Havent heard much from anyone training for the POC recently, just wondering what you're all up to? Hows the training going?
Mines going pretty well, steady progress except for a niggly muscular prob. If there any other POC candidates about lets have a butchers and see how you're preparing...
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Maverick00
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- Joined: Mon 21 Apr, 2003 5:23 pm
- Location: Essex/Loughborough
Hey Maverick, my training is progressing well however I had to cut back a bit over the last couple of weeks as I was training 6 days a week, (pre-season rugby training and POC training) and I was starting to pick up stupid niggles and never had enough recovery time. Just starting to pick it back up this week and I am just trying to get the timings of my runs down a bit more. Under 7 min/mile for all runs up to 6 miles but only got 58 mins for 8 miles as of yet. A bit more training should sort this though.
My training basically consists of long distance running, swimming and gym work- calisthenics and weights. I found a good programme in the book "Joining the SAS" by Barry Davies which is fairly similar to the POC guide but harder, so I've adapted that a bit and am following that.
What sort of training are you doing at the minute and how long until your injury heals up?
My training basically consists of long distance running, swimming and gym work- calisthenics and weights. I found a good programme in the book "Joining the SAS" by Barry Davies which is fairly similar to the POC guide but harder, so I've adapted that a bit and am following that.
What sort of training are you doing at the minute and how long until your injury heals up?
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Maverick00
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- Posts: 379
- Joined: Mon 21 Apr, 2003 5:23 pm
- Location: Essex/Loughborough
Sounds like your in the same kind of situation as me.
I was training 6 days a week and voila muscle prob appeared!
Im doing runs from 3 miles up to 7 miles, all at about a 7 min mile pace, also doing a fartlek session as well. Try to take in a few hills on all of the runs. On the shorter runs im running with weight, carrying 5-10 lbs. Tried a run with boots which is bloody hard, am investing in proper reguation boots as soon as i get paid and will be doing my shorter runs in those as well.
Also doing circuit work 3 times a week, basically callisthenics, sometimes done immediatley after one of my runs.
Supplement this with a couple of gym cardio sessions for cross training and the occassional swim.
Not sure about the muscular prob, had massage on it and it has improved, is basically a case of too much running, too intense and too soon. Had it for couple of weeks now, am cutting lower body work right down for a week and focusing on upper body and flexibility work to try and give my body time to adapt to the new stresses im putting it through!
I would think that if i stick to that for a week it should be ok, then its a case of upping the mileage and intensity gradually so muscles etc can adapt.
You got a date for POC yet?
I was training 6 days a week and voila muscle prob appeared!
Im doing runs from 3 miles up to 7 miles, all at about a 7 min mile pace, also doing a fartlek session as well. Try to take in a few hills on all of the runs. On the shorter runs im running with weight, carrying 5-10 lbs. Tried a run with boots which is bloody hard, am investing in proper reguation boots as soon as i get paid and will be doing my shorter runs in those as well.
Also doing circuit work 3 times a week, basically callisthenics, sometimes done immediatley after one of my runs.
Supplement this with a couple of gym cardio sessions for cross training and the occassional swim.
Not sure about the muscular prob, had massage on it and it has improved, is basically a case of too much running, too intense and too soon. Had it for couple of weeks now, am cutting lower body work right down for a week and focusing on upper body and flexibility work to try and give my body time to adapt to the new stresses im putting it through!
I would think that if i stick to that for a week it should be ok, then its a case of upping the mileage and intensity gradually so muscles etc can adapt.
You got a date for POC yet?
Not got a date yet. Going to meet the Liason Officer in October to sort out my application form and to give him an idea of when I think I will be ready to go to CTC. After that it will just be a case of waiting and keeping my training going. What about you, any ideas when you are going to give the POC a go?
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Maverick00
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- Joined: Mon 21 Apr, 2003 5:23 pm
- Location: Essex/Loughborough
Well ive had my initial interview which went fairly well, only weak point was my current affairs which ive been working at solidly for months now. Im hoping to get my 2nd interview done before i leave for uni at the end of next month where ill hopefully get the date for my POC sometime early next year.
Id like to get it done earlier rather than later but if i get through i dont fancy having to prepare for the AIB and my finals at the same time! Im aiming for sept entry next year so i guess im looking at april-ish POC and summer AIB.
Again it seems like im in the same boat as you for now, just carrying on my training and current affairs prep till i get some dates.
Are you going for the same entry date as me? If so chances are we could end up at the same POC.
Id like to get it done earlier rather than later but if i get through i dont fancy having to prepare for the AIB and my finals at the same time! Im aiming for sept entry next year so i guess im looking at april-ish POC and summer AIB.
Again it seems like im in the same boat as you for now, just carrying on my training and current affairs prep till i get some dates.
Are you going for the same entry date as me? If so chances are we could end up at the same POC.
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Charlie Boy
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- Posts: 14
- Joined: Mon 24 Mar, 2003 5:49 pm
- Location: Lancaster
alright there guys, im also going for Sept 2004 entry, I will start posting more now. Training is going well, although I was recently hit down with food poisoning which had me out of action for 2 weeks. At the moment im running 4 times a week about 5-6 miles but on some of them I like to find a football pitch when halfway through and do some some fartlek round that, helps me concentrate. Might try with some weight and boots soon. Recently started doing some Tae-bo classes and it really helps with flexibility, fitness and pushing yourself. Not too bad with current affairs as im lucky and its part of my uni course.
Ive actually got my application forms now and ready to send them off but not sure when to do POC(probably Jan) as want to be in peak shape but like u Maverick dont want AIB at the end of the uni year.
Ive actually got my application forms now and ready to send them off but not sure when to do POC(probably Jan) as want to be in peak shape but like u Maverick dont want AIB at the end of the uni year.
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Maverick00
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- Posts: 379
- Joined: Mon 21 Apr, 2003 5:23 pm
- Location: Essex/Loughborough
Yeah its a bit of a bugger isnt it, never rains but it pours.
Ive just got my assault boots today, suprisingly comfy! Going to break them in first and then just do one run a week at first. Maybe more later on, will see how it goes. Recommend the running with a weighted pack though, did 3 miles with ten pounds and my quads were knackered! Be careful not to do too much too soon though, has potential to cause you some harm if you do too much.
Ive just got my assault boots today, suprisingly comfy! Going to break them in first and then just do one run a week at first. Maybe more later on, will see how it goes. Recommend the running with a weighted pack though, did 3 miles with ten pounds and my quads were knackered! Be careful not to do too much too soon though, has potential to cause you some harm if you do too much.
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Dickens
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- Posts: 24
- Joined: Tue 09 Sep, 2003 9:10 pm
- Location: Durham, USA (usually Guildford UK)
alright fellas,
Not sure if you'll notice my reply here, i just found this forum. I also am planning to join the officer training Sep 2004, after i graduate from uni. It's good to read and get ideas from you about training.
Do you know of anyone on this list who has done the POC? i'm trying to find out more about that.
cheers
Not sure if you'll notice my reply here, i just found this forum. I also am planning to join the officer training Sep 2004, after i graduate from uni. It's good to read and get ideas from you about training.
Do you know of anyone on this list who has done the POC? i'm trying to find out more about that.
cheers
Been down to POC about 4 years ago just after leaving school but can only give info regarding the first day and the warm-up on the bottom field because after that I knackered my shoulder and that was the end of that idea for a few years. Any questions on this much and I might be able to help.
Just got a date for my next interview on 17th September and after this I should have an idea of a POC date.
Just got a date for my next interview on 17th September and after this I should have an idea of a POC date.
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Dickens
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- Posts: 24
- Joined: Tue 09 Sep, 2003 9:10 pm
- Location: Durham, USA (usually Guildford UK)
Thanks Butch,
Have done a search on the POC on this forum and found out some good information I haven't easily been able to find elsewhere. Found your previous posts, they have been helpful.
I now have a much better idea of what to expect. And, well, CRIKEY!! But I'm well up for the challenge. Will be aiming to do the POC early next year; have been doing a lot of training since April, but realise i need to up the tempo, particularly by increasing my running distance.
Cheers!
Have done a search on the POC on this forum and found out some good information I haven't easily been able to find elsewhere. Found your previous posts, they have been helpful.
I now have a much better idea of what to expect. And, well, CRIKEY!! But I'm well up for the challenge. Will be aiming to do the POC early next year; have been doing a lot of training since April, but realise i need to up the tempo, particularly by increasing my running distance.
Cheers!
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Maverick00
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- Posts: 379
- Joined: Mon 21 Apr, 2003 5:23 pm
- Location: Essex/Loughborough
Ah good to see a few more POC candidates finally! Butch if you could give us some idea about the way things are run that may help preparations for the POC then that would be very useful, cheers mate.
Apart from that unfortunately ive had a bit of a lull in my training at the moment due to doing too much too soon leading to injury, which is somewhat a self-fulfilling prophecy bearing in mind my earlier post! Oh well!
Apart from that unfortunately ive had a bit of a lull in my training at the moment due to doing too much too soon leading to injury, which is somewhat a self-fulfilling prophecy bearing in mind my earlier post! Oh well!
Maverick, you and I both seem to be following an identical run of events leading up to POC, I also had a small lull in my training but this was due to holiday not injury. Just getting back into it now and have started on the 8 milers again and seem to have almost maintained my level of fitness as I've only dropped about a minute on this route.
As you ask about the way things are run I'll try and give a brief idea of what my experiences were from last time. The main, and probably most important, memory is of the fitness standard required. I was young and very naiive and therefore ill prepared for the whole course. I thought that a couple of 5-6 mile runs would be ample but I think I was a long way off and probably would have suffered majorly on the endurance course.
From what I remeber, the course started at about lunchtime on the Monday and we were first met by the sergeant in charge of us and then the OC. We had a small talk from him and then got taken to the stores to get the kit we needed for the 3 days. Lunch came next and then very soon after we watched a small presentation and then went down to the gym for the RMFA. As soon as you get into the gym you start working right through a hard warm-up and then into the gym tests. There was no VO2 max test and we had to do some vaulting so I'm not sure if that still happens. After the gym tests we got changed and went to a classroom to write a current affairs essay of which there were two choices. During the essay writing we went out of class and had a 1-1 interview with a POC officer. After this we had another superb meal and the night time was free for us to get to know each other and also to meet YO's in training.
Next day it was up early for breakfast and then ready for the assault course. We were split into teams and given a log each and then got run down to the bottom field for the worst beasting of our lives. Firstly you get instructed on each obstacle by the PTI's and then get a chance to run around it to get a feel of the course the, you pick up your log and get beasted till your arms are almost hanging off and your lungs are going to burst. Lots of shoulder pressing, sprinting, sit-ups etc. This is where I knackered my shoulder so I can't really explain any more in detail however the green POC booklet outines what else happens although not how hard it actually is. Right, got to go to work now so if there are any questions just post them up here and I'll see what I can do.
Butch.
As you ask about the way things are run I'll try and give a brief idea of what my experiences were from last time. The main, and probably most important, memory is of the fitness standard required. I was young and very naiive and therefore ill prepared for the whole course. I thought that a couple of 5-6 mile runs would be ample but I think I was a long way off and probably would have suffered majorly on the endurance course.
From what I remeber, the course started at about lunchtime on the Monday and we were first met by the sergeant in charge of us and then the OC. We had a small talk from him and then got taken to the stores to get the kit we needed for the 3 days. Lunch came next and then very soon after we watched a small presentation and then went down to the gym for the RMFA. As soon as you get into the gym you start working right through a hard warm-up and then into the gym tests. There was no VO2 max test and we had to do some vaulting so I'm not sure if that still happens. After the gym tests we got changed and went to a classroom to write a current affairs essay of which there were two choices. During the essay writing we went out of class and had a 1-1 interview with a POC officer. After this we had another superb meal and the night time was free for us to get to know each other and also to meet YO's in training.
Next day it was up early for breakfast and then ready for the assault course. We were split into teams and given a log each and then got run down to the bottom field for the worst beasting of our lives. Firstly you get instructed on each obstacle by the PTI's and then get a chance to run around it to get a feel of the course the, you pick up your log and get beasted till your arms are almost hanging off and your lungs are going to burst. Lots of shoulder pressing, sprinting, sit-ups etc. This is where I knackered my shoulder so I can't really explain any more in detail however the green POC booklet outines what else happens although not how hard it actually is. Right, got to go to work now so if there are any questions just post them up here and I'll see what I can do.
Butch.
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Dickens
- Member
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Tue 09 Sep, 2003 9:10 pm
- Location: Durham, USA (usually Guildford UK)
my training has just taken another knock too... had to have a toenail removed this week so that'll set me back a week or so, at least on the running. Mixed blessing, perhaps; hopefully i can allow myself to fully recover from shin splints i got from bad shoes.
Tell ya what; it's a good thing i've found this forum. I think I would have continued with what i've been doing, and turned up for POC in completely inadequate shape.
Which may still be the case... but not if i can help it.
Tell ya what; it's a good thing i've found this forum. I think I would have continued with what i've been doing, and turned up for POC in completely inadequate shape.
Which may still be the case... but not if i can help it.
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Maverick00
- Member
- Posts: 379
- Joined: Mon 21 Apr, 2003 5:23 pm
- Location: Essex/Loughborough
Very true..this forum has been a god send.
With regards to phys prep for POC, ive started to get the impression it doesnt really matter how fit you get as long as you can meet the standards. After that its simply a matter of showing youve got the balls to go through the pain barrier. It doesnt matter how fit you are, if you can sail through it all you wont get selected cos it doesnt show the determination theyre looking for. I
n other words people, all the training in the world wont make it any easier!
With regards to phys prep for POC, ive started to get the impression it doesnt really matter how fit you get as long as you can meet the standards. After that its simply a matter of showing youve got the balls to go through the pain barrier. It doesnt matter how fit you are, if you can sail through it all you wont get selected cos it doesnt show the determination theyre looking for. I
n other words people, all the training in the world wont make it any easier!
