Royal marines pjft and running - Saxperience

itslikethat · 26th December 2011, 22:43

Right lads need advice if anyone is going for the marines ? army ? military or are keen in anytype of CV work.

Basically joining the royl marines has been an ambition of mine for years now, and im at the pjft stage and i have failed 2 times, and you only get 3 chances to do it.

First time was total stupidity, i was concentrating on weight training and neglected running, then realised i had 28 days to complete it. Wasn't going to happen in a long shot !

Second time, christmas eve

i was 10 seconds off making it, so angry ! Threw up in my mouth and had to wash it back down with a drink. Not pleasent.

By the way a pjft is, a treadmill run. First run is 1.5 miles under 12.30 minutes and then 1 minute rest. After that its a 1.5 mile run under 10 minutes.

The instructor that was there with me said i need to get a higher threshold. Basically, being able to run fast for longer. I can sprint very quickly but, long distances is my downfall.

Any ideas ? I know interval training will help me, any other options ? Programmes ?

Cheers lads.

Tontsy · 26th December 2011, 23:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by itslikethat

By the way a pjft is, a treadmill run. First run is 1.5 miles under 12.30 minutes and then 1 minute rest. After that its a 1.5 mile run under 10 minutes.

you cant do that? . . . im sorry, but if you fail to achieve that its pretty poor.
im not what i would call "fit" but i could do that with my shoes tied together, saying that, i walk 1.2 mile to work and back daily, and do the downhill walk in 11 minutes and 13 on the return, and thats my general walking pace.

not having ago or anything, but if thats the requirements to get into our force - no wonder so many chimps are in there.

itslikethat · 26th December 2011, 23:03

Haha cheers, mate don't worry i can do it, ive done it in mocks and what not. I went in to it in a sorry state. Dont want to go into details about injuries and all that because theres no need to. Yes it was a pathetic attempt.

Tontsy · 26th December 2011, 23:05

and tbf, if i was going to throw up, i would of done it and just carried on running! lol, i could see that being highly amusing!

if you know you can do it, then go back in a better state, and crack on with it! what training have you done for it already ? where abouts in cornwall are you, might be worth doing some fitness training with McGuire if your local to him.

itslikethat · 26th December 2011, 23:08

Yeah, the thought did cross my mind haha.

Yeah thats the plan mate. Just worried about if they dont let me have a 3rd go at it thats all, fingers crossed they do as i am entiltled to it.

And just past saltash, whos mcguire? and where abouts is he from ?

Tontsy · 26th December 2011, 23:10

McGuire is like the health and fitness section agony aunt lol. but tbf, hes pretty good with his knowledge and would be more than happy to go for a jog with you one evening and see what you can do.

he lives in St Austell.

or come over the bridge and see me, ill poke you with a stick whilst your jogging. when i say stick i mean a cattle prod.

itslikethat · 26th December 2011, 23:11

Ahh right nice one cheers.

And haha take it your a plymouth LAD ?

You planning on the forces ?

Tontsy · 26th December 2011, 23:18

yeah im from plymouth.
me, forces, nah! doesnt do it for me to be honest! best mate is a royal machine, as he would like to say - and he is doing bloody well for himself!

but, id get home sick. sad as it sounds, i would miss my own bed.

itslikethat · 26th December 2011, 23:22

Haha royal machine, i like it !

Yeah same with me my mates a royal, and is insanely fit ! Sub 8.20 return time and all that. Ill be there one day.

And fair enough mate, cant beat your own bed !

Tontsy · 26th December 2011, 23:26

mentally and phyically, i would love to do it! go out there, see the world, have a good background ect. yeah, i understand why people want to do it. but, its pretty much he small home comforts id miss!

respect for the guys the do it, and make something of themselves!

itslikethat · 26th December 2011, 23:33

Exactly, its the life for me.

On a side note, your bike is sex !!

Holy moly man !

Always loved yam r1 and r6. Look mean !

Dads got an yam xjr 1300, 2 scorpion cans on it. Sounds amazing !

Tontsy · 26th December 2011, 23:36

cheers man, i love the 6er! cant wait to get an R1 in the garage too.
i have an XJR1300 too, what a fucking animal, full akrapovic system (with one can) dynojet, k&n filter, and -1 front sprocket too! goes like a fucking rocket!

rarely ride it though, 3k on the clock and its 7 years old! handles brilliantly for the style of bike, but feels like a boat compared to the R6 lol.

Giraffe · 27th December 2011, 10:32

Pretty obvious what you need to do... Replicate the test exactly, and keep doing it until you can do it.

First run, set the treadmill speed at 7.5 mph or faster, second run set it at 9 mph or faster. Keep practising it until you can do it.

SaxoVTR2008 · 27th December 2011, 10:36

Do sprints, long runs, mock pjft's, circuits etc.

MikeyW · 27th December 2011, 15:18

Fartlek training helped me ALOT before I went into the Army.

Go for a run and inbetween lamp posts, sprint to the next one, fast jog to the next, walk to the next, then start over again.

Got 8.08 on my last PFT

SaxoVTR2008 · 27th December 2011, 17:39

also.. if your struggling on the pjft and if you fail your 3rd attempt, you better seriously reconsider your choice with the Royal Marines! As the pjft is the easiest part...
PRMC the warm up before any of the phys is a bit of a blow out! Also the lack of sleep, nerves etc.
PJFT you don't need to warm up or anything!

itslikethat · 27th December 2011, 18:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaxoVTR2008

also.. if your struggling on the pjft and if you fail your 3rd attempt, you better seriously reconsider your choice with the Royal Marines! As the pjft is the easiest part...
PRMC the warm up before any of the phys is a bit of a blow out! Also the lack of sleep, nerves etc.
PJFT you don't need to warm up or anything!

Cheers for your reply mate, i can see where your coming from, but i will not re consider my choices, 3rd and final attempt will obviously be the decider of that.

SaxoVTR2008 · 27th December 2011, 19:45

Even if you went infantry for a few years then went to the marines, or be an engineer join 59 commando...

itslikethat · 27th December 2011, 20:08

No offence mate, but i aint really thinking about anything else right now, if it comes to it then i will. Atm im concentrating on this 3rd attempt.

Any tips ?

SaxoVTR2008 · 27th December 2011, 20:48

Hmmm tips... Don't rush into this 3rd attempt and train more! Sprints, hill sprints, long runs, fast short runs...
I know what it's like having the marines as your dream!
I was in basic training last year and got medically discharged 3 months into training because of shin splints.. Applied when I came back and was told I could never rejoin again, but I didn't give up! Gave all the evidence to say I'm all fine again an eventually won..
Took me 4 months to get a decision but it was worth it, then I was given a years wait from date of discharge to rejoin (I started my application from scratch again this October and passed prmc December 16th!) so if you want it do it..
Show willingness and a good attitude to your AFCO and they will push you through as much as possible.. For example, prmc wait time is 6-8 months... Even though I couldn't reapply till October, and having to redo my medical, pjft etc. my AFCO applied for my prmc date back in may, so I'd had a date as soon as I could start my application again.. Because I've shown him determination in the past and he knew I'd be ready again, and I was... That's 2 out of 2 prmcs passed..
He's also pushed for my start date even though my security clearance hasn't been cleared yet.. I start basic training again on February 6th woo!