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I am going to embark on a 32 week fitness programme that is basically lots of running and some gym work.....

in my opinion i should just get very fit and then when i apply to be a marine i will be tested but that is all.... work on fitness not on the specific tests u need to do.. afterall the tests are just there to assess how fit u are. So when i have my tests a bit from now i wont worry i will know i am fit all round and i wont even worry about any tests

Just thought i'd say that because there is so much talk on here about how to prepare for this test and that test... what u really need to do is forget about tests and focus on that thing called fitness...... at first clock up time running then do the tests for confidence. The first 16 weeks of my programme are to get me to a high level of fitness..... the last 16 weeks are actually designed to prepare me for SAS selection, although i wont be doing SAS selection, i'll be joining the marines via the prmc. However i dont think there is any harm in being good enough for the very best, whilst about to join the best, wouldn't you agree? During my last few weeks of training i will be doing the Fan Dance several times with properly weighted bergan....... I will also do all the other activities done throughout the first phase of SAS selection... i had a friends give me the actual coordinates of all the checkpoints, start and end points for the fan dance and other SAS training activities.... who knows maybe i'll walk past some of them while im training (not i did say walk past).

I wouldn't mind some people's opinion on what im planing on doing.

cheers

You dont have to be superman to pass your PRMC mate. But, if thats what you want then good luck. Doubt it though you will be as fit as an SAS soldier.

GunsNroses sound's like you have everything under control, to me what your planing on doing seems good. As you say there's no harm on training harder than you need to, got nuts mate.

Good luck mate!

Have you ever thought of being a bootie officer?
The trainings harder, but the rewards are good in that you would have actually made it through the training!!!

Sounds alright to me. After all that training you should be able to get max on all the tests even though you are not concentrating on the tests themselves.
Good Luck and keep training

GunsNroses,

OK, I agree with you that some people do concentrate on trying to pass tests too much while forgetting that leading an active lifestyle and doing regular strenuous exercise (in all its forms) will help you pass your respective selection course (POC/PRMC). However, on the other hand for some people concentrating on the tests works as it gives them something to aim for. Personally i just prefer to be active.

As for your specific training programme - did it come from A. Weale's Fighting Fit by any chance? Good on you if you complete it and also good one for even planning to do it. However, (and this is just my opinion from experience) I believe it is overkill. You do not need to complete this programme to pass your PRMC.

Firstly, lots of running with a heavy bergen is not advised prior to training. You will do enough of this in training. You run the risk of serious injury if you start doing things like this too early. Get injured and you may never see the PRMC let alone training. From your profile I understand that you live in Scotland. Scotland has some wonderful mountain ranges. My advice would be to join a mountaineering club and get some hill-time in. This will get you used to carrying heavy(ish) loads with a relatively low risk of injury.

Secondly, you do not want to be really, really fit when you start training. it will give you an advantage on the PRMC but if you are fit both physically and more importantly mentally you will pass. One of my mates is currently in 45 Cdo. When he started basic training I was quite a bit fitter than him. He told me that all the guys in his troop who were super fit guys at the beginning of training suffered as training progressed. This is because their fitness peaked too early. Of all these super fit guys, my relatively fit mate was the one who was there at the end of the 30 weeks. I have also been told the same thing by engineers in 131 Cdo Sqn RE and by a commando gunner.

This brings me nicely onto my last point. Training is meant to be progressive. So long as you fulfill the entry requirements and have the correct mental attitude then you will be fine. Training may be initially harder than if you were super fit but it is meant to be hard and the standards of the troop will soon level out.

If you really want to be very fit before starting training then I would advise that training for a triathlon or similar would be much more beneficial than following your proposed programme.

Sorry for the long post. I am not trying to be negative or 'have a go' so please don't take this the wrong way. Also, as I stated at the beginning, this is all based upon my experience and is only my opinion.

Good Luck,

Dan

Good look gunsnroses...btw dannyd good post.

If your planning on being fit for the SAS i would change your name to GunsNBalls because youll need lots of both.

Your already part of the way there to joining the SAS your Scottish
like 70% of the Regiment.

Totally agree with Dannyd, good sensible points and very logical outlook to training. What he has said is exactly what I feel about training and I feel as such because I have learnt the hard way! Im now (after about 1year out) building back up to fitness after injury. I used to train like a madman while serving in 4Para, bergen runs 5 day week training etc then stopped. A few years after stopping I thought I could just get more or less straight into it , not so and got injuries which developed into more complicated injuries! since the injury Iv had the benefit of this superb site and a very good sports physio.My outlook to training has changed the PROGRESSIVE and LESS IS MORE attitude is how I base my routines.Emphasizing rest and not overtraining. It makes me cringe when I hear people saying their gonna go on tabs fully weighted up, why not just save it for the main event, when your actually there as a recruit? I cant really talk because when I was a recruit Id do the odd tab with MORE weight (bout 60lbs) but with hindsight all that achieved was tell me what the pain was like! Id personally say dont do it till you have too! Im going into the regs and Im not doing ANY bergen work, but then I know what effort is needed when I have to go tabbin.

I also agree with Dannyd. The thing is if you start training superfit already you will still be pushed by the Instructors at CTC because that is what they're there to do (discipline through fitness). I'm assuming you do have to meet their minimum standards but when you do i'm sure they won't say "Ok you've done enough now" they will push you to your personal peak, and that may be too far?

Again i'm not having a go, do as much as you can but just be aware that you can do too much!!!

thanks for all your replies they were all helpfull.

I understand about the overtraining but if when i was doing my 30 weeks i was running 4 minute miles the training officers wouldn't kick me out because i couldn't improve on that time! It would be stupid if they did and i dont think the corps is that stupid.

Mate if you can do a 4 minute mile you should be a proffesional athelete never mind a marine.

Mate if you can do a 4 minute mile you should be a proffesional athelete never mind a marine.

simonm toatally agree m8

when im at my prmc doining that test where u have to catch up with the training officer (hare and hound i think its called) would the training officer be pissed off if i passed him?

GunsNroses,

In response to your last question:

1. The hare & hounds thing is done on the endurance course at the POC not PRMC as far as I am aware.

2. I'd be rather amazed if you did pass the course officer for a few reasons. Firstly, the training team will push you until you're hanging out before you do the hare & hounds. Secondly, you will be soaking wet from the water tunnel and wearing boots which makes it hard to run quickly. Thirdly, the course officer will probably start somewhere quite ahead of you. Fourthly, he is likely to be very, very fit and probably dry so will accelerate off away from you.

As for him being pissed off, well I don't know. He would probably just speed up.