The FitnessGram™ Pacer Test is a physical test in which participants are challenged to run a 20-meter distance back and forth in under a certain time. The test goes up to 247 beeps (21 levels), spanning 22 minutes and 6 seconds. The test originated in 1977 when the Director of Health and Physical Education of the Richardson, Texas school system, Charles L. Sterling, recognized that school administration and parents were interested in seeing a physical fitness “report card”.
In 1981, Dr. Sterling joined the staff of the Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research in Dallas. The Institute had a mainframe computer that allowed batch processing of the physical fitness reports. This created the opportunity to take the concept to a wider audience, but a name was needed. FITNESSGRAM® was chosen through a contest in the local school district. Nancy Voith is credited for having the winning entry.
Throughout the test, there is a number of jazz and funk instrumentals in the background. These beats include “Hi Rollers” by Matthew Corbett and Mike Wilkie, “Born to Funk” by Stephan Sechi, “Wild One” and “Groove Ride” by Pete Stanford,.
In total, throughout the 22-minute test, 247 20-meter distances could have been completed, equalling 4,940 meters, or 3.07 miles.
