How often and for how long should I run for, when I'm training myself for the army?

WANTED Crimes Against Humanity

If it's the same as when I was in the army about 30 years ago, the farthest we ever ran at one time was one mile (and it's wearing combat boots not running shoes). I used to run about ten miles 5 days a week before I went in, but that didn't help me a lot. I would have been better off to train to run one mile at a faster pace. You'll do a lot more marching, sometimes wearing a pack. A really good idea, if you can do it, is get the regulation boots ahead of time, that you will be wearing. Then you can get them broken in. I suffered with a lot of bad blisters when we did long hikes.

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gijoesigo

The Army conducts the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) every 6 months. in the APFT you will be required to do a certain amount of Push-ups in 2 minutes, followed by a specific amount of Sit-ups in 2 minutes and run 2 miles under a specific amount of time.

I suggest you do Fartlek training. Sound as if you are doing it now. Google "Fartlek training" to get an idea what I am talking about.

Essentially, you would run a quarter mile at full speed, then jog the next quarter mile, then run the next quarter mile and so forth. Of course it is best to do this on a quarter mile track, such as the one at your High School.

You can also try a small approach, run at your full speed have the quarter miles track (1/8 mile), jog the next 1/8 mile and run the next 1/8 mile.

What you are doing is increasing your endurance.

However you train- there is one thing you need to know...ensure you drink plenty of water before, during and after and make sure you have good running shoes. If your "running shoes" are you daily shoes to work, school and etc- they are NOT GOOD. Get a pair of running shoes and wear them specifically for runnning and nothing else. Often times, people get the wrong type of shoe or they wear a pair of old running shoes they found in the back of the closet. In time, you will start to notice feet and/or knee problems.

NAZGUL

Be able to run for 2-3 miles when you leave with an average time of 8-9 minutes PER mile...This will make recruit training a little easier. Basic will do the rest. Good Luck

Vet-USAF

@dded : Run 5 days a week, do as much time as you can at first then go for distance.....walk then run every day pushing your self farther every day.

I am I, You are you

Part of the qualifications for the Army at this time is to accomplish a mile in 8 1/2 minutes. The amount of time that you currently can run doesn't tell us how far you are running. I suggest that every other day, at least, that you run for 1 mile. Keep track of your time that it takes you, and begin to push yourself harder over time. Don't get fustrated if you don't meet this timeframe at first. Practice, and keep your pace consistant. If you push to hard in the beginning, you will wear yourself out for the middle and end of the run, and you will not improve on your time.
Remember to start out knowing where a mile starts and end's. That is more important. The aspect of jogging and then walking and jogging isn't really all that helpful to you.
Jog as long as you can and remember the minimum goal that you will need to reach. Best of luck to you.

hoot

run every day eventually you will get more stamina

JARHEAD

What you're doing is good, don't change anything. Once in basic your time will get better and strength will increase.

Good luck!!

Army Strong!!!!!!!!!

erick t

Don't sweat it my friend and thank you for serving. The key is to meet the height and weight requirements. The US army will whip you into shape in no time about two months to notice remarkable differences.
To improve covering distance, try wearing a small back pack with 10 pounds of weight. Water bottles work just fine and as you travel you drink the weight away. Walk uphill, lightly jog downhill, run and jog on straight aways. Pick an object ahead and concentrate Only on reaching that point. When you've reached that point, quickly select an other point.
Gradually increased distance = Gradually increased endurance.
Good luck I know tha you can make it.

Greco

Here's a site that has a training program for you. You'll need Adobe reader if you don't already have it.

http://assets.goarmy.com/downloads/pocket_pt_guide.pdf

Here's the web page I found that at. It has some other information. Check out the whole Army Recruiting web site if you haven't already. Also see a recruiter. The download explains the program, but the recruiter will test you and then put you in a physical training group depending on your level of fitness. This is not a punishment. It's to help you be ready for Basic.

http://www.goarmy.com/downloads/pt_guide.jsp

Mel W

You'll want to be able to run an 8 minute mile. Also, you should be able to run longer distances like 5-8 miles sustaining around 11-12 minutes per mile.

Don't forget to practice push-ups and sit-ups, too.

God bless!

EBMT

How far do you cover in that first 12 minutes ?? When I was in the Army the goal was to be able to do (jog) one mile under full combat load in 10 minutes or less. A combat load was with rifle,,ammo,,alice pack with 60lbs. in it and dressed in BDU's and boots....The other ultimate was a 10 mile march,loaded, with only a 10 minute break every hour...Not sure what the new modern Army requires now though....The main goal was endurance and being able to keep going....

nonldsinutah

Wind sprints seem to work better for taking time off of a run than just running for a long time.

Chris

I knew a guy who ran 10 miles every other day to get in shape for the army along with some intense weight lifting. Doesn't the army have standards or recommendations you could find for this?

angryman1n

This is how AF basic training is run. We exercised 7 days a week, swapping running and calisthenics each day. (stretching everyday)

We started w/ 30 minutes of continuous jogging, and every two weeks they bumped it up 15 minutes.

This was a good work out. You pace yourself on cardio days. So you should stay in your cardio zone. Strength is worked in so you put on muscle to increase burn. And, you get time to recover.

I went into basic in descent but not great shape. I came out 9 lbs heavier and managed to knock 4 minutes off my two mile test. (chiseled)

polarisdude94

Always try to push yourself. The more you run, the longer you will be able to run.

virgil

Yes, there is no limit. You need to be able to run nonstop for 15 miles. Don't jog because it is hard on your body and wears you out more quickly. run at a slow place.

David D

get a friend with a big stick,a very loud voice and a wide and colorful range of profanities to run behind your screaming abuse in your ear and you will soon be running 4 minuet miles

Vanilla II

an hour daily 1 mile or so!

blake_crow09

10 time a day

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