Tips for PRMC and training

[C_Cummings]

I'm looking for tips for the PRMC and training for the PRMC. I've been thinking about joining the RM for over a year now and I've decieded that I really want to go for it.

I was going to leave and go straight in from school but decieded to stay on at school and I'm now a designer for a utilites company. This has unfortunately had a negitive affect on my fitness as I sit in front of a computer all day and have been doing little excercise. I have however been training for the past 4 months by running, swimming and weight training 5/6 times per week but I feel that I need to do more intense and thourough routines.

Tips from PRMC's candidates and RM would be a great help, not just training but anything else that would be helpful to know.

I really what to pass PRMC first time.

Thanks.

[daveitfc]

be more specific in what you would like to know!
i have passed PRMC and have seen what it takes if you put down specific questions i can help.
for example what do you lack in? CV? or strength? or anything else

[C_Cummings]

I'm lacking in upper body strength and endurance. I can run for miles and at the moment can do all the maximums required for the PRMC but I'm unsure of my overall fitness to last the 2 days constant training.

Tips to improve my upper body strength would be welcome.

[daveitfc]

If you can do all the maximums required then what are you worried about your upperbody strength is fine just continue to do what your doing and increase reps.
something i found that helped to improve you recovery rate is to run around a sports field say 2 laps then straighjt after do 2 sprints around a footie pitch and have a minutes rest or shorter and then repeat this 5 or six times - this helps you to gain endurance and overall cv.
i also used plan my week on mon - i would do press-ups and sit-ups straight away after breakfast. then i would run 3miles. Tues -press-ups and sit-ups then to the gym and do a muscula5r endurance session and some pull-ups. Wednesday - rest thursday- do my circuits at the sports field and press-ups and sit-ups friday - to the gym again and press-ups and sit-ups sat- 6mile run.
The best thing i done for myself was to do 6 mile runs so that when it came to disance running on PRMC i found this easier.
one improvement i would have made in my schedule would be to do more intensive sprinting because i got cramp on the final gym test.
If you can do the physical stuff they like it but if you can push yourself further and they see tyhis that is exactly what they are looking for.
EFFORT and BALLS is what makes a good potential candidate.
Never presume there not watching you because more often than not they are!
Anyway i passed and this is what worked for me. But everyone is different and so you should adjust and devise a programme that suits you!
GOOD LUCK

[C_Cummings]

Thanks for the tips. I've been training myself for 4 months but I start boxing training to night which lasts for 2 hours 3 times per week. I think this will also help as alot of the training focuses of upper body and endurance.

When do you start the 30 weeks? Did you have the option to join straight away or do you have a period in-between the PRMC and the 30 weeks?
How many people passed from your PRMC? I want to pass first time. I don't see the point in wasting anyones time by not being physically ready first time round.

Good luck in your training and hope you go all the way.

[Geoff]

i started my training at the start of January this year, im going to train for another...9-10 months...then go to PRMC i want to make sure i am physically able to pass,

[daveitfc]

Why Geoff are you going to train for 10months it takes 2-3months to get physically prepared enough. I applied in january and hardly did anything before applying apart from the odd footie match! i went into my careers office and could only do 2 pull-ups 8 weeks later i went on prmc and passed doing 54 press-ups the full 6 pull-ups (i can now do 15) and 69 sit-ups and a level 12.5 on the bleep test. You dont have to be superman to pass you need to show determination and guts to pass and this is highlighted throughout prmc. I now have to wait six weeks before i start the 30weeks.
they give you a six week training programme after prmc and suggest you follow this in the meantime you shuld have got your date to join. I wanted to stay after prmc i enjoyed it so much it was a great laugh and made many new friends.
i think about 20ish out of 48 passed but this means nothing because the week before i think 10 passed.
i was lucky to be on a course were most people were of a high standard.
Also less than you think is muscular endurance i found that you have to be of a certain standard in your upper body but marines training focuses on building everything up to have great all round endurance.
I would suggest focusing a lot on running and cardio-vascular work as well as the upper body stuff.
anyway enough from me tonight and good luck

[jamie]

! found a great way of improving the range of movement for my pressups. what i did was to get two single beds and split them so they were just wider than my shoulders. Then i get on the beds and adopt the press up position over the gap so i have one arm and leg on one bed and the other arm and leg on the other. what this enables you to do is to go lower then you usually would be able to do because the floor isnt there to stop your chest. I do stress that this has to be done slowly and in a controlled manner otherwise pulls and strains will occur. The overall benefit is that there will be a bigger range of movment for the muscles to adapt so this will help with your form for the press ups at PRMC.