Running for Beast

thefish3

10-Year Member
5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2009
Messages
17
In the letters and emails I have gotten from West Point, they have strongly stressed running to get ready for Beast. I've started running some fairly long distances, but am afraid to run everyday because I think that all of that aerobic exercise will cause me to lose a little bit of muscle mass, and I don't want my push-ups or pull-ups to take a hit. Is it okay to only run every other day, and mix in anaerobic workouts to prepare for beast? I just don't want to show up at the academy looking like a twig. I've heard that the slowest running groups at beast are 8:30 pace, and I am well ahead of that.
Thanks for the help and best of luck to all those still waiting to hear back from USMA.
 
I usually only run every other day. I believe the instructions for physically preparing say to have 48 hours of rest in between runs. I may be mistaken though.
 
Unless you're running 30+ miles a week, your strength probably won't be limited.
Just make sure to maintain what strength you do already have.
So, for example, go for a run in the morning and then follow it up with a set of pushups, and then do another couple sets of pushups and pullups added in the evening.

Every other day works as well, but again, you still need to maintain your upper body strength if you don't want to lose it.
 
You don't have to do long runs when running if you are afraid of losing muscle. In ROTC some days, we throw in sprints instead of long runs or do shorter runs (1.5-2 miles) and focus more on upper body. I'd say you could even not run one day and just do a little bit of jump roping or another substituted cardio activity. Also, you don't want to work your arms and abs hard every day.
 
Right now, I'm doing 3-5 miles, with 25 pushups every quarter mile until I reach 200-250 pushups. Followed by 10x5 pullups, 5-10 hills (more hills for my 3 mile days), 4x25 flutter kicks, 5x20 dips, 5x10 negative situps (the ones where you hang from the dip rack and hang upside down), and maybe 5x20 regular situps, 5x20 jumping jacks/jump rope, 5x10 burpies.

I try to do this every other day and do weight lifting for football on the other days.
 
JCraft, if you keep that up, you will be far ahead of many of your peers coming into Beast!
 
Right now, I'm running around 7 miles a day at a 7:30 pace. I constantly maintain upper body strength with many many pushups, pullups, situps, and other calisthenics variations. Whey protein added in occasionally.

This way, I can improve my running ability with the lengthy, aerobic muscles on my lower body, and the strong muscle masses on my upper body.
 
Right now, I'm running around 7 miles a day at a 7:30 pace. I constantly maintain upper body strength with many many pushups, pullups, situps, and other calisthenics variations. Whey protein added in occasionally.

This way, I can improve my running ability with the lengthy, aerobic muscles on my lower body, and the strong muscle masses on my upper body.
freedomtruck, are you doing that every day?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Right now, I'm running around 7 miles a day at a 7:30 pace. I constantly maintain upper body strength with many many pushups, pullups, situps, and other calisthenics variations. Whey protein added in occasionally.

This way, I can improve my running ability with the lengthy, aerobic muscles on my lower body, and the strong muscle masses on my upper body.

What time do you get home from school? I get home at 9pm and can only run on a tredmill at that time.

Also, if anyone here lifts regularly, Ive found that lifting before cardio works best. Lifting after you run makes it nearly impossible to max out on your max day.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Also, if anyone here lifts regularly, Ive found that lifting before cardio works best. Lifting after you run makes it nearly impossible to max out on your max day.


Agreed, my clean and squat max for football were not where I wanted them to be...RETEST!
 
freedomtruck, are you doing that every day?

Yes. With exceptions to the days when it's below 36F and or it's snowing heavily. It actually snowed today (April 1st). :shake:


What time do you get home from school? I get home at 9pm and can only run on a tredmill at that time.

Also, if anyone here lifts regularly, Ive found that lifting before cardio works best. Lifting after you run makes it nearly impossible to max out on your max day.

I get out of school around 3pm but stay in the weight room until 4:00pm. Then I do my run, and wind up finishing everything around 5-5:30. I do pushups spontaneously throughout the day (morning, afternoon, before bed, before meals, etc).
 
Last edited by a moderator:
WP cadets run when it snows, when it rains, when it is cold, when it is hot, when it's dark, when it's early, and when it is late.

As any plebe would likely say, "no excuses, sir!"

I hope this advice is helpful.
 
WP cadets run when it snows, when it rains, when it is cold, when it is hot, when it's dark, when it's early, and when it is late.

As any plebe would likely say, "no excuses, sir!"

I hope this advice is helpful.

With all due respect, M2inOR, we (as appointees) need to be extremely careful in our workouts...with a $400,000+ education, plus a career in the Army, riding on our health, an injury at this stage of the game would be devastating.
But thank you, sir/ma'am, for the advice regarding how workouts at USMA are conducted.
 
Back
Top