I read this article today at armytimes.com
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/06/army_PT_overhaul_061408w/

Its about time they stop letting recruits wear shorts and sneakers for PT. We didnt have the luxury of wearing sneakers or shorts, we ran in full gear and boots. I know some wont like this new plan but its needed for our new soldiers to get used to thier battle rattle instead of waiting till they go down range before wearing it for the first time.

Full Battle-Rattle for PT?

I am in shape and would welcome the de-emphasis on long distance running (yeah, I suck at running) but PT in combat gear is a little over the top, IMHO.

Matt
SPC, US Army
15U

Approve it now! (I leave in September for BCT). I hate running also, but overall I am in good shape. I'm 41 and have been working out for over 20 years, but running was never my thing. At 6'5" and 245 lbs, I am not built for running, but I've been doing cardio for a long time. Stepper, eliptical, bike, I can do all that...no problem. Pounding my joints running, I can't do that(or haven't been doing that, but I will be now). Upper body, lower body and core are all strong. I'm still athletic, so please!!!!!! Take away the (long distance)running!!!

I like the idea of getting away from running. Road marches and combat obstacle courses like the Green Monster in Panama at the Jungle School are more inline with what kinda PT the military needs to do.

for all of you who hate to run, i understand, but running isn't just about running. it's an indicator of overall health and fitness as well as heart and lung stregnth.

it's also a test of stregnth in your back, knees and ankles.

if your joints are a problem, not running as much in basic will only mask the problem temporarily.

quote:

Originally posted by 14717657:
Approve it now! (I leave in September for BCT). I hate running also, but overall I am in good shape. I'm 41 and have been working out for over 20 years, but running was never my thing. At 6'5" and 245 lbs, I am not built for running, but I've been doing cardio for a long time. Stepper, eliptical, bike, I can do all that...no problem. Pounding my joints running, I can't do that(or haven't been doing that, but I will be now). Upper body, lower body and core are all strong. I'm still athletic, so please!!!!!! Take away the (long distance)running!!!

your statement doesn't make a lot of sense. you state you can do the stepper, the eliptical, and bike,(all cardio) but you state you can't run, which is also a cardio exercise.

sorry to say, you'll never do PT on an eliptical machine, or a stair stepper.

you also state you are 245 lbs. to me, (and i'm not judging) it sounds like you need to lose some weight first.

if you're 245 lbs, try dropping the 13 lbs you need to lose to fall within standards before stating something like this. running will be a lot easier.

chances are, it's the fact that you are carrying 245 lbs on your joints that is the source of the problem, not running itself.

however, i applaud your efforts being 41 years old and trying to do this. i myself am 31 and trying to get back in after a 9 year break.

best of luck to you.

(I've changed my screenname- formerly 14717657)
Thanks for your good wishes. Instead of saying I can't run, I should have said I don't like to run and pound my joints. All the cardio machines I mentioned are low-impact, so it minimizes the wear-and-tear on the joints while still providing cardiovascular benefits. Some of my original post was tounge-in-cheek, so please don't take it litarlly. I know what I signed up for and I'm looking forward to serving and doing my part. As a word of encouragement for other potential recruits, I have seen a great improvement in my running times and endurance in a short period of time(4 weeks). I followed other recommendations of running as far as you can then walk 1 minute and run again for at least a minute and then walk again, etc. The first couple of minutes I feel like I'm pounding my joints, but then the muscle around the joints kick in, provideing support and away I go. (albeit slowly). As far as losing weight, no doubt I need to. I expect to drop at least 20lbs while at BCT which will make the impact on my joints that much better. I'm working on losing weight now and I just changed my workout routine to a lighter, hi-repetion workout maximizing cardiovascular and fat-burning over building muscle.

I think what did it for me at basic was I was in great shape because of high school sports. All 4 years I played football in the fall and ran track in the spring. Right before I left for basic I ran track so when I left 2 weeks after graduation from high school I was in better shape then some of the people there. when people hear they have to run 2-3 miles they panic, running those distances people think they will never make it. Its a head game when it comes to running, people dont hink they can do it. During AIT we ran 3 miles everyday from our barracks out past the airport at Ft Leonard Wood and me and about 3 others dropped back to help those who were having problems keeping up.After about 2 weeks of us helping the others the Drill Sgts after dinner chow talked to us and told us that he and the other DIs appreciated what we were doing to help out and got extra time off for personal things.If you are in great shape encourage the others who are not doing so great.

quote:

Originally posted by T_Rok:
(I've changed my screenname- formerly 14717657)
Thanks for your good wishes. Instead of saying I can't run, I should have said I don't like to run and pound my joints. All the cardio machines I mentioned are low-impact, so it minimizes the wear-and-tear on the joints while still providing cardiovascular benefits. Some of my original post was tounge-in-cheek, so please don't take it litarlly. I know what I signed up for and I'm looking forward to serving and doing my part. As a word of encouragement for other potential recruits, I have seen a great improvement in my running times and endurance in a short period of time(4 weeks). I followed other recommendations of running as far as you can then walk 1 minute and run again for at least a minute and then walk again, etc. The first couple of minutes I feel like I'm pounding my joints, but then the muscle around the joints kick in, provideing support and away I go. (albeit slowly). As far as losing weight, no doubt I need to. I expect to drop at least 20lbs while at BCT which will make the impact on my joints that much better. I'm working on losing weight now and I just changed my workout routine to a lighter, hi-repetion workout maximizing cardiovascular and fat-burning over building muscle.

you have a good attitude towards your goals, but I'd start off by trying to lose the weight first if I were you and this is why:

i know that i can run 4-5 miles every morning and really push myself because i know that afterwards, i'm going to go to the office and sit on my butt all day. you won't get that in basic. in basic training you'll be on your feet constantly, even after PT. you won't have as much recovery time. even what you wear will be different. now, if you have a harsh PT session you can put on some light and comfortable clothing on afterwards. in basic, you'll put on boots and utilities on after PT.

try and lose the weight now, because carrying the extra weight and going through the stress of basic training may be more than your body can take.

in addition to what you're doing, try walking 3-5 miles a day and changing up your diet. eliminate white starches. (white rice, white bread, potatoes, flour tortillas, etc) opt for brown rice, wheat breads, wheat cereals etc.

lots of fruits and veggies and plenty of water. in fact, water should be the only thing you drink all day.

try and get your cardio done first thing in the morning to jumpstart your metabolism and afterwards, have a piece of fruit and some wheaties for breakfast. the breakfast of champions is high in fiber and will help keep your metabolism going.

There's still going to be running. Just less emphasis in long-distance running.

I wish this new PT was in effect when I was in basic and ait.