APFT Training

blue_murr4

5-Year Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2013
Messages
41
Hi Everyone,

I am preparing for my APFT which is April 23, so I have some time to really increase my scores.
I need to increase my pushups and situps, and my run time.
Right now I have 20 pushups, 55 sit ups, and my run time is 16:56 so a 208 overall score and obviously my goal is to max.
I understand doing these exercises everyday will off course help me increase my reps, but I was wondering if anyone had any work out plans already created they would want to share to help increase my scores.

Thanks.
 
Hi Everyone,

I am preparing for my APFT which is April 23, so I have some time to really increase my scores.
I need to increase my pushups and situps, and my run time.
Right now I have 20 pushups, 55 sit ups, and my run time is 16:56 so a 208 overall score and obviously my goal is to max.
I understand doing these exercises everyday will off course help me increase my reps, but I was wondering if anyone had any work out plans already created they would want to share to help increase my scores.

Thanks.

Not trying to be mean or anything, but you’re a female right?

I need to ask because the pushups is very low for a male and the run is a bit slow for a male in his late teens.
 
Hi Everyone,

I am preparing for my APFT which is April 23, so I have some time to really increase my scores.
I need to increase my pushups and situps, and my run time.
Right now I have 20 pushups, 55 sit ups, and my run time is 16:56 so a 208 overall score and obviously my goal is to max.
I understand doing these exercises everyday will off course help me increase my reps, but I was wondering if anyone had any work out plans already created they would want to share to help increase my scores.

Thanks.

For pushups, do 10 rounds of max every other day, timing for 120 seconds each round
For situps, do 10 rounds of max situps every other day, timing for 120 seconds each round
Alternate pushups-situps-rest for 2 minutes (should take 45-60 minutes max, depending on whether you go the full 120-seconds each round before dying)

For the run, do the following on the days where you are not doing pushups/situps:
  • On the first day, do 60/120 intervals for 30 minutes (run just a hair under your max sprint for 60s, walk briskly for 120s, repeat over and over)
  • On the second run day, run 2.5 miles at a little faster pace than you are comfortable
  • On the third run day, run an easy 3-4 miles at a 9-9:30/mile pace
On the 7th day, do a mock APFT on yourself each week

Do that for 6-8 weeks and you will come close to maxing your score. Don't do any other PT until after your PFT.

Track everything.
 
I highly recommend to start conditioning and weight training, both on separate days, to prepare for the APFT and the new ACFT, which does focus on core strength and weights.

1. 30 Push Ups
2. 30 Squats
3. 30 Crunches
4. 10 Burpees
5. 10 Windmills
6. 30 Push Ups
7. 30 Crunches
8. 30 Mountain Climbers
9. 30 Flutter Kicks
10. 10 Burpees
11. 40 Cherry Pickers
12. 30 Push Ups
13. 30 Crunches
14. 30 Jumping Jacks
15. 30 Back Extensions/Super-Mans or 30 Bicycle Kicks
16. 10 Burpees/15 Reverse Crunches w/ Leg Extension
17. 10 Chain Breakers
18. 30 Push Ups
19. 30 Crunches
20. 30 Lunges
21. 20 Tricep Dips or 10 Hello Dollies (your choice)
22. 10 Burpees
23. 10 Trunk Twists
24. 15 dead-hang (full arm extension) pull-ups (do in 3 sets)

I highly recommend the conditioning workout I posted above. So far, I increased my push-up count to 50 in one minute and around 80 in two minutes and sit-up count to 70 in two minutes. For running, I recommend you run around two to four miles once or twice a week or to join your school's track and cross country team. Just doing a two-mile warm-up followed by a three-mile lap (five miles total for that cardio session) has gotten me to get a 6:30 mile.

Just remember, pacing is key. Never start off too fast or you'll burn out too quickly.

Good luck on getting that perfect score for the PFT and CFT. Stay strong and stay humble.
 
DS used Stew Smith's APFT book to prepare for first APFT this past fall. He's an MS1. He has since dropped almost 2 minutes off his run by doing a lot of sprints and treadmill runs. If you set that pace you want on the treadmill it kind of forces you to run at that speed. :) Some of the Stew Smith resources can be found here. http://www.stewsmith.com/linkpages/15dayPFT.htm
 
The best workout plan is the one you will do. It also depends how much experience you have had to make sure you are doing to know if you can do the things listed above safely and correctly. Are you a high school student or are you a current cadet? I ask because if you are a current cadet, you have access to the university workout room, and hopefully some cadets that can help you with this. Talk to the master fitness trainer at your school and doing simply some core workouts and then doing a simple workout consistently is way more effective than a complicated workout occasionally. Good luck and keep working on it.

@GoCubbies - with those numbers being a 208, the poster would be a female, for a male those pushups would not be passing.
 
@blue_murr4

I think your goals are realistic. Max for females in the 17-21 age group is 42 push-ups, 78 sit-ups, and 15:36 mins for the 2-mile run.

First, calculate your BMI. Hopefully, it's between 18.5 and 24.9. If it's 25 or higher, then you need to lose a bit of weight. You'd be surprised at how much faster you can run and how many more push-ups you can do when you don't have to move around unnecessary weight. Having a "gut" will hamper your ability to get the most sit-ups. Caveat to weigh loss: you must do it safely -only 1-2 lbs/week. You have 8 weeks until your APFT. You can lose 8-16 pounds in that time. Another caveat: sometimes, our bodies have a set point. Your weight loss may plateau even though you're doing the right things. Your body probably just likes a certain weight. Not much you can do about that. No fad diets to lose weight. Again, a safe and healthy weight loss plan (if needed) is how you should lose 1-2 lbs/week.

As stated earlier, you must include speed training into your work-outs. You can't improve your 2-mile run time just by running lots of miles. You need to work on speed in addition to endurance.

Integrate your work-out plan with that of your AROTC unit. In general, units have PT on MWF. Take a look at their training plan so you can adjust the work-outs you do on your own to complement the unit PT plan. For example, if the unit has a long run planned for Monday, then you may want to plan a speed work-out on Tuesday for your own work-out. If the unit has only 1 long run planned for the week, you may want to plan a long run on your own on Saturday or Sunday. If the unit has a regimen to improve push-ups on Monday, then you may not want to work too hard on push-ups the previous day.

For push-ups, you should shoot for a goal of doing 25 without stopping. Make sure they're good too. Here's a strategy I use to max the push-ups every time I take the APFT. Let's say my max is 73. I do 50 good ones without stopping. It'll take about 60 seconds to do 50 good ones. That means I have 60 seconds to knock out another 23. After doing 50, I rest (bow or arch back), do 5, rest, do 3, rest, do 3, rest, do 3, rest, do 2, rest, do 2, rest, do 2, rest, do 1, rest, do 1, rest, do 1. You can't rest a long time though. Just enough to arch (or bow) your back and move your hands in (or out) a bit.

So for you, do 25 without stopping. Let's say it takes 45 seconds to do 25 good ones (I don't know. You'll have to time yourself). That means you'll have 75 seconds to do only 17 more to max. So 25 good push-ups, rest, do 5, rest, do 3, rest, do 3, rest, do 2, rest, do 1, rest, do 1, rest, do 1, etc... Remember, each time your rest, you must go back to the ready position before you do another push-up.

Every time you walk into your dorm room, get on your face and crank out 20 push-ups (or whatever you can do without stopping). In time, you'll see the reps you do without stopping will increase.

Good luck!
 
I would recommend the following plan:

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
10 push-ups, 30 crunches, 10 push-ups, 30 crunches, 10 push-ups, 30 crunches (in a span of 5-10 minutes)
As you improve, add more.

Tuesdays
Run a mile one week, 1.5 miles the next week and 2 miles the week after that, and repeat the cycle. Run these distances @ 90-95% effort.

Thursdays
Run a 5K (3.1 miles) EASY PACE

Saturdays (track day)
Run intervals such as 6 x 400 meters, 4 x 800 meters & 10 x 200 meters
Run each interval at about 80% effort and repeat when you catch your breath ~3-5 minutes
 
Not trying to be mean or anything, but you’re a female right?

I need to ask because the pushups is very low for a male and the run is a bit slow for a male in his late teens.

I'm sure that's the case, those numbers equal a 208 score for a female.
 
Back
Top