Question of Performance

This is a hypothetical for the RLSH community to consider.

Should there be suggested minimal levels of performance for RLSH to strive to achieve and surpass?

In comic books we have these superheroes who can out perform the general population. When we watch tv shows or films with people becoming heroes, there is typically some sort of training montage where they go from zero to hero.

Typical performance tests include a 1.5 mile run, sit ups done in 1 minute, pull ups done in 1 minute, and push ups done within a time frame. For each of these areas, I have put together a collection of averages and minimums of average people, secret service, FBI, and various Navy groups. Before we begin, I want to mention that the FBI has a scoring system where you have to get a 1 or better in its categories, with a grand minimum total of 12 points to pass.

With the 1.5 mile run, the Navy has most of the faster times with the FBI following close behind, then the secret service. This is more of an endurance run test. Heroes need to be capable of outrunning the average person. If you are an RLSH, what is your 1.5 mile run time? Where on the charts would you fall? Is it an area where you need improvement?

The FBI also tests for a 300 meter sprint, which is not included here.

Sit ups are another way of testing performance. This is a core focused test. What we have presented here is Average versus Secret Service for as many reps as possible within 1 minute. The Navy does the same thing but within a 2 minute window. The FBI doesn't use sit ups as part of their testing. Where do you fall on the chart? Can you out do the average person in your age range? Can you meet secret service or Navy levels?

Pull ups are a combination of back and bicep utilization. As you can see from the average person section, pull ups can be difficult for people. There isn't a time limit for pull ups. It is a question of how many reps can you do in one go? There isn't a start, stop, start again scenario here. How do you compare to these charts?

Push ups are a combination of chest and tricep utilization. Here we have the average person going to failure (untimed), secret service and FBI are both timed for 1 minute, and the Navy times for 2 minutes. Again, how do you compare?

Let's revisit the main question here: Should there be suggested minimal levels of performance for RLSH to strive to achieve and surpass?

If "No", why not? Please leave a comment. Please continue reading.

If "Yes", what would you suggest the minimal levels to be?  Please leave a comment. Please continue reading.

RLSH could stick with the 1.5 mile run, push ups, sit ups, and pull ups, which is all very standard for performance testing, but what else should be considered and why?

It should come as no surprise that the Navy has a swim test. The Navy tends to base its operation around water, so a swim test seems like a no-brainer. The FBI has a sprint test, because in the field they may be required to do a short sprint to catch a criminal.

Above: Four 1992 Marvel Trading Cards, series 3

Do you think this could be a way to ensure a more physically capable RLSH community? Would this be beneficial? As seen with the Marvel trading cards, the superheroes' abilities are ranked on a system. Could RLSH create some sort of suggested rating system and performance test for a group of similar abilities?

Please leave your comments below. Remember, this is just a hypothetical for suggested RLSH performance.