The TAN RUN as a test for AFL aerobic levels
The TAN is popular with thousands of people and particularly AFL players and sub elite groups and players. But how good a test is it? The myths and legends surrounding it just keep coming. And of course a run around the block will usually give a good indication of who has good aerobic levels. In reality the body doesnt know where it is. It just moves!
But the TAN is a messy run. The Anderson Street Hill, then the downhill slope and in fact the length. Add the fumes. Nice look about it but massive pollution levels.
For scientific purposes a 3km or even better a 2km run is better to do at local level. 2km willl tell you all you need to know if run on an athletics track and allows players to have a crack.
And if you want to be fancy the velocity one runs a 2km in can be useful information for a fitness person to base training on. IE The average speed. Then one can plan aerobic interval training efffectively.
One year I ran the TAN with the Essendon players as a 40 YO ex hammer thrower. Fit of course! Anyway I went hard up the Anderson St hill with some good fit players and hit the wall at the top and crawled home. Terrible time. 4 weeks later we retested and all I did was sit behind Choco Williams. I knew his time from before and waited till 10m from home ( not 20m!) and outsprinted him. 2 minutes faster by just not oercommitting up the hill.
So as a run great for AFL players, but as a test with some useful data no.
loris bertolacci 
When I did the Tan I put the afterburners on up the Hill and then pushed the turbo button on the hill on the way down. Didnt see anyone else around me that day. Sub 12:30 tan.