Is it possible?

[4InchBicep]

Alright here is a question I pose for all of you. I haven't done any running for about a year straight. I'm 5"6' and I weigh 135 lbs, just to give you an idea. I recently joined the army and I'm trying to do this PT Test and I have a week to do it in. Is it physically possible to drop my mile run (currently 9-10 minutes) to below 8 minutes within one week? (7 days) I am currently running 3x a day and a mile each time. I run at 8AM, 12PM and at 3PM. If you have anything that can help my reach my goal quicker please tell me. Nothing too obvious, like running 10 miles instead of 1 mile each time..

[Pelon]

I would say that it is definitely possible to reach your goal in one week, but not through physical growth. Instead, you will have to focus on preparation. If you train too hard during the week, you are just going to wear yourself down. Some quick training tips would be to add interval training and lighter days to aid recovery. Here are some preparation tips:

1) Make sure you get plenty of water into your system in the days prior to the test.

2) Also make sure you load up on carbohydrates before the test. Preferably, you should eat a moderate dose of carbs 2 hours before the test. This can be hard since many PT tests are done early in the morning before breakfast (I've never understood why they always want to test your physical performance when your body is weakest). If this is the case for you, get plenty of complex carbs the night before. In the morning, you can give yourself a boost with an energy drink or other easily digested simple sugar food.

3) Warmup sufficiently. Try either light jogging or fast walking and slowly increase your heart rate. Your leg muscles need to be ready to go PRIOR to the start of the run. If they aren't sufficiently warmed up, you will be warming them up during the first part of the run, and that will cost you time.

4) Get plenty of sleep prior to the test, and make sure you don't over-train and come in fatigued.

5) Have a positive mental attitude. If you believe you can beat that time, you will. If you don't believe you can, you will most likely fail.

Good Luck! :

[MostMuscle]

Good advice.

Also cut out any running the final two days prior to the event. Allow you body to rest and recover for the day of the test.

[Rats!]

Originally Posted by Pelon

(I've never understood why they always want to test your physical performance when your body is weakest).

Because it's the army. If he's sent to Iraq, he might have to survive without food or adequate sleep for days.