Need to improve running before beast

nomad556 said:
Disagree, speaking as someone who was a state-level 2 and 3 mile runner in high school. Sprints are important, yes, and so are intervals, but they should not make up the vast majority of your training plan.

He also shouldn't be looking at the shortest period. He's already in, he's going to have plenty of time to get better at running over the next four years. Aerobic endurance training is, no pun intended, a long haul, not something that should be rushed.
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I would recommend doing some research on the subject. Fitness experts such as Stew Smith pretty much universally recommend sprints and interval training to improve the 1-3 mile run. While individuals may have different results, we are talking about the average person.
Your recommendation was to just do 10 minute miles and doing this alone will do little to improve a run and overall conditioning necessary to be a soldier. While long runs shouldn’t be ignored, interval training and strength training are also key and should NOT be ignored.
In addition to some of the other fitness experts who have written extensively on the subject here is a study.
This is coming from someone who improved his company’s average PT score from the worst in the regiment to the best in six months.
 
maxjarman1 said:
I'm a plebe. You should just run to get better at running though you won't need it for Beast. They put you in groups based on your running ability so whatever you're at that's what you'll do and they'll push you accordingly.
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Brown Town! (I was brown town lol)
 
I won't enter the discussion on technique, but I think you need to push yourself more than a 10-min mile. Run the 1-mile/2-mile as fast as you can 2-3 days a week(but set a pace goal), then maybe you can supplement with intervals and sprints a couple of times a week.
What works for me it to run about 4 days a week, because I also have other activities throughout the week that require respiratory endurance.
 
Honestly, your running is good to go! Most people's times get a lot worse over beast so I wouldn't stress about it. There's a lot less running than you would expect. Personally, I'd shift my focus and spend as much time with my family as possible. Once school starts, you barely see them and have almost no time with them. You'll have all the time to improve running and you'll get through beast with where you're at- so don't stress too much! (all responses are amazing feedback for once school starts!)
 
I went in with a similar situation- going in after being a swimmer, I had little to no experience running. For my CFA, I ran around a 10 minute 1 mile. During BEAST, you will constantly be strengthening your legs and improving your endurance. You are going to have two opportunities to take the ACFT (one modified, one "official"), and thus the 2 mile run. I would highly recommend using what BEAST gives you (formation runs, morning PT, ACFTs) to improve. At the first ACFT, I ran a 15:30 2 mile, and the second, I ran a 13:30. I kept running and started lifting throughout the AY, and just hit 36 minutes for my 5 mile. Best advice I have been given here is to use what West Point provides, and this is no different.
 
Coming from a marathon runner. It was taught to me by my marathon training group and it works. Just passing it on. “If you want to be able to run faster, then run faster.”
 
Iwutke said:
Coming from a marathon runner. It was taught to me by my marathon training group and it works. Just passing it on. “If you want to be able to run faster, then run faster.”
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I would add, if you want to be average just do what everyone else does. If you want to be above average you will have to do more than what everyone else does.
 
If you want any reassurance, let this be some advice. The army knows that people aren't all runners. There's plenty of fit cadets who suck at running and excel at other things. That being said, according to you, you should be fine. There's two situations in beast where you'll be running. Ability group runs and formation runs. Ability group runs are like 1.5 mile jogs, with other people around your same pace. Formation runs are slow enough for people in the slowest ability group to keep up. You're not in the slowest ability group, that's around the 18 minute 2 mile mark. So you'll be fine. But just know that generally, the majority of graded physical events are between 1.5-3 minutes long. So train for anaerobic endurance, with a touch of aerobic endurance, for the occasional rucks and runs.
 
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