Running in boot camp?

[hound79]

do we run everyday, every other day? twice a day? starting with 1.5miles?

what exactly is a forced march? walking with your pack, jogging, running?

[Monica]

Can't tell you what the PT schedule is now days, but after the IST when I was in receiving, we ran in the morning about every other day. (this was in 95)

A forced march is more like route stepping, not walking. Yes you will have a pack and your rifle. Our first hump/forced march was about 5 miles, then a 10 miler, then 15. If you are short, and at the back of the platoon, depending on the pace set by the Company commander, you may be running to catch up sometimes.

Good luck!

[gatormatt]

For your sake I hope you are tall. I'm always in the back and it is miserable having to slinky back up to the front. But whatever doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.

Matt

[Toby M]

Sorry Monica but you actually got to run only every other day? Boy, has the Marine Corps actually gotten that soft? I swear when I went in in 67, we ran every single minute of every single day all the up and until the day I graduated...We also had to run uphill both ways (no wait, that's another story)...Boots, packs or shovels (depending on if you made motivation paltoon) and full utilities, every day-twice a day (except Sunday). I hope my memeory hasn't failed me. Old guys maybe you can help...
As for today, I really can't add anything other than to start running and doing push ups as much and as often as you can. That way, when you do get to boot camp, you won't hurt so bad!

[hound79]

i'm 6' exactly. so a fast walk? route stepping what's that?

every other day running sounds good to me.

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

Route stepping is the actual name for the way you go on a forced march. Simply put, it is a really fast walk, that leaves most people running at one point or another. I was always at the front and still found times that the person in front of me was running, even if it was just the guide that was in front of me.

The only time you will run 1.5 miles is on the IST. After that your runs will be to prepare you for the PFT, which is three miles. So, expect to be running three miles before long. You would be wise to prepare for that now, so that it isn't difficult when you get to Recruit Training.

[Monica]

Toby M, sorry, running every other day meant scheduled PT! I was not referring to the every day activity such as running to the pit, or from the pit, or the running you have to do if you fall asleep during range classes, etc...........

Or for any other reason that a DI might feel like making you run! :)

[jryanjack]

I went to boot camp in 86, and we ran every day, for scheduled PT, sometimes it was a long run, sometimes shorter, sometimes we ran without going anywhere. And sometimes we even went Island Hopping - that way we learned our knowledge (USMC History) and PT'd at the same time!

[LcplStud]

i just got out of boot camp about 6 months ago. we had our schedualed pt which was about 3 times a week. we did cadence run around the pt field, S&E runs (sprinting a short distance, then stopping to do an excericese such as pull ups, crunches, side straddle hops and such), and then we would have have sprints and indian runs. to tell you the truth, when your all done and graduated, you may wish there were a little bit more running to make up for all the chow we ate (unless of course your a diet recuit). oh and then we had the occasional pft. just make sure your platoon does good at pt though, you don't wanna go to the pit right afterwards and get killed for an hour like mine did on several occasions. now, there is only a 3 mile, 5 mile, and 7 mile humps. not too bad, but try running them with a full pack! then you have the crucible, and the infamous reaper hike. the crucible will range between 58 to over a hundred miles, depending on how big your company is. we only marched about 70 miles, while a buddy of mine did 113. so have fun! note - i went to MCRDSD. this may be different with you PI marines.

[gatormatt]

Lance Corporal Stud,
I'm jsut curious how the size of the company affects the lenth of the crucible?
Matt

[LcplStud]

gatormatt - from what i've heard, the size of the company does indeed matter. for example, my buddy who graduated delta company around january, had only a platoon of about 40-50 recuits. therefore, while on the crucible, they were able to visit ever obstacle since there were less recuits for the DI to handle. that's just what he told me. he said at the end their 1st sgt congradulated them on trecking over a hundred miles. on the other hand, my company had about 80 recuits to every platoon. so we didn't get to see every single obstacle and thereby not hiking as much. i went from june to september 03. does that answer your question?

[gatormatt]

Yes, thank you very much.