Need To Get In Shape For Army Training

#1
Lewis Millar

Posted 23 January 2012 - 04:48 PM

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Hi guys I'm new to the Forum,
I found the forum when searching for fitness forums as I wanted to possibly obtain some advice on getting in shape and ready for the Army, and I was wondering if anyone could give some pointers.

I'm not 100% sure about my weight or how many calories I'm eating for that matter, but I can say I'm 20 Years of Age and eat my 3 Meals a day without snacking between, meals can be various things always changing but contain Veg and Cereal for the morning.

Forced myself into an Army style sleeping pattern, sleep at 10pm awake at 5:30am, but when I get up that early I find myself sitting around doing nothing once I have showered, had breakfast and got changed (of-course if I don't have work that day), because I only exercise Monday-Wednesday-Friday, as I was told that's the best way to do it.

My 1.5Mile run time is 14Minutes and it needs to be as close to 10Mins as I can get it, before March at the latest or I will fail my fitness test.

Can anyone help me?

I will give any more information as requested.

#2
Bataz

Posted 24 January 2012 - 06:33 PM

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Hi mate, im former Army Infantry so can answer questions you have the best I can. You need to get that time down mate so get out running 3/4 times a week at least.

#3
Theo M. Whittington

Posted 24 January 2012 - 10:07 PM

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Like the guy above said, practice will get you there.

Here are a few ways to improve your CV ability.

Running for time -

This is essentially what your test is and so it is very important that you practice this way.
Aim for a time closer and closer to the required time, effort after effort. You should ideally have passed the test in training a few times before doing your actual test.

Intervals -

Overrated for fat loss but excellent for building anaerobic and aerobic capacity. Do about 10 sets of intervals, 10 seconds hard sprinting, 20 seconds jogging (that's 1 rep). Really give everything you have in those 10 second sprints.

You don't really need to bother with longer slow running for your goal given that you have about 8 weeks to achieve it in you should focus on the above methods. I'd say you can do up to 2 sessions of each per week. (4 sessions total) You have a bit of work to do, but in my experience CV ability comes up to a proficient level very quickly when properly trained.

Best of luck to you and don't forget to check back on here when you pass

Theo

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#4
Bataz

Posted 25 January 2012 - 12:25 PM

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Do some hill sprints because when you get to phase 1 training you will be doing plenty! mmwahahahaha

#5
Lewis Millar

Posted 07 February 2012 - 02:37 PM

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Thanks for taking the time to reply to my Thread guys, sorry about the delay but I have an update on my fitness so far.

1.5 Run time has gone down from 14Mins to 11Mins, this is after 2 weeks of doing as you said and running 4 times a week with what Theo said being involved in there also (the sprinting), I found when searching the forum for answers on why my fitness progress was so slow, and I found that I wasn't pushing myself hard enough, and not upping the tempo so to speak.

is there any point doing Press ups and Sit ups often? I do them but I'm wondering is there a better way to improve upper body from home? as they are rather boring.

#6
KinverRoss

Posted 07 February 2012 - 10:22 PM

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Couldnt agree more with the hill sprinting idea. Nothing teaches you how to hold form better or puts some power in your legs like hill sprints. Pick a hill section that is as steep as you can manage but that you can run up t for about 60 seconds. Run up the hill and then jog back down for a recovery and repeat. Aim to complete 6-10 reps and you will be smashing that 1.5mile time in no time!

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