Want to join TA and need to get fit(ter)

[Nuclearsquash]

Evening,

I'm seriously considering joining the TA, but as a requirement of that i want to get my fitness up to a level where i'm not just scraping by. I'm currently going to the gym about 2-3 times a week (for about the past 2 months), as well as a weekly session of Taekwondo.

As it stands the push ups and sit ups element i can do pretty easily (30 in two minutes for both), although i would like to improve upper body and stomach strength; my main issue is the running, at the moment i can just about do the 1.5 miles in 15 minutes, but ideally i'd like to get this down to around 13-12 minutes, also i need to be able to be able to do 3 miles in 30 minutes. As it is i've never been much of a long distance runner, i've always been a sprinter.

So any advice etc would be greatly welcomed.
Cheers

Andy

[Nuclearsquash]

Excellent, some actual useful information.

I'm just about to hit 31, to be honest i've never really pushed myself, but then i guess it's slightly different with a PTI shouting in your ear, as well as the whole group/team element.

As i said situps and pushups are fine, we do plenty of those in Taekwondo of various types. So i shall make a point of working on my running. Oddly i find running outside far easier than on a treadmill, as i can find my comfortable running pace far easier.

Thanks for the tips

Andy

[Nuclearsquash]

I was at the gym this morning so i thought i'd see how far i could run in 30 minutes, and although on a treadmill, i managed 3 miles in 28mins 21sec. Was rather pleased with that, i also made a point of not concetrating on the time, and just running, which seemed to work.

[Nuclearsquash]

Thanks for the advice everyone, i'm slowly getting there, the running is getting more comfortable as my body gets used to the idea of longer distances. Now that it's finally starting to warm up i'll probably be able to get outside more, there's nothing worse that running in the freezing cold sucking back lungfulls of frigid air.

CDG is definitely agree on the point about not being last even if i pass, if i'm going to do this then i want to do it properly.

Cheers

Andy

[Nuclearsquash]

996 sps said:

Get used to sucking in that cold air and try to find x country routes with plenty of hills, mud, and water will keep you interested and variety of inclines/declines will improve you phys.

i'm liking this idea, road running is a touch dull.