Posted on Feb 2, 2015
APFT run on the track vs a straight shot: Is it more mentally challenging?
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Is it just me, or does it seem as though Soldiers score lower on the run when on a track vs a straight two mile run down the road? Do you think it's more of a mental challenge having to hear each lap that you have completed and how many are left, that causes people to start doubting themselves? I know it bothers me having to hear how many laps are left.
APFT
Running
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 22
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Is not just mental SFC (Join to see), if somebody is a slow runner and doesn't want to bother the other runners in the track, he may run in the outside lanes and he would end running more than those that ran in the inside lanes. I used to run in the outside lanes, I changed it and started running in the inside moving out whenever somebody needed to pass me, I shaved 30 secs of the run.
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APFT Track vs straight shot. It would be great to combine the advantages of each while minimizing the disadvantages. Possible in some areas.
Requirement: The regulation just states that the path needs to be on generally flat ground. Different ways to interpret this but I would say anything less than a 2% slope is generally flat ground.
Track:
+ Able to easily keep quarter splits. 16:00 means 2:00 quarters. 12:00 means 1:30 quarters. Eady to do the math for in between times.
- Traffic is a pain for all. Fast runners getting around slower runners and slower runners having to be aware of what's coming up behind them.
- No overall wind advantage. Guaranteed to have wind in your face 1/2 the time and at your back 1/2 the time.
Straight Shot:
+ Able to focus on endstate (finish line).
+ Most runners self segregate within the first 1/4 mile.
- Keeping track of quarter splits is hard if the splits are not marked.
Best solution:
Straight shot with quarter mile markings on a generally descending path with the wind at your back.
Requirement: The regulation just states that the path needs to be on generally flat ground. Different ways to interpret this but I would say anything less than a 2% slope is generally flat ground.
Track:
+ Able to easily keep quarter splits. 16:00 means 2:00 quarters. 12:00 means 1:30 quarters. Eady to do the math for in between times.
- Traffic is a pain for all. Fast runners getting around slower runners and slower runners having to be aware of what's coming up behind them.
- No overall wind advantage. Guaranteed to have wind in your face 1/2 the time and at your back 1/2 the time.
Straight Shot:
+ Able to focus on endstate (finish line).
+ Most runners self segregate within the first 1/4 mile.
- Keeping track of quarter splits is hard if the splits are not marked.
Best solution:
Straight shot with quarter mile markings on a generally descending path with the wind at your back.
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COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM
Never did an APFT at Fort Carson but did 8 APFTs at West Point. Absolute worst place ever for an APFT. Run 3/4 mile out (sewage plant at 1/2 mile mark), turn around run 1/4 mile back (at sewage plant), turn around run 1/4 mile to 3/4 mile mark, turn around and run 3/4 mile (past sewage plant) to start line. Route was along Hudson River so was flat but guaranteed to have hard wind in your face 1/2 the run. Three hard stop turn arounds did not help either. The fragrance off the sewage plant was intoxicating and really helped one to breathe deeply in and out.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
I love the straight shot, its like you don't have to keep looking back over your shoulders. "Straight Away" Straight shooter1
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1LT (Join to see)
Mmm...Sir, just wondering if the 'exotic sewage fragrance' was meant to make people run faster while attempting to escape its warm embrace. I'm however glad you survived that fog of a smell ;)
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We almost always did an out and back, never did an actual straight shot, but I absolutely hated the track. I really like the out and back, especially if you had a watch or someone at the halfway point to call out times. For me it was mental too. I knew I had to warm up so my first mile was a little slow, but I knew I could hustle back and make up more than enough time.
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