The dreaded beep test: outdated or still a valid assessment of your fitness?

For many, the beep test is seared into memory.

And not just the test itself, but the wave of dread that came before hearing that first beep in school physical education (PE) classes.

Also known as the 20-metre shuttle run or multistage fitness test, this relentless and escalating series of sprints between two lines has long been a staple of PE classes, sports training and military fitness assessments.