Fitness benchmarks
Discussion
I was thinking what makes a reasonable benchmark for various exercises/activities for someone who is reasonably fit. Obviously that term is open to interpretation but I mean a regular exerciser, not a couch potato, but not an olympic athlete either.
I think a good benchmark for a runner is 10k in 50 minutes for instance, not to fast, but not just plodding along. What else do you have - how many pushups is a realistic number, or how fast to row x distance?
I think a good benchmark for a runner is 10k in 50 minutes for instance, not to fast, but not just plodding along. What else do you have - how many pushups is a realistic number, or how fast to row x distance?
These sort of things have been worked out years ago by clever people for the military.
So a reasonably fit individual under 30 should be able to run 10:30 for a 2.4km, do 7 pull ups, 15 dips and I cannot remember about the sit-ups and press ups but somewhere around 50 in 2minutes seem to ring a bell.
A very fit soldier would be expected to score the maximum 300 points in the Army test so (again for a individual under 30) 2.4k in 8:15, 78 press ups in 2 mins and 82 sit-ups (my memory is murky about the press-ups and sit-ups but it would be somewhere around those figures)
Remember the pull ups, press ups and sit-ups would be expected to be performed with exquisite form.
So a reasonably fit individual under 30 should be able to run 10:30 for a 2.4km, do 7 pull ups, 15 dips and I cannot remember about the sit-ups and press ups but somewhere around 50 in 2minutes seem to ring a bell.
A very fit soldier would be expected to score the maximum 300 points in the Army test so (again for a individual under 30) 2.4k in 8:15, 78 press ups in 2 mins and 82 sit-ups (my memory is murky about the press-ups and sit-ups but it would be somewhere around those figures)
Remember the pull ups, press ups and sit-ups would be expected to be performed with exquisite form.
honest_delboy said:
2.4km was posted on PH the other day, i think at 14 min, then someone else said 12:30 min
Now we're down to 10:30 and 8:15 !!
I am thoroughly depressed now. *goes off to eat some cake*
haha too right, I always thought a 10 minute mile without being at the point of keeling over was good going for the majority of people and sub 10 minutes to do 1.5 miles puts you in the 5th percentile?Now we're down to 10:30 and 8:15 !!
I am thoroughly depressed now. *goes off to eat some cake*
honest_delboy said:
2.4km was posted on PH the other day, i think at 14 min, then someone else said 12:30 min
Now we're down to 10:30 and 8:15 !!
I am thoroughly depressed now. *goes off to eat some cake*
It varies epending on the path you're applying for in the Army; but:Now we're down to 10:30 and 8:15 !!
I am thoroughly depressed now. *goes off to eat some cake*
2.4km (1.5miles) in under 14:30 mins for juniors roles, under 9:45 mins for the Paras.
The Paras sounds rough until you look at the Royal Marine requirements:
2.4km (1.5miles) in under 12:30 mins, 1 minute rest, 2.4km in under 10:30 mins....on a 2 degree incline!
Digger said:
NeMiSiS said:
300lb bench press is a good bench mark.
I assume you're being facetious 
but if not, a bench press figure is strength-related and not fitness . . . IMHO. ringerz said:
Digger said:
NeMiSiS said:
300lb bench press is a good bench mark.
I assume you're being facetious but if not, a bench press figure is strength-related and not fitness . . . IMHO. The Army test is 2.4k for a good reason though. Its a very well judged distance that suits neither the anaerobic specialists or the long distance racing snakes.
BTW anyone thinking of joining the Paras and only being able to muster a 9:45 would be well advised to have a re-think of their ambitions. For the vast majority of regular soldiers the pass mark is 10:30 and has been for at least the last 20 odd years.
BTW anyone thinking of joining the Paras and only being able to muster a 9:45 would be well advised to have a re-think of their ambitions. For the vast majority of regular soldiers the pass mark is 10:30 and has been for at least the last 20 odd years.
The Beaver King said:
Royal Marine requirements:
2.4km (1.5miles) in under 12:30 mins, 1 minute rest, 2.4km in under 10:30 mins....on a 2 degree incline!
That's for the pre joining fitness test and is done on a treadmill in trainers. After that it is PRMC which is two days of pain:2.4km (1.5miles) in under 12:30 mins, 1 minute rest, 2.4km in under 10:30 mins....on a 2 degree incline!
http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/royal-marines/...
As I've said before all the body weight exercises on the gym test are done to command with no resting unlike the Army where you can. Press ups are with your elbows at your side not pointing out.
Once trained you have to do a CFT and BFT every year. CFT is 8 miles in two hours carrying 25kg inc a rifle. BFT is 50 sit ups, 5 (but you always do 6) pull ups then 1.5 miles in 15 mins, 1 min rest then 1.5 miles best effort but under 11.30. The BFT figures are for under 30s but usually everyone meets this level. Over ten minutes for the second run is considered "beef". The BFT is also done in boots.
https://pdevportal.co.uk/assets/upload/ckfiles/kay...
As it happens, when I typed the OP I was going to write "not couch potato, but not Royal Marines", but chose olympic athlete instead so I didn't upset any non military fitness types. 
Some good ones so far though, the last CFT (or BFT) I did was nearly 20 years ago, but the numbers don't seem to have changed much from what I can remember.
Some good ones so far though, the last CFT (or BFT) I did was nearly 20 years ago, but the numbers don't seem to have changed much from what I can remember.
dai1983 said:
That's for the pre joining fitness test and is done on a treadmill in trainers. After that it is PRMC which is two days of pain:
http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/royal-marines/...
As I've said before all the body weight exercises on the gym test are done to command with no resting unlike the Army where you can. Press ups are with your elbows at your side not pointing out.
Once trained you have to do a CFT and BFT every year. CFT is 8 miles in two hours carrying 25kg inc a rifle. BFT is 50 sit ups, 5 (but you always do 6) pull ups then 1.5 miles in 15 mins, 1 min rest then 1.5 miles best effort but under 11.30. The BFT figures are for under 30s but usually everyone meets this level. Over ten minutes for the second run is considered "beef". The BFT is also done in boots.
https://pdevportal.co.uk/assets/upload/ckfiles/kay...
Yeah, I'd read through the info on the actual training and it is crazy.http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/royal-marines/...
As I've said before all the body weight exercises on the gym test are done to command with no resting unlike the Army where you can. Press ups are with your elbows at your side not pointing out.
Once trained you have to do a CFT and BFT every year. CFT is 8 miles in two hours carrying 25kg inc a rifle. BFT is 50 sit ups, 5 (but you always do 6) pull ups then 1.5 miles in 15 mins, 1 min rest then 1.5 miles best effort but under 11.30. The BFT figures are for under 30s but usually everyone meets this level. Over ten minutes for the second run is considered "beef". The BFT is also done in boots.
https://pdevportal.co.uk/assets/upload/ckfiles/kay...
I highlighted the entry requirement as the fitness level needed just to get onto basic training is very high, nevermind what you have to do once you're actually training.
Even when I was at my fittest, R.M. standards was well out of my reach.
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