<p>Hi. I’m new to CC. New to post anyway, I have been reading the posts for a while. I recieved my appointment on Chrismas Eve. Anyhow, I was wondering if there was anyone else doing the pre-BCT workouts from the “Instructions to Candidates” booklet. My coach/trainer took them and after deciding they weren’t hard enough added much to them. Also, has anyone done them and then gone through BCT and if so were the workouts that helpful?</p>
<p>I took a look at them, but couldn't take them that seriously. </p>
<p>The workouts in there are preety easy. I think one would be a lot better developing a sound program of their own.</p>
<p>I'm following another work-out that Mumford posted a while back. I like it and it helps me improve. </p>
<p>Does anyone have any tips for pullups? I couldn't do one for the CFA so my ALO told me to do the hang instead. I hit 50 seconds but the pullup just isn't working.</p>
<p>Get on a lat pull machine for aa couple weeks. You'll probably be pleasently surprised with your results. Once you can do pullups, pullups are about the best excercise to increase your ability to do pullups.</p>
<p>I've been running a lot... but I am a football player who won't be playing at the academy but I've kept up lifting strictly.... I now run a fast 3 miles a day (25 min) but keep on lifting my upper body, this makes push-ups and everything very easy. this seems to be working out for me, I knwo your supposed to choose cardio over strength training-- but I've found time for a lot of both... wonderin if anyone has been lifting like me...</p>
<p>I lift too... I'm a big fan of the pullup assist machine. It's like a counterbalbance weight so I can do the arm motion for pullups and practice until I can actually do a pullup. The pullup is not far out of my reach though.</p>
<p>I'm a runner but I've been lifting a lot (every-day) for the last 4 months or so. It's a good change of pace during the winter from running. I've never followed a strict lifting routine before, so I've been very impressed at the results sticking with a routine for a couple months can bring.</p>
<p>eeee14, I don't know what kind of work out you're doing on the pull up assist machine, but I'd try to do less assist and fewer reps. If you do it with too much assist, you my be able to to a ton of reps, but but won't necessarily be getting closer to an unassisted one.</p>
<p>A tip for everyone - Before you get to BCT, go running, do lots of pushups, and a good amount of ab work too (like flutterkicks). That'll all come in handy in BCT. Pullups aren't a bad idea either.</p>
<p>When I've talked to people, they said to run hilss. That will help a lot I guess. For pullups, try going unassisted and do an arm hang a couple times. This will help to build those muscles. The lat machine is also a great help.</p>
<p>Use your lats for pull-ups. Don't rely on your biceps to pull yourself up.</p>
<p>After you get your boots make sure you run around in them quite a bit. Find some good soles that you like in them. BCT is hard if your feet are dying. As long as you can move around on your feet comfortably, everythign else will seem fine when others have tons of foot problems.</p>
<p>Same here Benjo, except I probably need to do more running than lifting. I'm in a strength training class at school where we do alot of the core lifts like squat, bench, incline, and power cleans. Then after school, I do more of the free weights and other lifts like lat pulls, ab work, calve raises etc.. I know people say even working out every day is bad, but as long as you alternate muscle use, working out twice a day has really increased my strength. Now I need to start working hard on my cardio though- I imagine Basic is alot more about running than how much someone can bench press.</p>
<p>"I imagine Basic is alot more about running than how much someone can bench press."</p>
<p>Definitely not how mcuh you can bench press. It is about muscle endurance and stamina as opposed to strength.</p>
<p>I heard that a lot of times you get X-Country runners out there who dont have the upper body stength to handle everything--- not to mention that proper benching is actually harder then a push-up and now I can cut through push-ups very easily. I would say maintain both your cardio and upper-body strength as they will both come in handy, I'm hoping UN will back me up on this... Not that u have to be bulky but its all about "lean muscle mass." I've also been debating whether to run with a weighted vest or not... </p>
<p>also, can we get our boots before orientation by calling that hotline????</p>
<p>Yes, just go to a military surplus tore or if you can go onto a base somewhere and get some regular leather combat boots. Or you can wait for orientation and get the gortex ones (they sell them at other bases, but they might differ a little). Just don't get jungle boots or jump boots. Just get the ole fashioned 2-seam all leather black.</p>
<p>Benjo, I'm not sure specifically what you want me to refer to. I will say that yes, it is important to be able to run AND do pushups (and pullups). As long as you practice both, you should be fine. There are some people here who can run very fast (and long) but have a hard time doing pushups. There are also people who have a ton of upper body strength (gymnasts, for instance) and their weakness is running. However, with some effort, both can lessen their weaknesses and it shouldn't be an issue. If that didn't address what you were asking, let me know.</p>
<p>Concerning getting boots, you can get them if you come to orientation. You can also get them from a base if you have one near you (at the BX). Last summer they made a transition in the kind of boots that were issued. Due to some kids having the pervious ones and some gettin issued the new ones, both were acceptable. However, this year I'd guess they'd require you all to have the same kind if they've decided to stick with the kind that were issued last year. If you want, I can go to cadet issue and get the specs on the ones that'll be issued, although that'd probably be best in a couple months when the time is a little closer (so there aren't last minute changes).</p>
<p>thanks UN, they gave me a hotline in my "information about orientation" packet (like a 1-800 number), but I'm going to the April 10th and 11th orientation I might just wait until then. I really want to start running in them in stuff should I bother calling the hotline, or would from April - June 29th be enough time to "break em in." Thanks for all your Info UN, you really are a great resource.</p>
<p>Waiting until orientation to get your boots isn't a bad idea. That will be the earliest time that the vast amount of your class will get theirs (while some will wait all the way until inprocessing, which I do NOT recommend).</p>