Runner's Forum: Hi, i am new and training for the Royal Air Force

Hi Everyone!

 I have recently at the age of 25 to join the RAF. I have not yet applied as I want to gain a better level of fitness as i have heard its better to be prepared!

 I have downloaded their training schedual for 6 weeks. I tried to complete a 1.5 mile run today, and ended up walking most of it!

Can anyone offer some tips on how to finish within a good time?

Thanks for all your help!

v 

Hey milknosugar,

 I know how you feel. When I was in high school I ran cross country and would run for 2-3 hours 6 days a week no problem. Five years later, aka now, I decided to get back into shape and tried running for half an hour- I lasted 6 minutes before collapsing to a very unsteady walk. I decided to start over and ended up googling the words "how to run." I came across this website http://running.about.com/od/getstartedwithrunning/ht/getstarted.htm. It was perfect! I started in the middle of the training program with a modified Week 3: 3 minutes walking and 3 minutes running, doing 3 sets each day, 5 days a week. Sometime during that week I moved to doing 3 minutes of slow jogging (instead of the walking) and 3 minutes running once I felt better. There was a 5 year old little girl that passed me on her tricycle while I was running that pushed the transition :P, definite motivation. However, don't push yourself too hard, pacing is everything and can either make your workout enjoyable or horrible. To make it more fun you can use your mp3 player and with each song change your pace (my songs usualy last 3-4 minutes). Since that first week I've increased my time running and decreased the jogging pace. It's been 5 weeks since that start week and now I'm consistently running about 3.5 miles in 30 minutes, 3x a week (life and school intervened, can't do the 5x/week anymore). Slow progression is the key and once you start small and work your way up you'll feel amazing. For me to get myself motivated I always tell myself that it doesn't matter how fast you run as long as you do. Hope this helps!

Tammy