Physical condition

[PA44pilot]

Hello all. This is my first posting on the air warriors site and have a few questions regarding physical conditioning for OCS. I have done a forum search for prior postings regarding my questions, but none that seemed to be quite what I am looking for.

1) I have been conditioning for Navy OCS since this past March and have been kind of stuck at a 3 mile running distance. My weight lifting has increased, but I am curious what I can do to push my body to go further than this 3 mile point. Is it that I am hitting "the wall" and just need to keep pushing? Anyone run into a similar situation?

2) The gym I attend- Anytime Fitness- the traininer I worked with to get a work-out routine designed has me going 3x/week. Anything wrong with increasing to 4-5x/week?

3) In Navy OCS, how much physical activity occurs daily? Are there day's where little/no conditioning occurs?

4) lastly, I did see some posts here regarding running with boots etc... During OCS are we allowed to use running shoes? Or, strictly boots?

Thank you all for your advice and time.

SR.

 

[Herc_Dude]

Hello all. This is my first posting on the air warriors site and have a few questions regarding physical conditioning for OCS. I have done a forum search for prior postings regarding my questions, but none that seemed to be quite what I am looking for.

1) I have been conditioning for Navy OCS since this past March and have been kind of stuck at a 3 mile running distance. My weight lifting has increased, but I am curious what I can do to push my body to go further than this 3 mile point. Is it that I am hitting "the wall" and just need to keep pushing? Anyone run into a similar situation?

2) The gym I attend- Anytime Fitness- the traininer I worked with to get a work-out routine designed has me going 3x/week. Anything wrong with increasing to 4-5x/week?

3) In Navy OCS, how much physical activity occurs daily? Are there day's where little/no conditioning occurs?

4) lastly, I did see some posts here regarding running with boots etc... During OCS are we allowed to use running shoes? Or, strictly boots?

Thank you all for your advice and time.

SR.

I'll throw in my .02 on a few things ...

1) Have you been running further than 3 miles? Having an occasional run in the 4-5 miles range could help you get over that plateau. You also might want to try intervals, or tabata type workouts as well. Mix these short distance runs in as part of your routine. A lot of good evidence out there as to the success of these workouts.

2) Mix in some extra days and see how your body reacts. That will be your best gauge to see if you are ready for more or not. On days when you are not going all out in the gym, look into some type of activity - nothing wrong with "active" rest days. This could be 20 min on a stair-stepper, maybe a 2 mile jog, or maybe some tabata sprints. However, don't discount the importance of the sit-on-your-ass-and-do-nothing rest days. You need those every now and then.

That's all I got ... good luck.

 

[BullGator]

First I haven't been to OCS, so this is by no means gouge:

#4.) You will not run in boots while at OCS, only sneakers. From everything I understand, only SPEC WAR guys run in boots, and not while at OCS. They tend to run more in sand and grass, as running in boots can kill your shins, knees, and ankles. (I took this away from a SPEC WAR forum about SEAL training on NavyOCS, and that on the OCS website it tells you to bring 2 pairs of sneakers and no boots.) --Correct me if I'm wrong here, please.

 

[Spekkio]

Hello all. This is my first posting on the air warriors site and have a few questions regarding physical conditioning for OCS. I have done a forum search for prior postings regarding my questions, but none that seemed to be quite what I am looking for.

1) I have been conditioning for Navy OCS since this past March and have been kind of stuck at a 3 mile running distance. My weight lifting has increased, but I am curious what I can do to push my body to go further than this 3 mile point. Is it that I am hitting "the wall" and just need to keep pushing? Anyone run into a similar situation?

For Navy OCS, 3 miles is fine. Just focus on running faster now.

2) The gym I attend- Anytime Fitness- the traininer I worked with to get a work-out routine designed has me going 3x/week. Anything wrong with increasing to 4-5x/week?

Nope.

3) In Navy OCS, how much physical activity occurs daily? Are there day's where little/no conditioning occurs?

In the first month -- lots. But it also depends on your class team. Yes, there are rest days (usually Sunday, but as training progresses Tues/Thurs tend to be taken up by grad practice rather than PT).

 

[PA44pilot]

Hey thanks guys! I will increase to 4 for now and see how my body adjusts to it. I currently do MWF, but will do MWThrsF.

I was talking with a friend of mine who is just completing his current OCS class and he mentioned that they beat you... He didn't elaborate on it. I found it rather unusual, but, I could be wrong.

 

[sonicboom]

This guy is going to kick your ass every day. No amount of physical preparation can fully prepare you. They will break you no matter what. Cheers.:icon_wink

 

[PA44pilot]

I had a feeling that is what he was getting at. I can take the yelling. For those who have gone through it, has anyone ever laughed during it? If so, consequences?

 

[xmid]

I had a feeling that is what he was getting at. I can take the yelling. For those who have gone through it, has anyone ever laughed during it? If so, consequences?

I didn't but yes it does occasionally happen. It usually makes for an extra dosing of hurt for 12 weeks. It may look funny now, but chances are it won't be nearly as funny to you when you get there. Especially if you've never been in the military. Don't worry about it as it probably won't be an issue.

 

[Spekkio]

Hey thanks guys! I will increase to 4 for now and see how my body adjusts to it. I currently do MWF, but will do MWThrsF.

I was talking with a friend of mine who is just completing his current OCS class and he mentioned that they beat you... He didn't elaborate on it. I found it rather unusual, but, I could be wrong.

I say again: running 4 miles prior to OCS isn't going to help you much. You will rarely run more than 2.2 while there (there were a total of 3 3.2 mile runs, done on Saturdays 'at your own pace' which equated to DIs running along side everyone screaming "THIS IS A RACE!").

"Beat" refers to RPT, which is physical training done to punish you (if you consider exercise punishment) while the DI or CPO berates you for how much you suck at life. The staff at OCS will not strike you, but you'll get a stiffarm early on if you get within arm's length.

 

[Mumbles]

Our "beatings"....we called it getting "mashed".....

usually in a suya, (sand up your ass) pit.

 

[SVT_Cobra]

This guy is going to kick your ass every day. No amount of physical preparation can fully prepare you. They will break you no matter what. Cheers.:icon_wink

LOL, if you let that guy break you then you shouldn't be an officer.

 

[PA44pilot]

sweet. Then I am more or less on target for running ability!

Off topic, but does anyone know a website/store that sells Navy apparel? I live in Dubuque, IA right now and do not know of a ranger surplus type store in the area.

thanks!

 

[A10DCC]

For your questions, since this is my degree (Exercise Science)
1-To get past "the wall" try either drinking a sports or an energy drink 30mins before your run and start eating more complex carbs. After a while you will run out of carb (this is you "hitting the wall") stores and you can use those packs of carb gel at sports stores
2-if your trainer designed you to work out 3x/week do that. Your muscles need time to rest.