MilitaryForums.co.uk

just a little tip for those training to join up it applies to army and those doing the 3 mile test on the p.r.m.c, ive noticed that quite a lot of you hopefuls testing themselves over 1.5 or 3 miles rely on the treadmill to much. of course this is the only way to set a correct distance to assess yourself unless you have a pedometer (not really that accurate) here is a better solution chaps: in your car, pull up at the side of the road and reset your odometer (by pushing the plastic switch sticking out of the clear instument cluster) now drive the most straightforward route you can, avoiding roundabouts, T junctions or any thing else that makes the car deviate from the pavement for 1.5 miles( watch the . increments carfully) then visually mark the end. as long as you follow the route staying to the left hand pavement and staying as close to the DRIVEN route as possible, you will have a accurate represention of the bft route.
if you dont have a car just get a m8 or parent to do it with you. by not doind a round trip, you force yourself to run the 1.5 miles back! for prmc just ajust the distances accordingly....
this will just save you from the shock of goin from treadmill to road on test day

Hi judy, I'll take this oppurtunity to welcome you since I haven't seen you yet so..err..welcome

Yeah I used the car method, it's pretty accurate. I used a pedometer after using the car and found the route to be almost exactly 3 miles. Theres a site that I used to use that has some pretty accurate and easy to use maps that you can find distances on, I'll see if I can find it out for y'all.

Also a good motivational tip is to get a taxi into the middle of nowhere but don't take any money with you, that way you'll have to run back because you can't do anything else and the taxi driver'll be trying to kill you, easy eh

Best way to measure distance is with an ordnance survey map and then measure your route with a piece of string representing 1mile/km. Doing it with a car will not always be accurate and doesnt work if you run through a park and woods like I do. I dont rely on treadmills for accuracy, therefore when I do use them (only occasionally) I work for lengths of time. The bad thing about them is the fact that when you get knackered, youre more likely to stop because you dont have to go far. Another good tip when running is to walk back in the opposite direction if you have to stop. This means the longer you stop for, the further you have to run.

Judy, where in Plymouth do you live? Are you doing your PRMC soon or are you past that? I'm in woolwell and hope to join after my A Levels.

About the treadmill, I have alot more respect for xcountry runners because I know how much harder it is. I ran 5 miles xcountry in the rain on monday and 5 miles yesterday on the treadmill....p*ss easy in the treadmill, still aching from the xcountry. Last mile was uphill!

-Jamie-

Hey Jamie I'm also from Plymouth (Plympton) and I have got my medical for the RMR this weekend, which includes a 1.5 mile run. I do most of my running on Dartmoor and go for time rather than distance as I make my routes up as I go rather than having a set route, I find this more fun. Tend to run around Nattor and Sheepstor area. Never been into a Gym in my life as it seems a waste of money to me so the biggest problem I'll have at the weekend is figuring out the treadmill lol!

Phil

Nakor wrote: Never been into a Gym in my life as it seems a waste of money to me so the biggest problem I'll have at the weekend is figuring out the treadmill lol!

Phil

Become a student mate. I pay £40 for a year, and that includes free swimming.

lol I should be student in September if I get my UCAS done in the next week .

£40 a year? I pay 42 a month and the bastards have just nicked an extra 15 from my account!

Good luck with your medical and UCAS stuff Nakor. I haven't really done any running on Dartmoor yet. Did the 10 tors though (45miles).

I tend to run from woolwell to 42's barracks in bickleigh, then through Plym Bridge woods and back to woowell. It's about 3 miles road and 2 off-road, last mile uphill unless i go the other way round. Took me 37 mins last time.

When do you go for your PRMC? Maybe we could go for a run or something. Princetown to burrator is a nice but difficulf run, did it on my bike a while back and walked it lots on 10 tors training.

-Jamie-

hello jamie,
im not in the marines, its 29 commando regt they provide the marines with artillery support we wear a green lid also, and we are trained the same. (norway ect) often people say we dont do the same but 29 guys are already trained soliders so we do 8 weeks commando cse in lympstone.( the same training as royal do after there recruit training) 0X

Jesus! i didnt realize there were that many lads from Plymouth on here About time we had a few

Nakor i take i take it your a Raymond E Feist fan mate?

judy29 wrote:ive noticed that quite a lot of you hopefuls testing themselves over 1.5 or 3 miles rely on the treadmill to much. of course this is the only way to set a correct distance to assess yourself unless you have a pedometer (not really that accurate)

Judy, just got a point to make here. All my running is done on a treadmill, this is because i live in the Inner city. There is no chance of running round here and i have tried but got chased by stray dogs, nearly fell in broken glass, stood in dog crap and chased by gangs of charves....the list is endless!

Not good!

I just mentioned it because there will be others in my situation

RobT

i know what you mean mate, but i live in the middle of a city too where theres footpaths you can run! :fadein:
the treadmills ok- but youve just got to mix it up a little.

Theres a Big difference between Plymouth and Middlesbrough mate!

Rob