Questions

[LCpl Lamm]

I was at a pool function the other day and we were doing sit-ups. From what I understand, you start with your back on the gound, with your arms crossed, and go up until your elbow/forearms touch your thighs, and then back down until your shoulder blades touch the ground, thus completing one repitition. I saw most of the guys only go down until their middle back touches the ground and that was good, it counted. Now, I'm thinking that may slide here, but not in boot camp, right? For pull-ups, I only have to go up until my chin touches the bar, I don't have to go until my chin is above the bar or until the bar touches my chest, right?

Also, when I went to MEPS, I took an eye exam, I got a PASS 2. One of my eyes is not correctable. This may sound stupid, but I think I got such a bad score because I didn't understand the guy and/or I had something in my eye. I have better vision than my Father and I can see things perfectly that are blury for him. To get to the point, will the Marine Corps let me re-take the test before I leave for boot camp? Either with MEPS or with my civilian doc? I e-mailed my recruiter asking if it was at all possible and am waiting for a reply. Should I push it and get a re-take on the exam?
Thanks.

[SGRock]

WTF? Oh, you're doing crunches. No you will have to do them correctly as well as the pull ups. Those doing them wrong will PAY in Boot Camp.

Don't worry about the eye test. You will take it again when you get there.

[Vulture6]

Rock is right on the money -- doesn't really matter how you do them at the poolee functions. For that matter, doesn't really matter how you do them at boot camp. At the poolee functions, close enough is good enough. At MCRD, perfect isn't good enough.

For pull-ups, I only have to go up until my chin touches the bar, I don't have to go until my chin is above the bar or until the bar touches my chest, right?

At MCRD, your chin will have to go above the bar and your elbows will have to lock out when you come down. I've seen many a recruit do 20 pull ups only to have just 10 or 12 count. Sometimes it's because they didn't do them right, and sometimes it's just because the DI felt like screwing with them. Don't sweat it, it's all designed to make you stronger (and more humble). They won't do that on the PFTs that count.

As far as the eye test, don't sweat that either. Nothing at MEPS counts once you're at MCRD.

[LCpl Lamm]

I got another question. What would better prepare someone for boot camp...running 2-3 miles every day as fast as you can, as if you were taking an IST/PFT, or running 4-5 miles everyday at a 10-11 minute pace?
Whats the deal with running in boot camp? Is the majority of it at a slower pace/longer distance or a shorter pace/faster pace?
Thanks.

[Grimmy]

Probably not a bad idea to mix em up. Do some timed runs and some longer runs.

If you get bored you can try 'double ups'.

Set a specific distance of, say, 3 to 5 miles and give yourself a specific time limit to make that distance, and if you come short of that time limit, you run the distance again but at a non timed pace.

Kind of a "make the goal or pay a price" motivation. Used to help me keep progressing back in the day.

[LCpl Lamm]

Cool, I do timed runs in the morning when I lift and run with my Father, and today I started to do calisthenics and longer runs in the afternoon with a buddy of mine. That way I get the best of both worlds.
Thanks.

[USMCRET6391]

Originally Posted by Lamm

I got another question. What would better prepare someone for boot camp...running 2-3 miles every day as fast as you can, as if you were taking an IST/PFT, or running 4-5 miles everyday at a 10-11 minute pace?
Whats the deal with running in boot camp? Is the majority of it at a slower pace/longer distance or a shorter pace/faster pace?
Thanks.

It's not going to make a lot of difference as far as I can see. During 1st Phase all of your group runs are pretty much going to be at the pace of the slowest Recruit in the Platoon (that of course does not count lard butts who can't run a mile without dropping out and puking). It was my experience when I was a Drill Instructor that those who came into Boot in super shape initally lost time in the run because of the restricted running pace in 1st phase, then gained back their initial pace as the runs got longer and faster during 2nd and 3rd Phase.

Get in the best shape you can without hurting yourself. A better way, in my mind, to do that is to run 4-5 miles at a comfortable pace. 8-9 minute miles is a good pace, (you have to do 3 miles in 27 minutes just to pass the PFT) and alternate those runs with interval training, short runs of 400-800 meters with a short break in between totaling 3-4 miles, each interval run as sprint.

[Vulture6]

During 1st Phase all of your group runs are pretty much going to be at the pace of the slowest Recruit in the Platoon

I always made it a point to set the run pace to be about as fast as the 10th slowest recruit -- more fun that way.

Good advice to mix up the runs, and add in some sprints/stadium steps/hills. Lamm, sounds like you're in pretty good shape - I'd back off the weights some and concentrate more on body weight exercises (pull ups, push ups, and dips). I was a big weight lifter too - even at the Island, but body weight exercises are a different type of exercise and will serve you well there.

[LCpl Lamm]

I don't lift for weight really, I do low weight/high reps, 3 sets of 12-15 reps for each exercise, and of course pull-ups, and all the other calisthenics.

[SpongeJuan]

"Footlocker dips!!!" I hated doing those for hours straight. Somehow I came to the conclusion that DI like to say, "We're going to do 50 of them!" and then always end up saying when they count, "down one, down one, down one, down one" for the first half hour. So I got pretty good at doing those, and also at faking them hahahahaha