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Few Training Questions
Posted: Wed 13 Feb, 2008 10:30 pm
by commandocrazy
Hi I need help with my training, I want to join the Marines but the only training I can think of doing is running, pull-ups, and sit-ups. Someone said to me do strength circuits but I do not know what strength circuits are, or what to do on them can anyone tell me??
Also I've just started running (in a sweat suit to aid losing my weight), and started swimming. My mate told me to do some underwater lengths to increase my lung capcticy because it will help me with my running will it or is my mate talking crap??
Posted: Wed 13 Feb, 2008 10:46 pm
by Manchester United
Hi, I have only resently started training my self and I would recommend you run around 3 miles everyday if you can and look on the marines web site at their training tool very helpful to me

Posted: Wed 13 Feb, 2008 11:01 pm
by Cool Hand Luke
I would highly recommend you buy and/or read this book:
http://books.google.com/books?id=X1cFhd ... PWU0pnNW8c
It is excellent if you want to learn how devise an effective training programme specific to you.
Aside from that, search and learn from others around you with similar goals.
Posted: Thu 14 Feb, 2008 8:32 am
by degrees of passion
Manchester United wrote:I would recommend you run around 3 miles everyday
I wouldn't recommend running everyday,because when can your body recover?It's true you want to be running as much as possible,but atleast give your legs a day to recover,for example run mon wed fri.On your recovery days do low intensity work,such as walking.
Basically you need to devise your own training program with clear goals in mind.Keep it simple to start with,emphasise cardio over weights,and running over bike swim and row.Remember to start light so you don't put yourself off,put the consistency in and eventually you'll start to progress.Also think about nutrition.
Then after your running's improved,you need to mix it up abit,for example do a 3 miler,5 miler,and interval run with sprints(could even sprint up a hill) in a week.Add bike,row,and swim into this routine wherever you can fit them in and you'll be laughing.
If you do weights then train for muscular endurance,not size.Circuit training is one of the best things you can do,and it involves doing numerous exercises one after the other with little rest,hence 'circuit':for example say you make 5 'stations',each with a different exercise(most circuit training exercises consist of bodyweight exercises but you can do weight circuits),so you go to the first station and bang out 20 press ups,then quickly go to the next and do 10 pull ups,then burpees at the next,then squats and so on and so forth.Repeat the circuit as many times as you feel fit.It is also a good idea to include sprints,for example you could put the stations far apart so you have to sprint to each.
Perhaps the best advice I can give you on circuit training is to buy the book the royal marines circuit training or something like that,google it or look on amazon or ebay its got a guy doing a press up on the front with a blue background if I remember correctly.
There's tons of info on this site,but remember not to get too bogged down in it all,it can be argued that with the right mindset,all you need to get onto RT is to be able to run,do press ups,sit ups and pull ups,and with the right attitude and application the training team will take you from there.
Posted: Thu 14 Feb, 2008 10:46 am
by Dave_1987
I wouldn't recommend running everyday,because when can your body recover?
DOP is right, running everyday is a really good way to pick up an overuse injury. There was a guy on this site who managed to pass POC just by running 3 times a week, so it just goes to show. If I could go back in time and start training all over again i'd have built up my running slowly once or twice a week. Swimming is really good for weight loss aswell.
All the best,
Dave
Re: Few Training Questions
Posted: Thu 14 Feb, 2008 12:43 pm
by robbiedont
commandocrazy wrote:in a sweat suit
Waste of time, all it does is (oddly enough) make you sweat more which you then replace by re hydrating.
Re: Few Training Questions
Posted: Thu 14 Feb, 2008 7:55 pm
by Tartan_Terrier
robbiedont wrote:commandocrazy wrote:in a sweat suit
Waste of time, all it does is (oddly enough) make you sweat more which you then replace by re-hydrating.
Or you don't replace it and you collapse in a heap!
All in all a really bad idea, unless you are a boxer and have to lose a pound or two for a weigh in on the same day.
Re: Few Training Questions
Posted: Thu 14 Feb, 2008 8:17 pm
by AJtothemax
commandocrazy wrote:Hi I need help with my training, I want to join the Marines but the only training I can think of doing is running, pull-ups, and sit-ups. Someone said to me do strength circuits but I do not know what strength circuits are, or what to do on them can anyone tell me??
Also I've just started running (in a sweat suit to aid losing my weight), and started swimming. My mate told me to do some underwater lengths to increase my lung capcticy because it will help me with my running will it or is my mate talking crap??
This: http://www.mfat.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=17526
That should help.
Keep on the swimming mate. Highly beneficial. Chose breast-stroke when you swim though, mixing it up is all ok though to stop yourself getting bored but ideally, breast stroke.
All the best.
Re: Few Training Questions
Posted: Thu 14 Feb, 2008 8:25 pm
by robbiedont
AJtothemax wrote:commandocrazy wrote:Hi I need help with my training, I want to join the Marines but the only training I can think of doing is running, pull-ups, and sit-ups. Someone said to me do strength circuits but I do not know what strength circuits are, or what to do on them can anyone tell me??
Also I've just started running (in a sweat suit to aid losing my weight), and started swimming. My mate told me to do some underwater lengths to increase my lung capcticy because it will help me with my running will it or is my mate talking crap??
This: http://www.mfat.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=17526
That should help.
Keep on the swimming mate. Highly beneficial. Chose breast-stroke when you swim though, mixing it up is all ok though to stop yourself getting bored but ideally, breast stroke.
All the best.
Why breast stroke?!?
Posted: Thu 14 Feb, 2008 9:17 pm
by degrees of passion
Its more tactical than front crawl
Re: Few Training Questions
Posted: Sat 16 Feb, 2008 5:49 pm
by AJtothemax
robbiedont wrote:AJtothemax wrote:commandocrazy wrote:Hi I need help with my training, I want to join the Marines but the only training I can think of doing is running, pull-ups, and sit-ups. Someone said to me do strength circuits but I do not know what strength circuits are, or what to do on them can anyone tell me??
Also I've just started running (in a sweat suit to aid losing my weight), and started swimming. My mate told me to do some underwater lengths to increase my lung capcticy because it will help me with my running will it or is my mate talking crap??
This: http://www.mfat.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=17526
That should help.
Keep on the swimming mate. Highly beneficial. Chose breast-stroke when you swim though, mixing it up is all ok though to stop yourself getting bored but ideally, breast stroke.
All the best.
Why breast stroke?!?
That's how you're asked to swim. It also advises to swim like that in the Potential Royal Marines Fitness booklet (it's about the size of a mousemat) and that's available from your AFCO. So do your best to become strong swimmer using breast stroke and if you can then give butterfly a try as well. That takes up alot more energy in the pool and it'll really get your body working.
Posted: Sun 17 Feb, 2008 8:52 am
by robbiedont
Interesting, I can see the point of it being better tactically, all my swim training at the moment is geared towards the triathlon I am doing in July.
Might have to learn breast stroke as well now!
Posted: Sun 17 Feb, 2008 12:02 pm
by Geoman
robbiedont wrote:Interesting, I can see the point of it being better tactically, all my swim training at the moment is geared towards the triathlon I am doing in July.
Might have to learn breast stroke as well now!
I have found a video that may be of use to you.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=T2YN3irK1N8
- Geoman
Posted: Sun 17 Feb, 2008 12:27 pm
by robbiedont
Thanks, will take a look when I have sound on!

Posted: Mon 18 Feb, 2008 6:20 pm
by 803troop
Run 3 imes a week (Mon/Wed/Fri) and run for time not distance. Push yourself and cover as much ground as possible each run. Start at 15 mins. 2 weeks later do 20 mins, 2 weeks later do 25 minutes, 2 weeks later do 30 minutes. You should have no trouble doing the PRMC reqs if you do this.
Also on Tues and Sat either bike or swim an equal amount as you run for. You should have no cardio probs.
Baz