Posted on Aug 7, 2019
SSG Squad Leader
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Im scheduling to attend a SFRE Drill coming up in a matter of weeks. My 12 miler is down to a 2:40, and my Average PT score is around 285 with my runs around the 13:50-14:00 marks. I’m not a great runner. I’ve been doing interval (60-120s) and long runs (6-8miles), but my dang 5 mile run just isn’t improving. I’m running around a 40:15 (fresh! Not exhausted like I assume I will be at SFAS). Any tips from you running studs about how to improve my run time. I don’t wanna say I reached a plateau.
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Responses: 8
SFC Retention Operations Nco
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There's no need for you to be able to run a 5 mile in under 40 minutes for SFAS, that's a Ranger School standard. It's more important that you have a good forever pace that you can maintain in the sand. Your runs will be unknown time and distance in selection. If you train for a 5 miler, you're going to end up running 5 miles and finding out that you have 2 to 4 left to go after that.
The same for your 12 miler time. You may be on a 6 mile, or a 15 mile ruck. Your 12 miler time is a Ranger School standard, not an SFAS standard. Having a 2:40 12 mile time with a 35 pound ruck means literally nothing when you're doing a 20-30 miler with 60+ pounds or so on the trek.
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SSG Squad Leader
SSG (Join to see)
>1 y
I understand your ideology on the aspect, but there is indeed a 5 mile run gate at SFRE at least. It’s in the welcome packet as well.
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SFC Cynthia Eyer
SFC Cynthia Eyer
>1 y
Trekking is way different than running. Even jogging with a 60lb ruck is very different than running. Here’s what I recommend, and I was a Master Fitness Trainer. Speed walking is super beneficial for trekking and jogging with a full ruck on. The hip flexor muscles, lower abdominal and back and full pelvic, as well as quad muscles are toned and built differently from running. Levels of oxygen rich mitochondria go way up, muscle tissue striations are strengthened and made longer, which is absolutely essential for trekking 30-60 miles. People think speed walking is easy and that’s far from truth. Not many kept up with my pace, having to jog majority of 5 miles to maintain. Do this on a hilly route so the legs get used to elevations of terrain, and not on a track. It will behoove you to always train cross country style.
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WO1 Aviation Officer
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SSG Diaz,

I’m also an average runner. In preparation for running a 5 mile for a selection, I found that increasing your weekly mileage helps significantly. It’s good that you’re also incorporating sprint drills to increase your Vo2 max.

Last recommendation is to YouTube professional running coaches for tips and tricks to improving your run. There are plenty of videos that provides tons of info! Hope that helps, good luck!

- SSG Willis, T
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SCPO William Akin
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Q. "What tips do you have for improving my 5 mile time?"
A. Get stationed on something larger than an MSO (Ocean going Minesweep)
:-)
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