Post-ADSC Fitness?

[CardSharpe]

I have a question regarding T_T's post in another thread - its a little bit off of the thread's topic so I thought it best to make a new one rather than derail the old one, hope thats alright.

What's your running like?

Unless it's good, I'd hang fire if I were you.

If you try to join before you're fit, it'll probably end in tears.

Read the forums, (there's loads of decent training programmes here), get fit, and then join.

There's no point in wasting your or the Army's time, if you're going to fail anyway.

Bearing in mind the above:

If someone comes along to ADSC and can do the required fitness tests, is that then more or less enough to allow the lads at Catterick to eventually(recruit willing) beast you into the sort of shape required for the likes of P-company?

As you said, I dont think anyone wants to waste the Army's time - I guess I'm not the only one who is trying to ensure I make it the first time around by going a little above and beyond the required fitness levels for ADSC. With that said, I could train forever and a day and still see increases in performance, however slight, so the time comes when I have to bite the bullet and give it my best shot.

What, in your opinion, do you think people should be aiming for in terms of extra fitness ?

By extra I mean tabbing with weight, running long distance, etc

For example: I'm getting to the point where my 1.5 mile time is almost sub 9 minutes as it should be, I can do the required situps, pressups and pullups, but I start to struggle when it comes to running further than 6-7 miles at any speed greater than 8 minutes per mile. I've tabbed 10 miles with weight before and still run a fairly competitive(11 minutes) 1.5 miles immediately after, but I'd struggle to actually run the 10 miles itself at a competitive speed - I'm not a great long distance runner. A friend of mine remarked that I'd never make it in "the paras" if I wasnt a good long distance runner, so I thought it best to ask the question.

I'm currently a member of a decent athletics club with the sort of people who run marathons in 2-3 hours, the idea being to help with the long distance stamina, I ran a 6 mile race in 45 minutes with them last year, is that the sort of thing I should be looking at? Are we required to be able run more than 6 miles with no weight during the first few weeks?

Should I be looking at increased long distance running(no weight) ability, or should I go for ADSC as soon as I'm getting a consistent sub 9 minute 1.5 mile time?

Either way I have 10 weeks until the next insight course, and however long after that until I decide to go to RSC, so I have as much time as I need really, I'm 22, so thats 11 years to train until I'm too old(?), the sooner the better though obviously.

I'm conscious of doing ADSC, passing and then failing after that point due to my initial fitness not being up to scratch, so if I have to spend however long it takes to turn myself into a decent long distance runner then so be it, whatever it takes; I'd prefer to find out now rather than later though

Any help/advice much appreciated, sorry for the essay!

[Tartan_Terrier]

When I joined up I wasn't prepared at all, I thought I was, but I wasn't.
I'd bimbled through recruit selection, and had barely broken a sweat during my own 'pre-joining fitness regime' which had mainly involved daily five mile jogs, followed by press-ups, sit-ups, and a few pull-ups.

Basic training was a shock to my system, and indeed to those of the few other foolhardy souls in my platoon who'd also had the idea that they'd be able to muddle through, since their fitness was 'good enough'.

Train hard, but don't over-train, and if you feel like doing a bit of tabbing through the cuds, knock yourself out. It'll give you a chance to practice your map reading too. Don't forget though that running with bergans on is a big no-no.

All the best
T_T

[Alfa]

If you pass ADSC for Para Reg then by definition you are deemed to have the POTENTIAL to meet the basic requirements to start basic training.

Now, just because you can run sub 9min for your BFT doesn't guarantee you will be fine when you get to Catterick and even if you only scrape through it doesn't mean you'll jack when you get there.

On my first platoon there was a lad who ran his BFT close to the 8min mark but he wrapped and transferred to the RE after the first couple of weeks, where as there was lads who initially struggled with their run time who ended up passing P Coy.

What I'm trying to get at is that it doesn't really matter what your fitness level is when you get to Catterick, if you're made of the right stuff you will make sure you get through no matter what is thrown at you whether its a 10mile Tab, 8 mile run, Battle PT etc....

You probably will run further than 6 miles in the first few weeks, but I wouldn't worry too much about it. A lot of the course is mental and lots of lads psyche themselves out before they even get started.

If you're getting sub 9 min on your BFT consistently then I would say you're ready to go for ADSC if that's what you want, if you keep finding excuses to put it off you may find you've put it off for so long you never end up doing it at all.

Just remember no one will be expecting you to turn up with P Coy fitness levels, the training is all progressive and the PTI's are the best in the business so if you have the determination they'll get you fit enough to pass out and get to Battalion.

[CardSharpe]

Great stuff lads, thanks alot!

Thats definately what I was after, I'll try to make sure I stay aware of the dangers of procastination, and I'll bear it in mind when it comes to deciding if I'm fit enough for ADSC after the insight course.

I was mainly a just little concerned about my friend's remarks because he knows a couple of lads who passed P-company, I know them as well, but I didnt know them before they went in, where as he did and he got a good look at thier fitness levels beforehand.

All in all I'm just trying to balance the burning obsession of getting "in" with the knowledge that it will be the best challenge I've ever faced.

I can hardly wait Cheers again though, very helpful information there.

[CardSharpe]

I just got the book "Fighting Fit" by Adrian Weale today, seems to answer alot of the questions I've had, it also seems to agree with what you two have said

I'll probably not go much further than 6-7 miles regularly, but I'm hoping that if I get so that I can manage 7 miles in a respectable time then I should hopefully be somewhere near.

I'm looking at the P company fitness program in the book, probably this is aimed at a higher standard of fitness than I'm expected to be at, but I'm hoping that if I can do my best to follow it in the weeks I have until the next insight course then it should definately help.

Cheers again for the information though, spot on!

[Matt london]

Look mate with the training that you say you have been doing you will pass no problems. Unless you cant take orders.

I went to ADSC thursday 21st and had the most brilliant time, there was four para's there including me, we all came 1st to 4th out of 32 recruits with times varying from 8.40-9.19. Go and book your ADSC date and go for it with determination your find it easy.

Good Luck

[Para_Hopeful]

.

[Alfa]

Did you rejoin then alfa?

I know you were thinking about it.

Yes, I rejoined last year but twisted my knee and injured it early on in training so was discharged.

[Paul-k]

I just got the book "Fighting Fit" by Adrian Weale today, seems to answer alot of the questions I've had, it also seems to agree with what you two have said

I'll probably not go much further than 6-7 miles regularly, but I'm hoping that if I get so that I can manage 7 miles in a respectable time then I should hopefully be somewhere near.

What would you class as a respectable time for 7 miles? Just so I know to get a rough idea

Paul