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The bft course at ITC is bloody downhill most of the way, just that wee hill at the gymnasium and thats it.

I'd get doing some lunges to build up your thighs, as you'll need them to blast up hills. Don't forget though fellas, when you're doing the BFT for real, with the rest of the lads, you're time should be better any how, because of the extra incentive of the real deal & the boost running it with like minded people gives you.

are all the BFT courses on tarmac? also how steep are these hills? i have a hill on the course i run, by the time i get up it i have no power left in my legs

The sime John Smiths no nonsense answer, train more.

thenewshmoo_1 wrote: i have a hill on the course i run, by the time i get up it i have no power left in my legs

Dont join paras then!! If you cant run up a hill mate, maybe you might like to think about joining RLC instead of the army's elite

Good advice for everyone. Para or othewise. I Found it on the Articles section of MF&T.

“P Company” Training - An approach

P company is legendary test of fitness, stamina and mental will to carry on. It is one of the tests that bonds the “airborne brotherhood” and is a good taster for UKSF selection.

Don’t be worried about it because at the end of induction training and DS will be doing their best to get you fit and pass. Check out “CQB” by Mike Curtis for description and the comment in my guestbook by ex-2 para on mental toughness….

The Log Run
These comments by an ex-NCO 3 Para friend of ours – now in construction industry

“If getting fit is the problem forget the boots and Bergen, that shit comes later ! you’ll need a heart and lungs the size of an ox. Boots and Bergen could injure your back and knees – so train without or keep an eye out for “over-use injuries”, knee aches, etc.

Find a running course that is about 7 miles long and goes in a circuit The first leg should be about 2 1/2 - 3 miles uphill and steep 2 miles 1 mile of flat and then the fast part which is, Finish downhill back to your start point.

When you can do this at a reasonable/fast pace then do half or all again.

Going past the start line (again..) when you’re already knackered and you know (mentally..) that you’ve got to do it again will hurt you mentally and physically.

However, it will sow the seeds for the mental and physical discipline that you will need for para training, or maybe if you want to go onto to the UKSF.

One important point is to GET INJURIES SORTED before P Company if you can possibly do as the tests are very demanding. There is a good link on this site in the “fitness links” to a site where there is a Doctor who does Ironman Triathlon events and it is well worth looking at, etc.

When you can do it twice you might like to try it in boots and then maybe with a Bergen (not essential). A lot of people talk rubbish about pain, its normally because you haven’t trained hard enough !!”

“DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT AND WHAT YOU ARE WILLING TO GIVE UP TO GET IT !”
Mr Hunt - Oil Magnate.
Some Advice Drink plenty of water before you train.
Carbohydrate drink on completion of training.
Eat high content carbohydrate meal (e.g., pasta and fish) within 30 mins of training.
Most people CAN do MOST things !! Be mentally positive….

Future para, you can't say don't join the paras because you get tired running up a hill, if you're legs don't feel hills then you're lucky. But the whole point of training is to improve to a state of fitness where you'll be capable of para training. Back in the day I wouldn't have been able to run half mile at a good pace without stopping. Now last Wednesday cracked out a 6.5 miler at about an 8-9 minute mile pace. So it shows what a bit of grit & determination can achieve. Don't give up on the fitness lads, you'll feel immensly proud when you crack the first big barrier, and then you'll keep on breaking barriers.
P.s. quite proud of both those pearls of wisdom & the fact I'm now a celebrity member, finally I achieve something in life..................YES!

wannabe_bootneck wrote:Future para, you can't say don't join the paras because you get tired running up a hill, if you're legs don't feel hills then you're lucky

Its not that, its just if the lad doesnt have any will power, then to be honest, he aint got a hope in hell. As you said, a bit of grit and determination and anyone can do it.

Congrats on the promotion!

James

Ok fair one, but I don't think he said he rapped after a hill, just that he definately felt the affects, which anyone does. The steep bit on my 1.7 mile course is only small & not even that steep, but about 3/4 way round so it hurts! But it's weird like that, on that 6.5 miler we did it through a park & I ran through a puddle thinking it'll cool me down, it soaked me trainers, socks & my shorts a bit, now as stupid as it is, I really felt the extra weight on the feet of the water. The little things ey!

If you are reading this thread and thinking that you can't do this then the Para's is not for you. If you go in for the Para's you need to be postive, and go for every thing, lets face it you don't know what you can do until you try, BUT as they say in the Para's FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION.