Pretty much this....lived a long hard life of laboring my knees and back, am 40 years old and my knees and back just can't take this running crap anymore! I am still healthy and fit enough to accomplish my job, no medical issues, just running is too traumatic for my body anymore. I spend more time injured and unable to exercise than I do getting fit.

So when is enough enough? When can you get these running exemptions without it hurting your career? I have always just sucked it up but I'm tired, if I can do the walk instead it would be so much better for my body. What is the process for getting this option? Anyone know?

I can't recall off hand what's considered an old fart, but you're getting close.

I'll be 45 next week, and the last three years I've been able to do the walk. On my PHA I filled out that I use tobacco products (I smoke), I don't work out three times a week, and I'm over 42 (I think is the age). Base Doc's say I have to get a letter from my personal physician to be able to run...so I walk.

Still have to do the pushups and situps and measure under 39" waist, and then wear a heart monitor for the walk...and have to do the walk briskly.

The first year was when I was 42 and I told the base Doc that I was having back problems and going to a chiropractor regularly. Still had the step test then.

It hasn't hurt my career but I have heard you have to run if you want to go to an in-house PME course, and heard rumors that you have to run to deploy but I haven't heard facts about that yet.

After years working on the flightline, my knees are going slowly, my hips hurt from time to time, back messes up sometimes, and rotator cuff acts up. Makes the PT test interesting and sometimes painful even doing the walk, but I haven't failed one yet. I'm like you, still healthy and fit enough to do my job, but running isn't for me.

quote:

Originally posted by Weasel_Keeper:
heard rumors that you have to run to deploy but I haven't heard facts about that yet.

Last I heard is the running requirement to be world wide qualified is something like being able to run 100 yds...it isn't the full 1.5 mile run....they are also relaxing the PT to deploy situation so people can't duck a deployment by failing their PT test....

quote:

Originally posted by PD3rdACR:
Pretty much this....lived a long hard life of laboring my knees and back, am 40 years old and my knees and back just can't take this running crap anymore! I am still healthy and fit enough to accomplish my job, no medical issues, just running is too traumatic for my body anymore. I spend more time injured and unable to exercise than I do getting fit.

So when is enough enough? When can you get these running exemptions without it hurting your career? I have always just sucked it up but I'm tired, if I can do the walk instead it would be so much better for my body. What is the process for getting this option? Anyone know?

With the downsizing of the military, why would you expect an exception to the rules on PT? Can't meet standards, need to be on your way with a thankful country for your previous service. The country will loose your great talents but the country will survive.

quote:

Originally posted by zaurus:

quote:

Originally posted by PD3rdACR:
Pretty much this....lived a long hard life of laboring my knees and back, am 40 years old and my knees and back just can't take this running crap anymore! I am still healthy and fit enough to accomplish my job, no medical issues, just running is too traumatic for my body anymore. I spend more time injured and unable to exercise than I do getting fit.

So when is enough enough? When can you get these running exemptions without it hurting your career? I have always just sucked it up but I'm tired, if I can do the walk instead it would be so much better for my body. What is the process for getting this option? Anyone know?

With the downsizing of the military, why would you expect an exception to the rules on PT? Can't meet standards, need to be on your way with a thankful country for your previous service. The country will loose your great talents but the country will survive.

With all due respect, sir.....I am not asking for an exception to the rule, I am am asking about a rule already in place for people like me. It is not an exception, it IS the rule. Not being able to run 1.5miles without pain does not stop you from being worthy airman and NCO. And the USAF sees it fit that people who have trouble running due to its stress on the body can demonstrate their fitness with a fast 3 mile walk.

I totally sympathsis with geting old and physical tests because it will happen to all of us sooner or later.

With that said have you tried to substitute jogging for stationary biking or elptical cycle for no impact workouts? Idk that might not be a total solution, but could help if you try training that instead of running.

I am 42 and I am a workout freak. I weight train 6 days a week and I am right around 10% body fat. That said, I hate running. I would run until I passed out dead before quitting, but it hurts in places I don't normally hurt. The fact is, you can try to substitute running with a bike or something else, but the conditioning is totally different. When you are made to run again it will be harder. I am to the point where I run a little every day. Just enough to keep my lungs strong but to not hurt my knees so I can make my next test without injury.

Don't give in to the temptation of quiting!!! Running is NOT for everyone. With that being said, I do believe it needs to be a necessary component of the PT test, IMHO of course!! Now, I sympathize with your predicament but there are a few things you can do to stay up to par. Max out on sit-ups, push-ups and try for max points on waist. With those points, you only need a time of 14:50 ish. Start taking some joint vitamins, if you have not already. Try doing strength exercises for your knees. Start slow and build up. You need to re-condition everything. It won't happen over night but it will prevent further injury. Hope this helps!!! Btw, I'm 39!!!

Well there comes a point where supplements can only do so much. I have worn out parts lol, just a fact. I have lived a tough life as a Army scout (knees), paramedic (back), and lots of labor and ladder work as a painting contractor (all the above). My issue is staying in running shape because running causes bad things to happen to my body which prevent me from continuing to run until healing. It's a very stressful thing and probably what will result in my separating from the military altogether and calling it a career. It is just a shame because I am still a healthy and fit person, just running is bad for MY body.

I retired from the 919th SOW Reserve as an ART and believe me if you are 40 your not an old fart just yet. I had many of the same problems with the physical fitness it liked to kill me, I had both knees operated on and was still required to do the run and it just freaking hurt to run. I was a SMSgt spent from 2001-2006 many months in the desert just to come home to a new Commander that said get fit or get out well lucky for me it had 37 years service so I retired. I wish someone would post the number of members that die in AFRES annually because of it. You can be 59 years old and be expected to be as fit as a 20 year old. The ironic thing I never once saw the Commander do his annual run.

Well I'm A 54 yr. old...prior service NAVY from the 70's. Joined the ANG after 9-11-01 and think that they are out of their minds with these PT tests for us old farts. I worked heavy constrution all my life and have bad knees, hernias and arthritis. I only have 17yrs in due to my break in service from the 70's. I gained weight last year from knee surgery and now I just recenctly had hernia surgery. I'm not here to cry about it. I'm just not going to be able to run and yes my waistline needs to go down. I'm being told now that they can medically discharge me and I will not be able to collect a Military pension.

Check a place called fleet feet. The right shoes did wonders for me. Just a thought.

Yea getting old sucks. I just get a doc's note every PT test to request to let me do the walk instead of run. As long as the USAF offers an alternative test I am good to go. The second they don't and yea, I will be in trouble. I just cannot run anymore. I stay in shape other ways, swimming, biking, elip machine, walking, etc. I am healthy with a healthy weight and can near max the walk/vo2 test no problem. Running is so overrated and causes more injury than anything.

I guess I'm in a posting mood today. The term force shaping does not mean the Air Force is getting in shape. It means the military is discharging those who cannot pass and thus reshaping the AF. It is an easy way to get rid of troops without providing early retirement or some other 'leave the AF' incentive.

Here is the problem I see. Many AFSC's are jobs that require a brain not brawn even in the deployed setting. Air Traffic Control, Surgeons, Radiologists, We are slowly getting rid of those 'overweight' brains because they can't run in circles fast enough. Then we have to hire contractors to do the job and they won't deploy. I've had several friends be retired because of medical only to comeback and make triple their salary or more as a contractor.

Should the AF be physically fit? Yes, but there should be a better sliding scale for not only age, but for rank, experience, AFSC. Critically manned AFSC's are leaving because of this PT bs and promotion issues associated with it or just being discharged. Some get a magic letter to stay in, some don't.

In the end though, PT testing is to save the AF money by getting people out, nothing more.