Need help with my IST scores. And I am about to leave.

[MunkyVsRobot]

I think he meant boot camp doesn't involve AS MUCH PT as we all think. I've heard that also. Still, its far more than the average person would do.

So, i went from a 17 minute 1.5 mile to a 11:55 as of my last poolee function. Basically, i ran every day. Not at a slow or fast pace just ran for 20 minutes every morning and 40 minutes every night. This boosted my endurance to new heights. So the following week i ran at a faster pace, looking to clock time. Not my IST times but it was decent times. You really just need to learn to run hard. Sprint hard at the end of all your runs, every time you run. This helped me from April-May. i ran 13:36 at April's function and 11:55 at May's. Im improving daily. Good luck man.

That I hear is a truisim, we had a PFC who was home on Recruiters Assistance basically he was waiting to get into MOS school so he went home to help the recruiters and he can screw around at home too.

He said the 1st phase your life is just to PT PT PT every day, the 2nd phase you PT in the morning for a few hours 5 days a week typically in the morning then you are in class all day, then 3rd phase you PT something like 2 to 3 times a week.

[Honcho1010]

Exactly the way i heard it. My recruiter told us the 1st month is the hardest, full of PT. Said if you push yourself it should become easier the last 2 months. We shall all see soon...

[IHaveEGA843]

I don't know about yall but I'm ready to be in the best shape of my life!

The soreness, the suck of it, the will to push and continue, the random thoughts of complaining that will be going through my head, and that sigh of relief when your day is done and you can finally rest because you're damn tired.

I want it

[StephenKlein87]

My recruiter has us work on our strides a lot. I never thought it would help that much, but instead of taking those short choppy steps, take really long steps. I went from 10:24 to a 9:20 mile and a half just concentrating on strides alone. It also helps me to think about my breathing the whole time. I usually just match my breathing with my steps. Three breaths in, three breaths out with every step. Then when I start getting tired it usually goes to 2 breaths in 2 breaths out. Really focus on the strides though. It might feel goofy at first, but just take large steps. Don't sprint, just take really large steps and keep a consistent speed.

[IHaveEGA843]

^^^^^Truth!!!

If you have long legs like I do utilize of them because the stride covers more ground.

[Patientlywaitin]

Hmm I will try all of this, I just bet it would be a whole lot easier having someone to run with and push you. I guess I am just gonna run 4-5 days a week and concentrate on sprint/jog. And sprint a 1/4 jog a 1/4 and do it as long as I can.

My problem is my speed, and my endurance really. I am trying to build endurance but I cant do both at the same time it seems I am either gonna run for 30 mins without stopping or run a fast 12 mins. And I was running at 6mph. or 5.5 at times to catch my breath. I cant breath through my nose cause of a deviated septum, but I try to breath as good as I can to balance my running and muscle movement. I guess I just gotta do whatever it takes. Run for a 1/4 jog a 1/4 seems like it will work alright?

[Tbrown10]

just split it up one day work on speed, next day endurance

[SnowByThePound]

There has been lots of good advice given but simple the issue is that you havent been running. Just keep to it everyday, make sure you are eating healthy clean foods for energy

Put on your poolee t-shirt, start running, and every time your legs feel like jell-o, or you start getting short of breath, tell yourself not to be a b!tch(Literally) and keep moving, even if you have to slow your pace down a little. Pretend there is a DI next to you and you are telling him "I cant i cant" and what the response is going to be. When you are getting tired, just think about those people overseas in 100+ degree weather, patrolling and doing other jobs that put them in harms way, who aren't stopping because they are "tired", then be grateful you don't have 60-100Lbs of extra weight on. Pretend you are running through from Point A to Point B to do your mission, and if you don't get there in time, you or someone else may get hurt. Find a friend to run with.. i'm sure one of the other poolees in your RSS would love to have a partner in the journey, or one of your recruiters could set something up as well.

Motivate motivate motivate in whatever way you can and at the end of the day if you can honestly say you are happy about how hard you pushed, then you have got nothing to worry about.



Dont quote me on this but..
As long as you can complete a reasonable IST i believe you wont get cycled, but keep in mind.. you'll most likely be tired as sh!t before you even start. My buddy's IST dropped DRAMATICALLY, and he enlisted in the AF, not the Marine Corps. You are more or less deprived of your average full night of sleep.. not to mention the 2+day check in when you take your first steps.

GL and keep on moving.

[OVonRomer]

I used to be horrible at running. I wasn't even able to run a quarter of a lap on a standard high school track without feeling as if I was going to get a heart attack. However, in the last year or so, I've gone out to the local park every day (which has a track twice the size of a high school track), and I've been doing 5 laps a day. In addition to that, I use a stationary bike (vigorous effort) 4 times a day, for 30 minutes per time. And I can't include the famous treadmill, which is harder than life because it's not electrical.

[Dutch 44]

On that subject, i suggest once anyone is comfortable with running, they avoid the treadmills and elliptical and bikes when working on your running, running on a track or road or whatever is going to be way more beneficial mentally and physically than a treadmill. One of the hardest parts of running is the mental factor, forcing your self to speed up, regulating pace, and distributing your energy, a treadmill is going to rob you of all that.

That being said elliptical and bike can be a good low impact option, i like to do one day of cardio a week in that fashion be it bike, elliptical or swim, but in no way should any of them be considered a substitute for just RUNNING.

[PNW2011]

I would also recommend swimming twice a week to give yourself some time off from running. It will strengthen your core, your shoulders, and biceps. It will also keep your body temperature cool while you improve your endurance, which is what I love about it. Not to mention it will help your swim qualification (duh).