<p>As a candidate who is reports to WP in less than a week, I'm beginning to get really nervous about the running while at WP. I will be candid and admit that I didn't follow the physical program as well as I should have, and in a practice APFT I did for myself a few days ago I did fine in both PU and SU, but my run time was horrible. I was just wondering what is the worst that will happen if I fail the diagnostic APFT during the first few days of Beast?</p>
<p>dont worry about it. Lots of people will fail</p>
<p>1) Dont sweat it...you have until the end of Beast to be up to Army standards.
2) Personally, I perform better under pressure. I'm sure you do too. Most peoples run times will be faster than their practice runs.</p>
<p>Most of us, myself included, are a little nervous about heading out. If its not running its something else: getting yelled at, being home sick, etc. Everyone I'm sure has their fears for Beast. I worry about screwing up, letting down my squad. Whenever I get nervous, I read as much as I can on the topic. I started to read Duty First to see if I had missed anything, but after 150 pages I just thought to myself "I've been on CC for almost 2 years posting and reading. If I weren't qualified they wouldnt have let me in. Don't stress and just go when its your time. No point in trying to control the uncontrollable." </p>
<p>Get a few more runs in before you leave. Stretch a lot so you don't kill yourself. And I'll hope to see the 2010 guys in a few days.</p>
<p>great advice. Everyones worried about something. Dont just focus on your weaknesses though. Thinking of what strengths you have can give you a little extra motivation... now i just have to find a way to wp from newark on sunday... :)</p>
<p>Just keep repeating to yourself, "George Rash did it, so can I..." (Absolutely American fans will know what I'm talking about).</p>
<p>HAHAHAHA, Oh my Gosh you are so right Bossf51. I actually had a second cousin who just graduated from WP (class of 2005) and when she was a plebe George Rash was her platoon leader! She's full of a lot of interesting stories about him...</p>
<p>I was thinking, too, about George Rash before I scrolled down and saw Boss's comment. Relax.</p>
<p>yoyo,</p>
<p>Your running will improve. Somebody else is right now terrified about their push ups which may not be the right form. Those will improve. And somebody else is struggling with the number of sit ups he can complete. Enjoy your next few days.</p>
<p>Keep in mind we'll be running with other people, which helped me run faster last year at ROTC.</p>
<p>Yoyo:</p>
<p>Keep in mind that West Point has been selecting cadet candidates for over 200 years and believes you have what it takes to make it at USMA.</p>
<p>Also remember that USMA wants you to succeed, not fail.</p>
<p>While there is no guarantee that you, or any new cadet, will make it. There is a guarantee that West Point will provide all of its available resources to support you during your West Point experience.</p>
<p>Try to relax, I hear the winds at West Point during APFT are always tailwinds.</p>
<p>If you got through the CFA with no problems, you are at a level where West Point can at least work with you, so you should be fine. </p>
<p>Good news about runs is its always easier as a group. If you notice your falling behind on the APFT just run faster to catch up. Or you can follow that George Rash strategy which is the same concept really. I am sure most people can have a 15:54 2 mile, they just don't know it... </p>
<p>A good example is one time I was running the 2 mile in track (I am no track star, I did it to get in better condition for WP) and my time was up around 16 minutes every time which was qualifying but discouraging. One time at a meet a found a rabbit (someone you chase for the whole race and eventually try to beat). Now I kept up with him for the first mile and half and then he shot off at a blindingly fast pace and ended up beating most everyone even though he had been with me near the back at the beginning. Anyhow, I finished the 2 mile in about 14, 2 minutes faster than a week before that! And now I can run it that fast... The trick is that I could run it that fast the whole time, I just didn't know it.</p>
<p>run/walk intervals and your time will improve a lot</p>
<p>yeah dont worry...my foot is in so much pain im about to die...but im still going</p>
<p>thats my james</p>