Foo - I hate the Army Physical Fitness Test...

...but I passed it, and I don't have to run for another 6 months!! Woohoo!!!

So despite being a semi-OK cyclist, I suck at running and have not much upper body strength. So when the time comes for my semi-annual Army Physical Fitness Test, I start having anxiety attacks.

But today was different. I guess all this racing has gotten me into pretty good shape, because without any running-specific training I was able to shave over a minute off my 2-mile run time! I'm usually in the "barely passing, in danger of failing" category when I run, so to cross the line with plenty of time to spare was a good, good feeling today.

I think I might do some more running in the coming year just because it's easier to go for a run and it burns more calories in less time, but I still hate it.

Oh well, I'm good for another 6 months, and deep down I'm glad I have to do this because it's very easy to become a total slug when you're working the crazy resident hours...

I always hated the run part. I can't stand running. That was part of the reason I got out of the Navy. Seriously, the furthest I would ever have to run was from Shaft Alley to Fire Control, not exactly a long distance on a sub.

my problem was always the running. i could usually get 85 to 90% on the pushups and situps, then totally blow the run. best time ever was 13:00 at the end of basic. it went downhill from there...

:(

cant the army have a bike unit, like they do in Italy.

cant the army have a bike unit, like they do in Italy.


You would still have to run.

...but I passed it, and I don't have to run for another 6 months!! Woohoo!!!

So despite being a semi-OK cyclist, I suck at running and have not much upper body strength. So when the time comes for my semi-annual Army Physical Fitness Test, I start having anxiety attacks.

But today was different. I guess all this racing has gotten me into pretty good shape, because without any running-specific training I was able to shave over a minute off my 2-mile run time! I'm usually in the "barely passing, in danger of failing" category when I run, so to cross the line with plenty of time to spare was a good, good feeling today.

I think I might do some more running in the coming year just because it's easier to go for a run and it burns more calories in less time, but I still hate it.

Oh well, I'm good for another 6 months, and deep down I'm glad I have to do this because it's very easy to become a total slug when you're working the crazy resident hours...

Nice work...I actually started running about 6-8 weeks ago for the reason you stated above. There are days where I just don't want to put in the time commitment on my bike, but a good run takes about half the time. Plus, I do beleive there is benefit from cross training. At least that's what I tell myself as I too really don't like running.

If you have no upper body strength, as you stated, where or where is this 204 pounds you carry? :D Actually, since we're in Foo....don't answer :p

If you have no upper body strength, as you stated, where or where is this 204 pounds you carry? :D Actually, since we're in Foo....don't answer :p

Well, I have some good NE European genes (lean arms/legs, flabby torso), so it's all in my belly flab. :o

And I do have a fair amount of muscle mass in my legs now--racing helped a LOT with that. The goal for the next year is to get all that dead weight off the top half. :)

I think you still recalled my motivational technique from the last go round.;)

Good Job Doc!

I was in the USMC and we had to run 3 miles for our PFT. I always hated it, especially since the run course went through the fields we had on base. I would manage to find a rut or a gopher hole every single time. The best I ever did was 21:30, which, when you are my size is not terrible (I'm 6'7" and weighed 255 when I was in). I could max out the situps, and I usually did ok on the pullups.

Good job Pete! When I was in, the run was never my favorite (why was this always on the hottest day of the year :(), but I always totally bonked on pullups. I could squeeze out maybe 3, but for some reason, they just killed me, and still do- maybe it's a mental thing, because I can do chins till the cows come home.

Do some weight training, those toothpick arms are weak!! Weak I tell you!

Once I get more money, I was going to get some weights for some weight training. Cyclists with upper body strength are :love:.

I think you still recalled my motivational technique from the last go round.;)

Good Job Doc!

Hehe... thanks. :)

I guess if I actually train for running I might be able to shave even more time off... It would help me get rid of some of my dead weight too. ;)

Pete,

If you're ever my way--I know, unlikely--I'll take you on a run that'll knock your socks off! It's a park trail where you have to stay alert or you could get snagged by rock, root, or stump. There's a little bit of everything from negotiating fallen trees, to rock-only paths over the muddy remnants of a stream, to water crossings over rocks and boulders. It's my favorite trail to run on--Gunpowder Falls Park at Belair Rd.

Do some weight training, those toothpick arms are weak!! Weak I tell you!

Once I get more money, I was going to get some weights for some weight training. Cyclists with upper body strength are :love:.


I DO weight training, but it's my lats not my arms that are the problem. That's why I can do chins but not pullups. I agree re: upper body strength, but female ones... they can wear pink and get away with it (ducking) :D

Do you guys have the option of swimming vice running? Navy does

Do you guys have the option of swimming vice running? Navy does

Nope--the only way you avoid the run is with a permanent profile, i.e. documentation of some permanent injury that keeps you from running.

What happens if you don't pass the test, DrPete?

i know your pain...but i don't care what anyone says...running is probably the best overall test of physical ability the Military has...you can't just go do it...it requires you to actually be in good shape, both aerobic and anarobic, as far as the upper body goes...i think most cyclist are seroiusly lacking in that department..luckily i have a job that requires me to be in shape for both upper and lower body.

Personnally i think the military fitness test need to be harder...too many fat kids in all the branches...i am more than willing to suck up extra work to boot somebody who couldn't pull my a$$ out of a hot LZ or a burning compartment on a ship.

I remember the last time I took that test. One mile run on a 1/3 rd mile track. I was the only cyclist on the base and no one but no one else got any exercise aside from softball for the troops. I lapped everyone else including the guy who came in second. The sergeant doing the timing stopped his watch at 7'59" for the rest of them so the whole base would not be forced into a series of PT drills.

What happens if you don't pass the test, DrPete?

You get told what a bad soldier you are, it goes on your record, etc. etc. and you have to keep re-testing till you pass.

Crash, I agree with you that the testing standards are kind of a joke IF you're actually in a line job that 1. requires physical activity and 2. has lots of built-in time for working out. It was pretty easy to pass my test after a month with an infantry unit, for example, because part of their normal work day included time for organized PT.

In my little corner of the world, it's just not that important. Granted a certain baseline level of fitness and professional appearance is important, but my value on the battlefield isn't judged by how far/fast I can run--it's how many guys I can stabilize/fix with a given number of resources in a given time. And my day to day existence doesn't have any time built in for PT, so I stick with what keeps me sane, i.e. cycling.

I'm done whining now. ;)

Army PT is for wussy. :p

When I was stationed in Yuma, we had more incentive to fail our PFT or go over our height/weight standards...you got put on the fat body platoon which required you to report every morning for aerobics with Joy and her instructors....each an every one a minimum of a 9 in the hotness department. That freakin aerobics will wear you out, but it seemed to go by so fast in the company of such beauties. :D

Of course the whole thing was my idea...once they put me in charge of the fat body platoon for suggesting to the skipper that the previous program was lame and worthless. :D

Of course the whole thing was my idea...once they put me in charge of the fat body platoon for suggesting to the skipper that the previous program was lame and worthless. :D


See what you get for volunteering? Didn't anybody ever tell you never to volunteer for anything in the service?:D :D :D

Well now I think I need to take an APFT every race day. I raced tonight and felt freakin' great!

See what you get for volunteering? Didn't anybody ever tell you never to volunteer for anything in the service?:D :D :D

And opening your big mouth to ***** about something is a form of volunteering...yet it I opened it anyway, my fatal flaw. Of course nobody in BF would EVER believe that about me! :lol:

But in this case, getting to hang with dozens of hot gals in skimpy spandex every morning versus doing actual work...ha, no brainer. :D

I was in an armor unit that had an ex-drill instructor for a first sargeant.His hobby was running marathons.We ran the PT test every week......Then fixed tanks.......then drank alot of beer and smoked alot of marlboros.....then maybe slept a little.....repeat.That was in the rear.We spent more than half our time in the field and PT got pretty spotty then.Top would usually find away to do his friggin' PT at any available opportunity.I think some Marine called him a "Wussy" and it made him mad.

I was in an armor unit that had an ex-drill instructor for a first sargeant.His hobby was running marathons.We ran the PT test every week......Then fixed tanks.......then drank alot of beer and smoked alot of marlboros.....then maybe slept a little.....repeat.That was in the rear.We spent more than half our time in the field and PT got pretty spotty then.Top would usually find away to do his friggin' PT at any available opportunity.I think some Marine called him a "Wussy" and it made him mad.

Only a wussy gets mad at being called a wussy - so he really was a wussy. Glad I could clear that up for you. :p

We were always given a choice of writing down some reasonable score, or if we wanted to try and get a high score (that would get noticed) then we actually had to take the PT test.

I never got a high score.

my problem was always the running. i could usually get 85 to 90% on the pushups and situps, then totally blow the run. best time ever was 13:00 at the end of basic. it went downhill from there...

:(
Ummm wow.. Most of the requirements before and after for all except maybe the Marines are pretty weak imho. And I hate running.

Ummm wow.. Most of the requirements before and after for all except maybe the Marines are pretty weak imho. And I hate running.


there are some of us in the navy that have much harder requirements...

I'm in the Marines and my best three mile run was 19:20. That was 6 years and a broken back ago but I'm finally back in shape and my last time I ran three miles timed it was in 19:23. We also have to do pullups. I'll tell you, to build them do pyramids (5-6-7-6-5). Start where you can but when you do it three times without help then move up the starting number by one. You will build your strength.

cant the army have a bike unit, like they do in Italy.


actually, there is a modified APFT for those with a permanent running profile. it includes cycling in place of the running...

Ummm wow.. Most of the requirements before and after for all except maybe the Marines are pretty weak imho. And I hate running.

Marine PFT isn't that tough. Minimum 3 pullups, 40-50 (age dependent) sit-ups in two minutes, and the 3 mile run in less than 28-33 minutes (age dependent). To max it, you had to do 20 pullups, 80 sit-ups in two minutes and run 3 miles in 18:00 or under. 20 pullups and 80 sit-ups were cake...meaning I just had to do the 3 miles in under 28:00 to pass. I usually ran it between 20-27 minutes, depending upon shape at the time, activities the night before and plain old 'give a crap'. ;)

It's 100 crunches, not 80. And you are right, that part is easy. I challenge all of you to try 20 pullups though. They changed it some, no more kipping. You pull yourself up and lower yourself til your arms are straight without swinging, kicking, bicycling, nothing to gain momentum. I can almost max it out but can't quite get that run in time.

It's 100 crunches, not 80. And you are right, that part is easy. I challenge all of you to try 20 pullups though. They changed it some, no more kipping. You pull yourself up and lower yourself til your arms are straight without swinging, kicking, bicycling, nothing to gain momentum. I can almost max it out but can't quite get that run in time.

So now it's 100 and you call them crunches? The 100 is the good thing...the crunches make me think you guys have gone way too PC. It's a freakin sit-up! Now get down and give me 100 SIT UPS....blindfolded! :eek:

The pullups are easy (EDIT: used to be easy...I prolly can't get 10 anymore :() without all them lame tricks everyone used to use. It's just a matter of learning that more than your arms are involved in the process and utilizing all the related muscles in a smooth, coordinated motion without resorting to all the contortions and swinging so many people resort to.

Again, I challenge everyone to try them and decide how easy they are. Without kipping I'd be surprised if many got 20. I've been doing them for 6 years and just got to where I can get all of mine. Let's start a thread to see who can get it.

Again, I challenge everyone to try them and decide how easy they are. Without kipping I'd be surprised if many got 20. I've been doing them for 6 years and just got to where I can get all of mine. Let's start a thread to see who can get it.

I'll learn ya how to kip without kipping...I may not be able to do as many anymore, but I can still teach. ;)
Think of it as invoking multiple groups of muscles, in sequence, from the bottom up, each contributing to the momentum of the other. The key is being able to do so without needing motion (like a kick) to get the process started.

But I agree, some people figure it out, some don't and just muscle-fark it. I totally disagree with this new philosphy though....what makes Marines different is our ability to think, adapt, improvise and overcome, getting things done in the best way possible at the time, based on the circumstances, not according to some rule book. In combat, the point isn't to show what a brute you are because you can pull yourself over that obstacle by sheer strength, the point is to get over the obstacle in the most efficient manner possible, conserving your strength and energy for when you need every ounce of it you can muster to not only survive, but conquer. What, after all, is rule one? ACCOMPLISH THE MISSION. ;)

But I guess I am just a dinosaur, :o

great job Dr. Pete.

Upper body strength would help in cycling as well as yout PT test you could implement some weight training, light weights and lots of reps.
It Won't make you big but will build strength

All I can say when I was in the Marine Corps we ran everywhere and humped everywhere

you can check this out it is called

www.crossfit.com

different type of exercise and physica fitness that is used by some in different military occupations as well as the P.D./F.D.

They are coming up with new stuff. They have one cycle where you do five pullups (with kipping or whatever it takes), 10 pushups and 15 lunges for 20 minutes straight, no breaks. Plus a one mile run before and after. And fireman carries if your leader hates you. It's about the best workout I've ever had in 40 minutes.

They are coming up with new stuff. They have one cycle where you do five pullups (with kipping or whatever it takes), 10 pushups and 15 lunges for 20 minutes straight, no breaks. Plus a one mile run before and after. And fireman carries if your leader hates you. It's about the best workout I've ever had in 40 minutes.

Lunges = Bends and Thrusts, I assume? Gawd you are making me feel old!

Lunge=step forward with one foot, then bend your knees so the knee of your back leg touches the ground while your weight is centered over the front leg. Keep your hands on your hips. Then when you stand back up bring your front foot back til it's even with the back. repeat with other leg. That is 1.

Again, I challenge everyone to try them and decide how easy they are. Without kipping I'd be surprised if many got 20. I've been doing them for 6 years and just got to where I can get all of mine. Let's start a thread to see who can get it.


my argument to you there would be the fact that you are on a web site that is based around LOWER body strength, not upper. You probably won't find many guys on here that can do that, but put most of them in lunge and squat contests they would probably do well. Personnally (just had shoulder repair due to MC accident) i can usually do about 25-30 pullups...without kipping to straight hang...but my job has required me to do them since i joined 14 years ago, so allot of it is muscle memory.

They are coming up with new stuff. They have one cycle where you do five pullups (with kipping or whatever it takes), 10 pushups and 15 lunges for 20 minutes straight, no breaks. Plus a one mile run before and after. And fireman carries if your leader hates you. It's about the best workout I've ever had in 40 minutes.Once again, I'm reminded why the Air Force was the right service for me!

Yeah, I think the AF might have been the right choice for me to....dangit.

Once again, I'm reminded why the Air Force was the right service for me!
Of course. In order to pass PT you guys had to walk and carry your own clubs. ;) :D

Once again, I'm reminded why the Air Force was the right service for me!

I thought they were starting to actually have a real PT test, though... has that not made it all the way around the AF?

I thought they were starting to actually have a real PT test, though... has that not made it all the way around the AF?Yeah, they did, it started in maybe 2002 or 2003? The cumulative score was based on sit-ups, push-ups, a 1.5 mile run, and a waist measurement. The highest scores, of course, went to those who were slim, fast, and strong, but you could pass even if you were round, or slow, or weak--just not all three. Before then, for several years, it had just been a cycle ergometry test on a bike with a heart sensor on. People hated it because really "fit" people who could run circles around everyone sometimes failed, while slugs who couldn't walk up a hill without passing out got high scores.

Also, they started a mandatory (more or less--it still kind of depended upon your supervision, when I retired in 2004) PT program, where you were supposed to do some kind of cardio activity all together as a squadron once a month, with your unit once a week, and then two other times a week on your own, or some such thing. Golf didn't quite count, but wallyball apparently did. :p

Still, so much easier than the kind of thing he's talking about! Lunges, I could throw up just thinking of doing them in cycles for 40 minutes.

Man you guys are wussys. In the modern air force we have to do indoor step tests for 2 minuetes then take our pulse. They have some equation based on your resting heartrate and how fast your heartrate drops after activity to figure out your fitness level. We even have a workout soundtrack. Up Up Down Down!

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f183/mindspark/afstep.jpg

Hardcore!

Do you guys have the option of swimming vice running? Navy does

There's no way the swimming requirement is easier than the running. You could practically walk and make the run time. Despite that, it's a miracle that 80% of the CPOs on my ship (over 20 years ago) managed to pass those tests.

I was in an armor unit that had an ex-drill instructor for a first sargeant.His hobby was running marathons.We ran the PT test every week......Then fixed tanks.......then drank alot of beer and smoked alot of marlboros.....then maybe slept a little.....repeat.That was in the rear.We spent more than half our time in the field and PT got pretty spotty then.Top would usually find away to do his friggin' PT at any available opportunity.I think some Marine called him a "Wussy" and it made him mad.


is there an echo in here?
:p

Yeah, I think the AF might have been the right choice for me to....dangit.

The Chair Force? :p :D