Posted on Jul 24, 2019
Johnathon Greer
7.39K
15
21
1
1
0
With being on hold for over a year and half I can finally leave August 12th for basic. I can do the sit ups and push ups but the running is a problem. How long you think I should be able to run a mile before I ship?
Posted in these groups: Basic training logo Basic Training89f09e68 Fort Jackson
Avatar feed
Responses: 9
SFC Retention Operations Nco
5
5
0
I barely ran my first mile in 12 minutes. Depending on your age 9-10 minute mile is an acceptable starting point. You'll still be suffering in Basic at that rate, though.
Concentrate on running intervals instead of long slow distance runs. The first one will bring your run times down and keep your workouts short, while too much of the second one will cause overuse injuries.
(5)
Comment
(0)
MAJ Deputy S1
MAJ (Join to see)
>1 y
I went to basic (1988) and was able to get 100 points on the 2-Mile my first day, even then PT was a bear as they put me in with the "Rabbit" group.

I agree with SFC Boyd, intervals work best and once a week, or twice per month, do a long run (more than 2 miles). Since the APFT is being replaced with the ACFT soon, intervals will help you train for that as well. The ACFT has "interval" type running between stations.
(0)
Reply
(0)
SPC Samantha Stapley
SPC Samantha Stapley
>1 y
I agree. Interval training is the only thing that lowered my run time. It really helped me get to where I wanted to before I shipped.
(2)
Reply
(0)
SFC Ernest Thurston
SFC Ernest Thurston
>1 y
When I was a Drill Sgt we used interval training with the troops often. We would mix it up sometimes. We would go on a run about 1 1/2 mi to the track and then run sprint laps for a while. Then we would do a easy formation run back to the unit. Once back we would do wind sprints in the parking lot so that each troop got about two wind sprints in before we did our cool down. We never had a PT failure in the two years I was a Drill.
(0)
Reply
(0)
SFC Retention Operations Nco
SFC (Join to see)
>1 y
CPT Lawrence Cable I hate it too, it makes me want to throw up. But these days my legs can't handle the impact of running miles and miles.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Michael D.
1
1
0
Six minute miles will give you a good score. Try to get it down to 8.5 if you can. Make sure you hydrate.
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Marc W.
1
1
0
You'll get lots of running in during basic. I don't know your body type, but I'd say 9 min mile is a good standard pre-bct.
(1)
Comment
(0)
Johnathon Greer
Johnathon Greer
>1 y
ok thanks
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
Avatar feed
How long should I run a mile before I ship out?
1SG Jeffrey Mullett
0
0
0
Before I joined the Army, at 25, I had only run a mile one time. I was a sprinter, not a distance runner...when I finished Basic, I ran two miles in 15:30. Two and one half months later, I had gained 40 lbs and ran two miles in 11:53...Thanks Alpha Company, AIT in Fort Gordon (31K Wire Dog) SFC Washington was a PT monster. "Slice!"
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Ernest Thurston
0
0
0
There is no reason that you can't run a mile every day. I would suggest that you try to do two miles. You need to condition your body to exceed the standard not just meet it. That includes Push-ups and Sit-ups. The more you push yourself to exceed the standard the easier it will be on you in training.
PS break the cell phone and earbuds habit now!
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SGT Chris Stephens
0
0
0
As a cross-country and track coach, there's never a true hard and fast way that works for everyone when it comes to training to run any type of distance as everybody is different. The key is to vary your workouts. Just like when you hit the gym where you don't do the same types of workouts every day, you have to trick your muscles and your body when you're training as a runner. Some days, you need to just put distance in. Other days, you should work on intervals. Do hill work as well.

On your distance days, you want to do more than a mile. The new PT test still requires a 2-mile run, so at the very least you want to get up to where you can run three miles comfortably. Distance runners always train at longer distances than they race. When you're running, also focus on your form. Your legs always get tired, especially at the end of the 2 mile on the PT test. This is where your arms are going to be huge. Focus on proper form in your running throughout to make it easier to run. I always advise my runners to make it seem like you're beating a drum.

But more than anything, the most important thing is to get a good pair of running shoes. If you don't get a good pair of running shoes, you're going to expose yourself to possible injuries. Drink more water, cut down on the sodas and other sugars, and you should be fine. Shoot me a message if you have any other questions.
(0)
Comment
(0)
CPT Lawrence Cable
CPT Lawrence Cable
>1 y
You would have loved my cross country coach. He combined wind sprints and a hill, it generally had everyone puking in the grass in about 15 minutes.
(0)
Reply
(0)
SGT Chris Stephens
SGT Chris Stephens
>1 y
CPT Lawrence Cable As long as the puke is clear, you still got more in you. My goal is to have my runners in the fetal position at the end of the workout. Then we go into overhead arm claps to a cadence.
(1)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SGT Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator/Maintainer
0
0
0
Best recommendations probably around a 6:30 but 7:30 if you’re struggling. Try 400 meter sprints in 1:30 one lap rest for 1 and repeat 4 times. Sprints help with increasing explosive power as well as your cardiovascular ability over the long run.
(0)
Comment
(0)
SGT Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator/Maintainer
SGT (Join to see)
>1 y
Addition to that, I’m off go for that 8-9 minute lol A. It’s passing but B you’ll only get better in basic. I hate running and I’m in the 82nd it’s all we do. You’ll be fine, just don’t quit!
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
CW3 MH-60 Pilot
0
0
0
How long, at least a mile would be good to start.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
Capt Daniel Goodman
0
0
0
When I was Army ROTC, I had to do two miles in 18 mins in fatigues and combat boots, which I finally got, though I sprained an ankle, my run time went back up, I wasn't allowed to go to Ft. Bragg for summer camp...I went USAF OTS instead, there, I had to do a mile and half in 12 mins, I made it with one of my roommates from my first class pacing me, screaming at me and nipping at my heels the whole way, I was then recycled, and had to go through with the next class, I was with the first for nine wks, the second for six wks...I eventually got up to 8 mi a day, in broiling heat in TX, before USAF OTS eventually got moved from Lackland in TX to Maxwell in AL...one guy, amazingly, at USAF OTS had been an NCAA track star, I kid thee not, he did the mile and half in six mins, for real, with this weird, bouncing, gazelle-like trained athletic gait he'd obv been taught...I also do aikido and iaido, which I started later...trust me, 3 hrs of aikido, which is a blend of judo, jujitsu, and kendo, is like running 10 mi, minimum...iaido is more anaerobic, however, equally fatiguing, it's Japanese swordsmanship using either wood blades, or blunted metal blades, one needs a license for a real katana sword, only the highest levels are allowed that, ever, look up US Aikido Federation, or Birankai aikido, the two topics are often taught together, if you'd wanna chat more, just lemme no rush, whenever you'd want that'd be convenient, OK? And I also taught myself controlled exhalation techniques to keep my respiration constant, I got looked at as if I was a weirdo for sounding like a choo-choo train, forcibly exhailing on my every third footfall, however, it had the dubious distinction, as a technique, of actually working, as I've always rather tended toward asthma, I had to develop the technique, however, it did, at the very least, seriously work for me, I'm total perm disabled now....
(0)
Comment
(0)
Capt Daniel Goodman
Capt Daniel Goodman
>1 y
Trust me, you're gonne def need to get inside those basic boundaries, I assure you, for any svc, any component, absolute minimum...upper body strength, other exercises, I can't say, however, for running, those are, or were, positively the absolutely maximum run times allowed for those distances for each of those two svcs, honest....
(0)
Reply
(0)
Capt Daniel Goodman
Capt Daniel Goodman
>1 y
And if you smoke at all, for God's sake, stop, OK? I'm not saying you do, obv, I'm just stating the obv rhetorically, OK?
(0)
Reply
(0)
Capt Daniel Goodman
Capt Daniel Goodman
>1 y
And I'm obv not saying what the others here say about their suggested times and distances are wrong, I'm just saying what was expected of me, when I did both programs, OK?
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

close