Besides the ugly gym shorts, one of things you probably disliked most about school P.E. was the presidential fitness test you were forced to take each year. Many of us remember anguishing over sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups and rope-climbs, just to get that fitness certificate.

Now, you have a chance to do it again. Stop groaning. This time it's more fun and can be a real learning experience.

K.C. ALFRED / Union-Tribune Kimberly Barnum, 40, performed in the 80th percentile for half sit-ups.

PEGGY PEATTIE / Union-Tribune The treadmill proved a tough cardio test for 70-year-old Erin Barnum.

K.C. ALFRED / Union-Tribune Beau Barnum, 43, performs full-body push-ups for the Adult Fitness Test.

“Many baby boomers remember taking the test, and they came to us and said they'd like to take it again to find out how fit they are today,” says Melissa Johnson, executive director of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. “We had so many inquiries about the test that we designed an adult fitness test based on adult norms.”

Fitness fans and big kids at heart now have the opportunity to test their ability to do push-ups, sit-ups and timed runs and walks to see how they rank among their peers. The President's Challenge Adult Fitness Test is shorter than the old grade-school fitness drill launched by President Eisenhower in 1956. There's no rope-climb or pull-up. Instead, there are four basic tasks that measure the three elements of fitness: aerobic capacity, strength and flexibility.

The aerobic component of the test consists of a one-mile walk or a 1.5-mile run. It's recommended that people walk unless they routinely run at least 20 minutes, three times a week.

Two exercises make up the strength portion: push-ups and half sit-ups. The push-ups are performed until you can't squeeze another one out and the sit-ups are done for one minute. Flexibility is tested by a “sit-and-reach” stretch. Scores are entered and computed online. Age, gender, height, weight and waist measurement are also part of the equation.

Final scores are offered in percentiles, comparing the exerciser's efforts with other people of the same gender and age. The testing procedure and normative data was gathered with the help of the YMCA Fitness Testing and Assessment Manual and the Cooper Institute in Texas. To take the test or get more information about it, visit adultfitnesstest.org.

To see how some fairly fit adults fared on this test and if they thought it was an adequate assessment of their fitness, we asked three people to take the challenge and share their results. Taking the test were family members Erin Barnum, her son Beau, and his wife Kimberly.

Although the test is meant to be done on your own or with the assistance of a partner, for the sake of consistency we enlisted the help and expertise of Colette VandenBroeck, senior fitness director at the Mission Valley YMCA.

From a fitness professional's point of view, VandenBroeck says the Adult Fitness Test is “a pretty good battery of assessments.” She recommends retaking the test in about 12 weeks to see if there's improvement.

She likes the idea that the test is simple, fun and can be completed in less than an hour. However, she says it's important to remember that this is a “one-size-fits-all fitness testing protocol. So, people's size difference makes a real impact.”

This was apparent when Beau and Kimberly performed the half sit-ups, in which exercisers are asked to lift their trunk partially off the ground as they slide their fingers forward to a designated point.

“Kim had to do a lot more work to lift her body up and reach (the designated marker) with her hands because she's so petite. Beau didn't have to move his body as far just because he's so much taller,” VandenBroeck says.

One assessment she would add to the adult test is balance, noting that it's a big part of fitness, especially as people get older.

The purpose of the initial test is to give people a quantitative measurement of their fitness level and where they need to put their effort.

“Kimberly is a very strong woman. So she may want to focus on cardiovascular fitness. She's not in a bad place, but that's the area where she has room for improvement,” VandenBroeck says.

Same thing for Beau. By putting more emphasis on his cardiovascular fitness, his BMI may also be lowered. Erin's aerobic fitness could benefit from increasing her walking speed, and her flexibility needs some work.

“The whole point of the test is to use the information and then build on that and become physically active on a regular basis. Or, if you do very well on the test, maintain that fitness level,” Johnson says. “The Adult Fitness Test is simply a snapshot of where you are today. We want the test to be fun and doable and encourage people to set achievable fitness goals.”