Your Training Mentality

[AJtothemax]

Alright lads , i figured i would post something on this because all of what is posted on here, 99% revolves around the physical side of training. The aim of this post is to try an introduce the mental aspect of training - the connection between body & mind.

I hope this turns into an interesting thread as it is overall, the biggest challenge and i believe it is entirely relevent to have posted this.

Let me start by asking the simple question: "Who here has ever given up?"

I have, and im sure everyone here has given up on something. I havent given up (training wise), for a long time now - whether that be because of pain or sheer fatigue. Did you give up because you couldnt take it anymore? Was it because you didnt understand how to push yourself far? This is where this post is most relevent.

Whenever things become hard for us, the body tells us that it is time to stop. This is something that your mind has to overcome if you are to achieve a higher level, training well out of your comfort zone. I believe that this is something that the corps emphasises - Strength Of Mind.

This is without a doubt the most important aspect of all training because without it, you will fail!

The connection between body and mind can only be established after intesne training has taken place, this is the point when your mind realises that in order to take yourself through what is happening to the body, it has no other choice but to push itself, to make that final rep, to keep the legs going that last 200m, to do one more set of push-ups and so on.

For those who haven't experienced this yet i'll give you an example (this is in no way an insult to anyone, im just trying to help if i can): I myself will go out on a saturday night on the trash with my mates after punishing myself in training 5 days a week and playing a hard game of rugby earlier that day, drink away and enjoy myself as much as possible. The next day, i dont lay in bed or just sit on the sofa like a car wreck because of ther alcohol in my system. I get up, get ready, get some food in me and some water down my neck, get out ton the gym with my mates, train my bollocks off and then go do some boxing drills for a hour - how many people do you know who do that? Really?

Once again im not being big headed, thats how i am, thats how i live and i love it! Because a true warrior - a true champion will get out of his bed at 5am and go for that 6mile run no matter what the conditions, the desire to succeed and the pure grit determination from constantly being pumped and ready to go is the most powerful arsenal a RM recruit can have in his mental armoury! Anyone who disagrees with this, id like to hear your side of it?

I dont know if anyone on here is like that? But i just thought i would try and open up the mental aspect of things, i think its good to get out in the open how people think and their approach to training. I dont know if it has ever been done here on MFAT before so if it hasnt then it will be good to see people responses.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and what some call 'insane way of thinking'

Wicked.

[dwarfy]

Everything you have written above has its fair share of truth, and your right there is alot of mental strengh needed to push the body on and on when really you,ve gone past your limits. BUT REMEMBER there is also a very different side of mental strengh needed for RT that is not physical at all.

That being the mental strengh to crack on and get things done, when really you are absolutely threaders and pig sick of things,your stuck out on woodbury common you,ve been awake for the most part of the last 4 or 5 days its been raining almost non stop and when it hasnt been you,ve been put in peters pool with your bergan, its been freezing cold, you,ve not really had much of a clue about whats been going on, and you have no idea what may happen next, and its 3 o,clock in the morning. This is where you,ll REALLY need strengh of mind, just as much, if not more than in the morning when your going to need it physically on a speed march back to camp.

Like i said, much of what you said is correct, you need that physical determination, BUT dont forget the other side of training. I think people on here often seem to concentrate too much on the physical side of things and dont think about the other aspects. At least not as much as they should.

[Paul_uk]

There was one thing that has stuck in the back of my head, which keeps me highly motivated is what a PTI said to us on PRMC ''When the body first begins to tell you to stop and that you've got nothing left to give, is when you've only used up 35% of what you're body is capable off. we want to see those who can use that other 65% today on bottom field''

That comment has completely changed the way i think about training. when i begin to feel like shit when running, is when i know the real training to be a Royal Marine starts!

[AussieNick]

With my PRMC in 1week and 1 day i really get what you're saying, nothing much i can do now physically can make a big difference, its now all about mental preparation, how much i want it and how much im willing to give, which although i am hoping to give it all i can only really show it when im down there.

I think one aspect of a good mentality is a competitive side, i for one am aussie and was born with a competitive 'chip on my shoulder' and i normally thrive under pressure and competition, something that i think has great relevance to not just PRMC but life in general. I think everyone should develop a competitive side, because it helps keep focus. But don't confuse competition with arrogance, we should all still keep a straight head and be down to earth!

[AJtothemax]

Dwarfy thats what this thread is designed to highlight and bring out what people really believe within themselves, and yes you are right. I totally understand what you mean but i just used an example of something from my life - and i do beleive it has alot of relevance to your example, being cold and tired for days and nights on end.

My way of getting over this is acceptance. Accept it for what it is and that how i deal with it, You have to do it, so crack on and do it, you dont have a choice in the matter so just do it and get it out the way with. Thats how i look at it, you're in those conditions because you want to be, and as long as you believe this in yourself - you'll be alright. Thats how i deal with it. Is anyone else the same here??

[tom_06]

its also about being able to go on when you realy dont want to!!I experienced this at 2 points on my PRMC,
1. on arrival and the first night in general i felt sick with nerves and fear and homesickness. Asi went to sleep i thought-i want to go home, this si not for me. I woke up and felt the same.
2. bottom field, we were told taht we had one last effort, a sprint to the 5foot wall and back, i was hanging out and hurting but hearing it was the last sprint really fired me up!When we got back the PTI then said, actually go up the hill once more, at theis point i again though to myself- i dont want this, i want to go home. the pain was out of this world.

Looking back i realise that i did really want it deep down and that each time i managed to push on and that filled me with so much satisfaction and confidence in myself, tahts what the RM are all about, going on when you really dont want too, ignoring your brain saying stop.

[AJtothemax]

Im really glad i brought this up now!

[dwarfy]

AJ,

I understand mate, but your post whilst did in one way talk about mental strengh, it was in the context of using mental strengh to get through physical apsects. It concentrated on the mental strengh to get 'one more rep out, make it another 500 metres' etc etc.

What i was really talking about was mental strengh being used in the context of 'non phyical' aspects of training, such as the psychological aspects of training, dealing with pressure, being under pressure from one moment to the next. Do you see what i mean?

Mental strengh to get through physical aspects is one thing, but strengh of mind to deal with other pressures is a totally different thing.

[AussieNick]

Very valid point Dwarfy and one that needed to be pointed out, its important to know the different types of strength of mind and how a RM needs to have both to do their job effectively.

In the PRM fitness schedule it points this out i think where it tells you to run under a variety of weathers and conditions so as to develop your psychological-specific strength of mind??

[_chris]

I recently walked around the South West coast path to raise money for charity. While not in extreme conditions I found this a very tough experience.

It was not because of anything physical though, I could have physically continued for many more weeks after I finished. But it was the mental difficulty. I did the walk alone, meeting up with new pwople along the way who until the meeting were virtual strangers, many long streches were totally alone. It was the worst thing I found getting up early in the morning ready to slog away on your own.

The lowest moments what pulled me through was the thought of not wanting to fail, of not wanting to go back to my family and friends and say 'I wasn't tough enough'

[AJtothemax]

Yeah dwarfy i totally understand mate.

My way of getting over this is acceptance. Accept it for what it is and that how i deal with it, You have to do it, so crack on and do it, you dont have a choice in the matter so just do it and get it out the way with. Thats how i look at it, you're in those conditions because you want to be, and as long as you believe this in yourself - you'll be alright. Thats how i deal with it.

That was my answer to it

[HarryAVFC]

Great thread AJ. Good replies lads really is intresting as metal toughness is probably the most imortant aspect of military training.

[JCAP3]

The fear or giving up and failing is far more painful than the discomfort of temporary physical exertion.

I was one of the back end lads on my POC endurance course. I had both Captains screaming in my face to give up and telling me that I could come back in 6 months (being nice for about 5 seconds). The rest of the time I was at complete rock-bottom and was convinced that I had failed from the second day.

Although I can't imagine why I kept going through all of that (as i had it worse than anyone), i think most of it was the thought of letting my family down and especially myself - knowing that if i gave in I would regret it for the rest of my life. I honestly wasn't prepared to give up but was hoping that they would say that I had failed so I could stop.

Thank God it worked out in the end.

[themattmeister]

There was one thing that has stuck in the back of my head, which keeps me highly motivated is what a PTI said to us on PRMC ''When the body first begins to tell you to stop and that you've got nothing left to give, is when you've only used up 35% of what you're body is capable off. we want to see those who can use that other 65% today on bottom field''

They told us that "a horse will run until it dies, that is what is expected of you!" very disconcerting before bottom field thrashing.

AJ, I like lying around like a car wreck on my bed the day after a session - I feel like I have earnt it.

[AJtothemax]

Great stuff lads, really good to hear that 'survival' instinct. Every human being has it, but it is stronger in others. Its that voice or the belief to keep yourself going through it, because eventually it will end one way or another.

Haha! matt, the feeling of 'car wreck' was me describing a session on the booze mate but it can just as easily be used in training

Never give up lads. I know it might seem like i 'talk a good talk' but i swear, when my time comes i'll definately be recording it on here for all to see, whether i fail or not, i'll fight on until the end.

Keep up the good posts lads.

Wicked.