Preparing for Plebe Summer Class of 2027

usna27

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Jul 4, 2022
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I’m looking through the recommended exercises to prepare for plebe summer on USNA’s webpage at the moment and I feel as though “being able to run 4-5 miles at a 7 minute pace” is a really high standard. I am a female, so my mile is usually at an 8-8:20 pace. I just wanted to post this and seek some advice for preparing for this summer. We have about 5 1/2 weeks until I-Day, so I want to make sure I am preparing well. Parents, midshipmen, alumni, etc, please drop any advice you may have. Thank you.
 
 
I’m looking through the recommended exercises to prepare for plebe summer on USNA’s webpage at the moment and I feel as though “being able to run 4-5 miles at a 7 minute pace” is a really high standard. I am a female, so my mile is usually at an 8-8:20 pace. I just wanted to post this and seek some advice for preparing for this summer. We have about 5 1/2 weeks until I-Day, so I want to make sure I am preparing well. Parents, midshipmen, alumni, etc, please drop any advice you may have. Thank you.
During plebe summer, you will be grouped into running groups. On your second day, you take the Initial Strength Test and be sorted. It's okay if you are in the bottom group, you'll get better throughout the summer. The bottom group is for people who ran 1.5 miles in I think more than 14 minutes? Seeing where you are, you'll probably be in the green/purple which is great and where most females lie.

At an average morning workout, you will run 2-4 miles. Nothing crazy. So just keep running, training and do your best. Focus on the 3-5 ish distance because you're only doing one 10k run. Don't overdo it to get injured before you even get there. Focus on controlling your breathing and endurance. Good luck and have fun
 
During plebe summer, you will be grouped into running groups. On your second day, you take the Initial Strength Test and be sorted. It's okay if you are in the bottom group, you'll get better throughout the summer. The bottom group is for people who ran 1.5 miles in I think more than 14 minutes? Seeing where you are, you'll probably be in the green/purple which is great and where most females lie.

At an average morning workout, you will run 2-4 miles. Nothing crazy. So just keep running, training and do your best. Focus on the 3-5 ish distance because you're only doing one 10k run. Don't overdo it to get injured before you even get there. Focus on controlling your breathing and endurance. Good luck and have fun
This has been the most relieving advice I’ve gotten. Thank you so much!
 
And - run when you don’t feel like it, run in bad weather (not lightning!), run at different times, run on different surfaces to harden your legs, run on non-flat surfaces. If you are practicing by running laps on a well-maintained track, you will not be prepared for the runs on pavement, uneven bricks, and chopping on hard decks in Bancroft, all day long, and up and down ladders.

You’ll see some chopping in this video. You are on the move all day long, starting the day with PEP, doing other scheduled and unscheduled workouts and moving-moving-moving all day and into the evening. Chopping is the half-jog indoors required of plebes at certain times and in certain places, while cheerfully yelling motivational phrases at properly squared turning points.



https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/current-napster-c-o-‘23-ama.87975/post-958220
 
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During plebe summer, you will be grouped into running groups. On your second day, you take the Initial Strength Test and be sorted. It's okay if you are in the bottom group, you'll get better throughout the summer. The bottom group is for people who ran 1.5 miles in I think more than 14 minutes? Seeing where you are, you'll probably be in the green/purple which is great and where most females lie.

At an average morning workout, you will run 2-4 miles. Nothing crazy. So just keep running, training and do your best. Focus on the 3-5 ish distance because you're only doing one 10k run. Don't overdo it to get injured before you even get there. Focus on controlling your breathing and endurance. Good luck and have fun
What is the average running pace for males during PS?
 
What is the average running pace for males during PS?
There is no real average. The IST provides a baseline. Coming out of the IST, you are then placed in a running group based on your time. The workouts will then be designed to push you, but they won't be impossible for your ability. If you show up and give honest effort, PEP will take care of the rest. USNA has been developing MIDN physically since 1845. I remember 40-60% show up to PS without the requisite fitness to pass the PRT. PEP drives the failure rate to the PS PRT to somewhere around 2-5%.

If you want a baseline, be sure to be able to run 1.5 mi in 10:30 or less. If you want the most accurate assessment of your physical fitness, here are the PRT standards for males:

2 Min Cadence Push Ups (1 sec up, 1 sec down): 35 Min, 60 Max
2 min rest
Forearm Plank: 1:45 Min, 4:20 Max
4:20 rest
1.5 Mi Run: 10:30 Min, 8:15 Max

For the OP, here are the female standards:
2 Min Cadence Push Ups (1 sec up, 1 sec down): 20 Min, 45 Max
2 min rest
Forearm Plank: 1:45 Min, 4:20 Max
4:20 rest
1.5 Mi Run: 12:40 Min, 9:35 Max

Source (which also includes form requirements): https://www.usna.edu/AthleticDirector/_files/documents/DIRATHINST_6110.2C_dtd_10_Nov_2019.pdf
 
What is the average running pace for males during PS?
Sorry, I really can only speak for females. I think most men were in the purple and up group? They were definitely faster and they usually had their own groups with *some* females in it. The track stars were in the black/grey group haha.

If I remember, the groups are: white, green, purple, blue?, something im forgetting, grey, black
 
What is the average running pace for males during PS?
Most males are in the brown to dark blue groups.

From fastest to slowest, the groups are black, grey, brown(up to 9:45), blue(up to 10:30), purple(I believe to 11:15), light green (I believe to 12) and white. (I might have switched up black and grey from what I remember)

I forgot the rest but that’s kinda of the basis.

Don’t worry too much about the running groups because often times, you will end up switching to a higher group as you continue to train throughout the summer.
 
BOI’m looking through the recommended. exercises to prepare for plebe summer in USNA’sy e webpage at the moment and I feel as though “being able to run 4-5 miles at a 7 minutesq pace” is. a really high standard. I am a female, son my mile is usually at an 8-8:20 pace. I just.se the wanted to post this and seek some advice fors preparing for this summer. We have about 5 1/2 weeks until I-Day, so I want to make sure I amt preparing well. Parents, midshipmen, alumni, etc,s learned please drop any advice you may have. Thank you.
This is a contrarian view. Don't worry so much about the PTR, your roommates and squad will not let you fail. DS always stay back during the 1.5 mile run helping and motivating his roommates and squad. If you must train for speed, do it in a one mile track. Run six laps in lane 1 or 1.5 miles. In each lap, Sprint the last 120 meters. (Note: to make it effective, use this concept - if you ain't pukin, you ain't trying. DS took it farther by almost collapsing each time on the ground).
 
During plebe summer, you will be grouped into running groups. On your second day, you take the Initial Strength Test and be sorted. It's okay if you are in the bottom group, you'll get better throughout the summer. The bottom group is for people who ran 1.5 miles in I think more than 14 minutes? Seeing where you are, you'll probably be in the green/purple which is great and where most females lie.

At an average morning workout, you will run 2-4 miles. Nothing crazy. So just keep running, training and do your best. Focus on the 3-5 ish distance because you're only doing one 10k run. Don't overdo it to get injured before you even get there. Focus on controlling your breathing and endurance. Good luck and have fun
What does the Initial Strength Test consist of? is it just the PRT?
 
It is just the PRT. It is not a big deal though. Just do your best. It's mainly to assign your running group for the summer.
What does the Initial Strength Test consist of? is it just the PRT?
And it gives baseline data for everyone’s fitness levels pre-Plebe Summer. Toward the end of PS everyone repeats the PRT. You will hear the improvement data at the PPW (parents’ weekend) briefs. Major Antonelli has this down to a science and knows exactly what he’s doing. It works.💪🏼
 
And it gives baseline data for everyone’s fitness levels pre-Plebe Summer. Toward the end of PS everyone repeats the PRT. You will hear the improvement data at the PPW (parents’ weekend) briefs. Major Antonelli has this down to a science and knows exactly what he’s doing. It works.💪🏼
Antonelli is the best.. except his music is hit/miss…oh, and he always seems to let 13th skip leg day..👀
 
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