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Yesterday, I took an APFT.
Over my almost 14 years of service, and many APFTs taken, I've come to develop a bit of a 'routine' for myself.
Though I do train leading up to/well-advance of the APFT, there are certain things I have begun to do specifically in the week/night/day of just before the APFT.
Granted, for the longest time I really just 'showed up', and I know alot of Soldiers are like that.
I didn't really put much thought into the APFT...as I get older, though, I do feel like my 'routine' has contributed to my mental and physical preparation, to perform at my best on the day of the test.
Here are some things I do:
1) I eat a very light breakfast. No eggs, milk, etc. Yesterday, I had a spoonful of peanut butter, a handful of raisins, and a little water.
2) Attached is a picture of these PowerGel packets I take just before the run. A few years ago, when I was newly commissioned, our unit 1SG slipped me one of these. He said, "Sir, take this...trust me.". This guy was a PT God. I took it, ran the best I had ever run, and I started to take these just before the run from then on out.
3) I take a hot shower the night before the APFT. Not sure if anyone else does this, but I do some light stretching in the shower--the heat just seems to lighten up and relax my muscles a bit.
....so, what does your Pre-APFT routine look like?
Do you do anything in particular? Nothing at all?
Anything that would seem 'odd' or 'peculiar', but that actually "works" and causes you, personally, to perform better?
Supplements? Vitamins? Foods? etc....
Over my almost 14 years of service, and many APFTs taken, I've come to develop a bit of a 'routine' for myself.
Though I do train leading up to/well-advance of the APFT, there are certain things I have begun to do specifically in the week/night/day of just before the APFT.
Granted, for the longest time I really just 'showed up', and I know alot of Soldiers are like that.
I didn't really put much thought into the APFT...as I get older, though, I do feel like my 'routine' has contributed to my mental and physical preparation, to perform at my best on the day of the test.
Here are some things I do:
1) I eat a very light breakfast. No eggs, milk, etc. Yesterday, I had a spoonful of peanut butter, a handful of raisins, and a little water.
2) Attached is a picture of these PowerGel packets I take just before the run. A few years ago, when I was newly commissioned, our unit 1SG slipped me one of these. He said, "Sir, take this...trust me.". This guy was a PT God. I took it, ran the best I had ever run, and I started to take these just before the run from then on out.
3) I take a hot shower the night before the APFT. Not sure if anyone else does this, but I do some light stretching in the shower--the heat just seems to lighten up and relax my muscles a bit.
....so, what does your Pre-APFT routine look like?
Do you do anything in particular? Nothing at all?
Anything that would seem 'odd' or 'peculiar', but that actually "works" and causes you, personally, to perform better?
Supplements? Vitamins? Foods? etc....
Posted in these groups: 
APFT
APFT
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 20
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CSM (Join to see)
SSG (Join to see) Thanks, I think. Bottom line is if you need some pre-workout, carbo-gel, or any other supplement to help you max the APFT you have bigger problems. The APFT has to be the easiest test of physical strength and endurance ever invented.
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Lately...
Followed by 3 laps around the cable channels, some lawn maintenance and walking the dog. Still 60 points for each event :-)
Followed by 3 laps around the cable channels, some lawn maintenance and walking the dog. Still 60 points for each event :-)
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Although I haven't taken a (A)PFT in years, I run several Half marathons a year, and have developed a routine because of that.
First, beginning the week of, I make sure my nutrition is correct. Bad nutrition will kill performance. Although the event itself is actually short, the maintenance leading up to it is not.
Second, TWO days prior I make sure I get plenty of sleep & rest. Enough time for the body to rebuild and recover from anything strenuous I may have done in the preceding week.
The day prior I make sure to get enough calories, and eat a bag of chips (salt), as well as bump my hydration up. Food is fuel. Without it you can't perform.
That evening I usually have a chocolate milk (this gets the "wheels turning" for me) before bed, and another for breakfast, as well as a bagel and a little bit of creamcheese. I time it so that my last "pit stop" is about 30 minutes before the Event.
My goal is to have a topped off "fuel tank" (energy reserves), empty bowels & bladder when the gun goes off so I can focus on the event itself.
First, beginning the week of, I make sure my nutrition is correct. Bad nutrition will kill performance. Although the event itself is actually short, the maintenance leading up to it is not.
Second, TWO days prior I make sure I get plenty of sleep & rest. Enough time for the body to rebuild and recover from anything strenuous I may have done in the preceding week.
The day prior I make sure to get enough calories, and eat a bag of chips (salt), as well as bump my hydration up. Food is fuel. Without it you can't perform.
That evening I usually have a chocolate milk (this gets the "wheels turning" for me) before bed, and another for breakfast, as well as a bagel and a little bit of creamcheese. I time it so that my last "pit stop" is about 30 minutes before the Event.
My goal is to have a topped off "fuel tank" (energy reserves), empty bowels & bladder when the gun goes off so I can focus on the event itself.
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My routine was coffee and smokes prior to taking, did wonders for me for 26 years!!
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CPT (Join to see) Well aside from CSM (Join to see) stated so correctly and succinctly... The APFT by design, is supposed to be a measure of your daily general fitness, not an event you train-up for every six months. Also, Understanding when I enlisted in 1980 we did PT and the APFT in boots, fatigue pants, and a t-shirt... And, understanding that I always endeavored to max, and never scored below a 290 - leaders should be leading by example here too - This is what I would do.
1. Do PT at least six days a week, and focus on doing push-ups (form and quantity), stomach and hip flexor improvement (but not a lot of sit-ups), and both distance running and speed improvement.
2. I would try and do Max Push-Ups (80 or more) in 2 minutes once a week. Sit-ups, I would stick to crunches and other exercises that did not cause so much back and neck strain. 2 miles times, probably at least monthly.
3. You need a good personal and unit PT program focused on both the APFT and the special physical skills need for your specific job. Variety is a key as well. I am not a big sports fan, but is does have a place, assuming collective unit fitness is good.
4. Finally, the night before the APFT, when I was younger we used to carbo load on pasta.... Not sure if that helps/helped.
No supplements... No special diets... Just good and steady PT program, focused on the standards and my personal and organizational goals.
That said as CSM (Join to see) stated, you should be able to show up any day, at any time and do your personal best.
1. Do PT at least six days a week, and focus on doing push-ups (form and quantity), stomach and hip flexor improvement (but not a lot of sit-ups), and both distance running and speed improvement.
2. I would try and do Max Push-Ups (80 or more) in 2 minutes once a week. Sit-ups, I would stick to crunches and other exercises that did not cause so much back and neck strain. 2 miles times, probably at least monthly.
3. You need a good personal and unit PT program focused on both the APFT and the special physical skills need for your specific job. Variety is a key as well. I am not a big sports fan, but is does have a place, assuming collective unit fitness is good.
4. Finally, the night before the APFT, when I was younger we used to carbo load on pasta.... Not sure if that helps/helped.
No supplements... No special diets... Just good and steady PT program, focused on the standards and my personal and organizational goals.
That said as CSM (Join to see) stated, you should be able to show up any day, at any time and do your personal best.
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wake up. get dressed. go to APFT. drink coffee afterwards. that's pretty much it
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Little Chocolate Donuts | Saturday Night Live - Yahoo Screen
The secret to all successful athletes: Little Chocolate Donuts.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
Following a couple months of procrastination I usually cap off a week of solid regret and hindsight with some of the sincerest prayer I ever utter. You know, "God, if you get me through this I promise..." then pass, rinse, repeat. :-)
In all seriousness, I allowed myself to become too tied to a routine, to the point that I worried any deviation would throw me off, which only helped jack up my stress level. Hydration is key, so I step that up a couple of weeks before. On the morning of the test I wake up early, stretch well, eat a light breakfast a couple of hours before the start of the APFT, then work on not worrying.
In all seriousness, I allowed myself to become too tied to a routine, to the point that I worried any deviation would throw me off, which only helped jack up my stress level. Hydration is key, so I step that up a couple of weeks before. On the morning of the test I wake up early, stretch well, eat a light breakfast a couple of hours before the start of the APFT, then work on not worrying.
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I cry myself to sleep the night before after hydrating all day of course. Then I cry the morning of when I wake up. My results are usually good (I'm a first class every time).
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I wind up getting really nervous the day of, mainly so that my adrenaline pumps when I go for the APFT. Also I take some sort of pre-workout before the whole test. It sort of wears off by the time I go for the run though, but by that time I've already passed my PU/SU and I won't let myself fail the run. So far it works because I just got a 260 the other day on my APFT!
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