13:58 | 16:13 | 18:39 | 23:27 | |
| 50-59 | Male | 10:27 | 12:37 | 14:33 | 16:46 | 21:40 |
| Female | 13:16 | 15:47 | 18:05 | 20:55 | 26:15 | |
| 60-69 | Male | 11:20 | 13:58 | 16:19 | 19:10 | 25:58 |
| Female | 14:28 | 17:34 | 20:08 | 23:20 | 29:06 | |
| 70-79 | Male | 12:25 | 15:38 | 18:39 | 22:22 | 30:34 |
| Female | 14:33 | 18:39 | 22:22 | 26:15 | 33:32 | |
What to expect by age group
| Age | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | 10:34 to 13:25 | 12:07 to 16:43 |
| 30-39 | 10:59 to 14:10 | 13:08 to 17:38 |
| 40-49 | 11:32 to 15:00 | 13:58 to 18:39 |
| 50-59 | 12:37 to 16:46 | 15:47 to 20:55 |
| 60-69 | 13:58 to 19:10 | 17:34 to 23:20 |
| 70-79 | 15:38 to 22:22 | 18:39 to 26:15 |
Detailed Breakdowns
Select an age group and sex below for detailed percentile charts, tables, and ratings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What population do these rankings represent?
The CCS scoring document does not disclose its sample, recruitment, collection period, or derivation. It should not be described as a nationally representative general-population table or as a Cooper Clinic patient table without additional evidence.
How reliable is the source data?
CCS is an academy scoring document rather than a peer-reviewed study. It publishes the full age/sex grid but no sample counts or derivation. Its selected percentile times conflict with the 2013 Cooper Institute monograph scan in 58 of 60 cells, so this page cites CCS directly and does not borrow the monograph's cohort description.
Is the 1.5-mile run the same as the 2.4 km run test?
Not exactly. A 1.5-mile course is 2.414 km, about 14 m longer than 2.4 km. That difference is small but matters when using a timed percentile table, so reproduce the source distance rather than treating the two course lengths as identical.
How does the 1.5-mile run relate to VO2 max?
The field test is used as an indicator of aerobic capacity, but this page reports elapsed-time percentiles only. It does not calculate VO2 max, and a field-test estimate is not the same as a laboratory measurement.
Related Metrics
Cooper Institute Fitness Norms
This test is one of about ten norm charts in the Cooper Institute's 2013 monograph. Law enforcement academies pick five to six of these tests to build their own field batteries.