Kosmin Test Validity

The test is silly. These interval tests often overpredict for runners relatively strong on the stamina side.

If you want to predict the 1500 easily, have her race an 800 in racing flats and then multiply that time by 2.

Another approach is 350m x 5 is also very close -- at least for a for a well trained endurance type athete heading towards best racing well above 1500m.

If you want to use an interval session, most any session will do if you compare interval marks to subsequent racing performance.

350 x 5....please explain how this can predict a 1500m performance?

Anyone familiar with the Kosmin test know if my formula is correct? I would not say the athlete I tested has a lot of stamina and to tell you the truth, she was not going very fast. I definitely have my doubts about its accuracy but have heard of it being used by coaches with good results.

This site does the calculations for you.

http://www.brianmac.co.uk/kosmin.htm

Yeah, that is where I got the numbers I used. Has no one on this board used either of these tests, either with or without success?

Okay, I'll fess up.

About 10 years ago as a new masters I ran a series of mile-800 races, culminating with a masters mile win. I saw reference to Kosmin on an internet board, not unlike Letsrun, so I gave Test 2 a shot about a week befor our last all comer's race. Yes, I did hit the time that was equivalent to my mile/1500 time. The workout sucked, and I was sore for days afterward. I was very flat for final race--didn't help that this punk from UMass hung back 7 or 8 sec the whole way only to blast through the last 400, with locals cheering him on for beating the old man/outsider...but that's another story.

Anyway, I thought it was a waste of time and would not recommend this workout as a 'test'. Rather, run 1000 to 1200 m at pace. Or run a 1500 m time trial, or just find a race.

Why would you run a 1500m time trial? Obviously a race is the best way to find out where their performance level is. If you are testing a person by themselves, having them run a 1500m TT is not going to say much. But thanks for your feedback.

Does anyone have any other Tests or workouts they use to fairly accurately predict an athletes 1500m capability at the moment, without having them actually race a 1500m, or even an 800m?

AK50 is dialed in. Since performance predict performance, any test distance of shorter duration will do quite nicely.

Controlled effort or all out, multiple or single rep, lots of options. Kosmin not such a great one.

Bump seeking more people trying the Kosmin 800m test and its validity

I coached an All American middle distance runner in the 90's and I successfully used the Kosmin test for 800 meter potiential. My athlete ran within 1/2 second of the test's predicted time each season. I found it to be a fairly effective tool to uncover weakness in training.

I had 3 hs runners over the past two weeks run a 1500m time trial and a 1500m kosmin test a week later. All three ran the kosmin 18% faster than they did the straight up 1500. I'm trying to make sense of these results, but I havnt been able to. They are jv runners 6-7min mile prs which may contribute.

I believe the test is focused on athletes around the 148-158 range, sort of like a bell curve. It over extimates the abilities of runners above this range an under estimates athletes below this range. So for your slower hs athletes the test will formulate a much faster 800 / 1500 that they can potentially run.

I used this test (the 800 version) quite regularly with high school runners after a few weeks of conditioning. I agree and disagree with points made so far. My observations:

Agree with "the devil" about it's effectiveness being normed. But, for me it worked well enough with boys and girls through the 2:35 range.

Interestingly, I would do the test and about six to eight weeks later with more training the predicted time would be realized. These weren't seasoned runners, they were young and developing.

It was great for matching ability groups; determining strength, endurance, and seeing a peek at performance ability. It was also a great workout when started with an effective warm-up and finished with a 2-3 mile run.

It's a great challenge that is not as difficult as running an all out 800 or mile, so can be worked in to a training schedule occasionally to provide a challenge, build confidence (when results improve), and get some good combined speed/endurance work.