The cooper test which was designed by Kenneth H. Cooper in 1968 for US military use is a physical fitness test. In its original form, the point of the test is to run as far as possible within 12 minutes. Pacing is important, as the participant will not cover a maximal distance if they begin with a pace too close to an all out sprint. The outcome is based on the distance the test person ran, their age and their sex. It is an easy test to perform in larger groups. For athletes, the length of the run is considered to be that of a long distance run, since everything above 3 km is rated "long distance"—which means the runner will primarily use their "red", slow oxidative muscle cells. For comparison the 2 miles (3,218.7 meters) outdoor world record is 7:58.61 by Daniel Komen, the 5000 meters world record outdoor of Joshua Cheptegei is 12:35.36. The 2 miles outdoor world record for women is Meseret Defar with 8:58.58 and Tirunesh Dibaba time for the outdoor 5000 m is 14:11.15. Interpretation of results The following is an example of the many tables that exist for the test: VO2 max estimate The results can be correlated with VO2 max. Formula: where d12 is distance (in metres) covered in 12 minutes, alternatively where d(miles)12 is distance (in miles) covered in 12 minutes. Practical use For practical use, precise monitoring presents a challenge. Not all military bases have a running track, and tracking soldiers' laps and positions after 12 minutes is difficult. Testing is easier to administer when the distance is fixed and the finishing time measured. In his original book, Cooper also provided an alternate version of the test, based on the time to complete a 1.5 mile run. Most armies and police agencies of the world use a fixed distance. This is not exactly a Cooper test but a reasonable practical compromise as long as the distance is of sufficient length to put a continuous load on the cardiovascular system for 10 or more minutes. For example, the British Army uses 1.5 miles, the Australian Army uses 2.4 kilometers, the US Army uses 2 miles and the US Marine Corps 3 miles. For each base the course is measured and local corrections (elevation, conditions, etc.) applied. Soldiers are sent off in waves, and timed over the finish line by some PTIs with