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I'm a potential recruit to the Parachute Regiment and I came across these forums through Google - and so far its proved a wealth of information.

I'd like some feedback on my current training regime, if at all possible - I really want to get in and do well, and it seems that prior preparation is the way forwards.

My current training runs like this:

-One timed 2 mile run per week. This comes after a 2 mile warm up run. I'm consistantly hitting a time of around 9 minutes flat for the run, and I've been told I've got 9.18 at ADSC - should I be happy with 9 minutes or really push to improve this?
-One timed 4 mile hill run per week. After a 1/2 mile or so warm up. Doing this in about 25 minutes or so.
-One untimed 6 mile cross country run per week. Again, after warming up. This is basically to improve my stamina. I can run this at a decent pace with no stops, and some of the terrain isn't the best.

-3 sets of 25 press ups and sit ups daily (75 press ups and 75 sit ups every morning)
-3 sets of 3 chin ups every morning

The press ups, sit ups and chin ups are run as a circuit training type of event, following about 5 minutes of skipping as a warm up.

How does this stand as preparation for joining the paras? Will just this fitness program be OK, or is there a key area I'm missing out on?

As far as my application goes, I'm awaiting dates for ADSC, but the careers office have said it'll be mid Sept, and should I pass, they're trying to push me into the Mid-October CIC(para) course - so any advice I can get on getting fit enough is appreciated!

Hi, Im applying for the Para Regt to, give the other site - http://www.mfat.co.uk/forums/ a look (military fitness & training website)

Fatboy wrote:-One timed 2 mile run per week. This comes after a 2 mile warm up run. I'm consistantly hitting a time of around 9 minutes flat for the run, and I've been told I've got 9.18 at ADSC - should I be happy with 9 minutes or really push to improve this?!

The 9:18 is for 1.5 miles. Are you sure you're doing 2 miles in 9 minutes...?

FB, been a long time since I went through training, sounds like a good schedule, a friendly word of advice, dont overtrain, if you pick up injuries, reduce your phys and let your body repair itself.
I hope you get what you want.

Sounds like you got a good programme going on there.

Running will get you fit for depot, but you also need to do sprints. Your hill run session sounds good, but you really need to find a short but steep hill and sprint 100% effort up then slowly jog back down and rest for 1 minute. Repeat 10 times.

That will prepare you nicely for the beastings you get. "Reference hill top, there and back....last 10 go again....standby...GO!!!"

You have got so much to look forward to

Brian- wrote:

Fatboy wrote:-One timed 2 mile run per week. This comes after a 2 mile warm up run. I'm consistantly hitting a time of around 9 minutes flat for the run, and I've been told I've got 9.18 at ADSC - should I be happy with 9 minutes or really push to improve this?!

The 9:18 is for 1.5 miles. Are you sure you're doing 2 miles in 9 minutes...?

Well spotted - I'm doing the 1.5 mile run in 9 minutes, the 2 miles in about 11.45 - 12 minutes.

Re. overtraining - I've been careful to avoid doing this. A couple of weeks ago, I noticed some cheeky muscle twinges, so I jacked on the training for a couple of days and spent my normal PT time in the local swimming pool instead. Since then, I've not had any problems.

Thanks for the advice on the hill sprints - I'll get cracking on them tomorrow when I get running.

You don't get beasted at Depot Para do you I was hoping to walk into Catterick, show them my regimental tattoo and be given the wings and beret on day one

There was a lad in depot who had a tattoo saying - "Pain is the feeling of weakness leaving the body"


He failed.

Paratrooper01 wrote:There was a lad in depot who had a tattoo saying - "Pain is the feeling of weakness leaving the body"


He failed.

What a nobber!

Seriously, I have a HUGE Para capbadge tattoo'ed on my right arm. Will this mean the DS won't like me? Andy McNab said he had a laugh with his recruits when he was a full screw at depot.....

Thanks for the advice lads, hopefully I'll be able to hack depot when I get there.

You would be funny if I thought for one minute that you were gen!!

Banch wrote:You would be funny if I thought for one minute that you were gen!!

How do you mean?

fatboy, this has to be a wind up, ? if your gen, about the tatoo dont even bother turning up at depot. people are giving you advice on your fitness and what to do , your wasting peoples time, you sound like a wannabe, go forth and multiply,

Sorry guys, I should have used more smileys. I don't actually have any tattoos, and I'm expecting depot to be bloody hard.

I knew you were just having the crack.
I would have loved to be a fly on the wall at depot had it been true though!!
Good luck with selection Fatboy.

no probs fat boy. stranger things have happened, ? get your head right and your half way there, a lot of lads who are mega fit cant hack the mental aspects of the fitness , always being pushed that little bit extra, and thats whats expected of you in para reg, you need to go that extra mile,
all the best with your training, its worth it.