APFT run on the track vs a straight shot: Is it more mentally challenging?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 13:55:16 -0500

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.

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Feb 2 at 2015 1:57 PM

SGT Jim Z. — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 13:57:53 -0500

I have to agree that a track usually produces a slower time because of the lap count where as a straight out and back or straight two miles a soldier can go full speed. I know when I was in my track times were slower.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2015 1:58 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 13:58:59 -0500

If running on the track is a mental block for you, then do more running on a track.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2015 2:02 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 14:02:24 -0500

If I make turns when I drive, I slow down. When I run, it's the same thing. That's the bad part about a track. The advantage to laps on a track is hearing how often a quarter is completed. You can estimate if you need to speed up or not. If you run 8 minute miles, you can shoot to hear 2 min or less each lap and know when to speed up.

But I guess you could do that in a straight line too.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2015 2:07 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 14:07:49 -0500

I know it can be a Logistical issue as far as getting everyone back or to the start point but I have always contended that Soldiers will score better running a straight two miles without turns or anything.

Just my take on the subject SFC Private RallyPoint Member

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2015 2:23 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 14:23:07 -0500

Is not just mental SFC Private RallyPoint Member, 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.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2015 2:23 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 14:23:25 -0500

I don't really like running, so I feel that running a scenic course (generally one way versus the circuit of a track) works better for me (get distracted by the scenery instead of concentrating on something I despise, lol). It doesn't really matter if there are a couple of turns, but lap after lap gets tedious and reminds me that I'm running.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2015 2:30 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 14:30:05 -0500

I prefer the track, because then I can judge my pacing based on the number of laps and the time.

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Feb 2 at 2015 3:05 PM

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 15:05:19 -0500

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.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2015 3:45 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 15:45:53 -0500

I have never run a straight run on the APFT. I have run a track, and I have run an out and back two mile route. My times have been close enough to make no difference. However, I still far prefer running the route rather than track.

Response by SGT James Elphick made Feb 2 at 2015 4:09 PM

SGT James Elphick — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 16:09:30 -0500

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.

Response by SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA made Feb 2 at 2015 5:59 PM

SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 17:59:49 -0500

Indeed it has been proven in the 80s when I was in so we stopped running on a track and ran on a road 1 mile out and 1 mile back, was MUSH better, I cut my time by almost a minute!

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2015 6:27 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 18:27:16 -0500

I always liked running on the track, SFC Private RallyPoint Member, because I could check my pace eight times during the run. Actually 16 times because I would check my own time halfway around the track.

I do understand that many prefer to run out and back or on a straight line, but I prefer the track option.

Response by 1SG David Lopez made Feb 2 at 2015 7:25 PM

1SG David Lopez — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 19:25:36 -0500

I agree with you SSG. I prefer the straight two mile run and/or the one mile out and one mile back to the finish. It really kind of sucks on the track, although you can time yourself better on the track. But overall I prefer the cross country.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2015 7:28 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 19:28:41 -0500

I definitely believe that SG Scheil. It's easier to run the 2 miles straight because you pick a point and go. The laps exhaust the brain as quick as the body.

Response by SFC Vernon McNabb made Feb 2 at 2015 8:23 PM

SFC Vernon McNabb — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 20:23:25 -0500

The track is fine if you want to maintain a certain time limit per lap. Before my knee injury, I used the track before a PT test to see what my 1/4 mile time was. But I agree with what most people say, and I do prefer a straight two miles. Here at Rucker, we a have a two mile track. The end point is about 50-60 feet beyond the start point, but the last stretch of the run is mostly downhill (about a 1% grade) which makes crossing that finish line a little easier.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2015 9:19 PM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 21:19:08 -0500

I can't speak for everyone but in my case running on a track allows me to hold a good steady pace since I'm getting feedback every 1/4 mile. On a straight run it becomes a lot harder to gauge pace so I tend to get worried and push my self harder in the last mile, thus a faster time. I know I should push just as hard on a track but I tend not to so that I don't burn out. Just my two cents, take it for what it's worth .

2LT Henson

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Feb 2 at 2015 9:47 PM

CPT Jacob Swartout — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 21:47:19 -0500

I would prefer running down a mile and back for my APFT run event. I used to run track in HS and it doesn't bother me however, I would prefer a more scenic route.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2015 10:06 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 22:06:51 -0500

I find it interesting. Me personally, I have run about 1/2 my APFTs on either, but I prefer the track. I feel distance is more accurate on track and I can pace myself through each leg of the run. Whereas on a route, I wonder who surveyed the route, what measures are in place to ensure accurate distance, and how fast do I need to run on certain parts in order to get my optimum output. We can generally assume 2 miles is two miles, but realistically, I assume someone, somewhere, hoped in their pov on droves for two miles on what seemed like a flat road. Not taking into account grade of the road, subtle turns and bends, or their tire pressure . Then again, I look at everything from a super critical lens.

Tracks are safe bets to me. Bottom line, I guess.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2015 12:31 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 12:31:26 -0500

I prefer using a track for the APFT. It makes it way easier for me to gauge how fast I need to run, if I need to pick up speed, and allows for energy conservation if I'm already making good time. I compare it to sports - I ran both track and cross country when I was in school. I preferred running track because it feels like it will be over faster since you can always see your end point and I feel you can "compete" more (aka push yourself vs other runners on the track). In cross country, I always felt like I was running alone and I just knew the run would be over "eventually".

Response by SGT Mark Sullivan made Feb 19 at 2015 10:15 AM

SGT Mark Sullivan — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 10:15:52 -0500

I always hated running the APFT on a track, and it's no surprise that soldiers score lower on the test. Running on a road surface gives a different feeling than on a track. Many people, when running on a track, tend to burn out, over exert themselves on a track, because they know each lap is 400 meters or quarter mile. Whereas, on a road surface, they are not counting laps, nor trying to gauge their speed, they run at a better pace, until they reach the turn around point, and then they pick up the pace. I ran track in High School, so, when I'm on a track I start faster than I normally would. It maybe psychological.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 8 at 2015 12:12 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 12:12:42 -0400

In my opinion, coming from a running/track background I prefer to go on the track for a PT Test. I can use splits from each lap to maintain an even pace or just from splits if I need to speed up or slow down.

In a predetermined route, whether it is a 2 mile out, 1 mile out and back, or around the block route a lot of individuals go out entirely too fast or too slow and cannot pace themselves. Sometimes these courses are measured inaccurately and can be more/less than the 2 mile distance. On a track, you cannot go wrong, the measurements are exact.

As long as you can get though the mental barrier of doing eight laps than I believe it is more beneficial.

Just think if it bothers you to hear what lap you are on, how do you think marathoners and ultra runners cope with the issue. Its all in your head...every person does their own thing to pass the time. This could be splitting the individual laps into halves and making hit times, or could be as simple as breaking it down into straights and curves.

Either way you have to cope with the distance but unless you have a GPS watch to keep your pace then I recommend the track every time.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2015 3:47 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 15:47:26 -0500

My experience is different, I find that fewer people fail on 1/4 mile tracks.
first they dont fall too far behind and can focus on the time of one lap,
also the peer pressure when others pass helps.
i find those soldiers on the fence dont walk as much on a track either.

however the down and back or straight track is better for faster runners.
usually they want to exceed 100% so not knowing their times causes them to work harder to ensure a score, also there tends to be less passing others so they usually have no others to fight for track space.