How to get fit for the military

I'm failing school and need a back up plan, currently it's joining the Royal Marines then getting specialised as something I can use in civvie life afterwards.

Question is: What should I be doing to get fit? I'm already running 3 miles every 2 days, but I'm not sure to do about muscles, I can't get a gym membership, poor fag. I've got a rowing machine but I'm not sure how to use it and how to set it to best suit my needs.

What should my diet be?

Should I run more than 3 miles?

Run more lad and do a shite ton of push ups, situps and pull ups

Don't forget to work your hamstrings and glutes too, helps a huge amount during terrain walks with kit

Google Stew Smith. He has lots of good (and free) articles and programs.

Forgot to mention I have a single set of barbells, 12.5kg max.

Bare minimum to apply for a royal marine is 12:30minute 1.5 mile run, 1 min rest then 10 minute 1.5 mile run

something like 85 sit ups in 2 mins

60 press ups on 2 mins

16 pull ups done in time to a buzzer

Bleep test to reasonably high level, can't remember off the top of my head I'm sorry

Thanks guys.

Currently I'm doing 3 miles every 2 days, life is split between my parents house so sometimes it is quite difficult, I can also run at select times of day because I'm scared of running into anyone I know, stupid I know.

Anyway, should I be running longer or more frequently? My original idea was to do 1.5 miles then rest 1 min then another 1.5 miles, I'll be honest at the moment I am struggling to finish the second stretch, I usually extend my break to around 5 minutes too. Then I have the next day as a rest day.

> 60 press ups on 2 mins


I got up to 100 doing this:

1.Start with 4x12 sets
2. Once you can do all 4 sets no bother, add 5kg to yourself

Just keep adding weight and doing 4x12. Once you get up to 15kg or 20kg sets rest a few days and do as many as you can with just your bodyweight

Try running 10K(6miles) a few days a week if you can. Start hiking too

>run at select times of day because I'm scared of running into anyone

I was the same mate, you'll get over it eventually

You should be running longer. Try doing a long distance run 3 days a week and then do sprints for the 1.5 mile test. Do 6x400m runs aiming to run the 400m in 2-3 minutes

That sounds like a great idea, thank you. How long did you do this and how frequently? Should I do it every day? It shouldn't take long but I am worried about rest and strain in between days.

I don't think I'll be able to run 6 miles, this is the first time I've started to run in my life, I will be proud when I get 3 miles under my belt, let alone 6. Unless you mean to break it down, as in do two sets of 3 mile runs per week.

I live in a very, very flat area. There is nowhere to hike up.

I did it everyday for about 3 months. It is pretty hard at the beginning but your body will actually get used to it fairly fast. You can do it every day or 3 days a week, resting in between

Just focus on getting enough sleep, protein and stretching properly. Foam rollers are a god-send.

I'm in the Irish Army so we're fairly similar to you lads training-wise. Feel free to ask me anything

Not much to be honest. Don't know that much about British marine training, but the British marines we trained with at Baltops 2016 were pretty much in equal physical shape as us conscripts (same goes for the Americunts, Swedes, Germans and so on.). You should do just fine in the military as long as you're not obese or anorexic.

Run every day, along with push ups, pull ups, sit ups, and chin ups. Incorporate other bodyweight exercises like squats, planks, and anything else you can think of.

>I don't think I'll be able to run 6 mile

You definitely have it in you, believe me. Do Couch 25k and then Bridge to 10k. That got me from literally zero to 10k in 14 weeks.

I can't really stress how important it is to build up your endurance. Almost all military training will focus on it.

>I live in a very, very flat area

Can you travel somewhere that does? If not just build up your legs and back in preparation

The requirements for RM are easily available. Considering the tests include their famous assault course and a 30 mile hike with some ridiculous amount of kit, you should be training for speed and endurance.

There is a 9 mile timed run with 20kg of kit and a rifle, so you should definitely be running more than 3 miles!

For the assault course, you should be aiming for speed. It's against the clock, so cardio is a must, while you will have to pull yourself and kit up walls and ropes.

Check out Chris Terrill's series and book Commando - On The Front Line for a good look inside the unit, and to see how a 54 year old completed the training!!

What county are you from, Donegal here.

Dublin. You in Finner Camp?

Not actually in the army but thank you for your service

> Scared of running into people
> wants to join the military

Wew lad. You're gonna have a bad time.

>thank you for your service

Ah less of that lad we aren't american. Its just a job

Are you saying do 1x400 then break then do another? How long should I rest if so?

Also to pass the 1.5 miler in under 10 mins (and ideally I've read you should aim for 8:30-9:30) you'd need to average just over 1:45 per 400m. How's best to work up to that?

also add flutter kicks and mountain climbers

Rest for about half the time it takes you to complete each 400m.
Aim to match your time. Don't blast the first 400m only to shit out the rest of your laps. But don't leave any in the tank on your last effort.
Try to beat your times the next time you train.
gradually reduce the rest to 1/4 of the work time if you can maintain your times across your laps.

Do some hill sprints and flat sprints too.