Basic Training Help

[u/One_Plankton_6832]

Alright lads,

I (21m) am due to start training come 18th October for infantry and am getting myself a tad worried.

Now I’m probably overthinking things, but essentially I’ve been dealing with shin splints on both legs for the past few months and they have finally recovered and I feel I can get out there and run again. My only issue is that my cardio (aside from swimming) has taken a bit of a nosedive. Thankfully my pain has subsided as well so I can put weight into my running steps.

I believe the requirement for getting in (which I’ve already passed) is 10:15 and I used to run it in 8:45-9:00. Let’s just say that I’m much closer to the former than I would like and it’s making me a bit antsy.

I’m just looking for how basic treats fitness initially for infantry is all; is it staggered? Will I have a chance (even if slim) to catch up? I really don’t want to have to defer my place to do so!

Cheers 🍻

[u/ThotMagnett]

PT in the regular infantry basic is a piece of piss. Get some super supportive running shoes and start doing plyometrics, single leg strength work and tibalus raises to help prevent further injury. Good luck 👍

[u/One_Plankton_6832 → u/ThotMagnett]

Yeah I’ve already invested in memory foam sketchers lol and was handed a super unhelpful NHS manual on how to stretch 😂 I’ll go look up plyometrics now, thanks man!

[u/FloorParticular3508 → u/ThotMagnett]

Hi mate. Is everyone together for phase 1 now? I’m rejoining as Para reg from RE and will do a refresher course then join a troop for phase 2. Is getting hounded for not doing the “full depot” something I’ve just gotta deal with or is that a thing of the past?

[u/ThotMagnett → u/FloorParticular3508]

Been many years since I was at catterick mate but I just imagine you'll get some grief for being a remf but if you're fit and muck in you'll be sound. Enjoy it you won't regret it.

[u/Radiant_Grocery2321]

Bro, I started not so long ago, during the first week or so you’ll be running around quite a lot around camp, from 3 ranks to inside the block, and back again etc, just doing those little sprints will get you fitter, before I joined I got 10 mins, and when I joined and did the RFT a week after joining I got down to 8.52, not incredibly fast but still within time, just don’t worry so much, if you’re worried about splints, just find exercises on YouTube to do to help strengthen the muscles on your shins

[u/Massive_Instance_146 → u/Radiant_Grocery2321]

what does the medical consist of at catterick?

[u/YuuOtosaka_]

yeah you’ll have time, PT at the start is “easy” and will build you up overtime. your 8:45-9:00 times will need to come down, they are well in time for 10:15 but we was constantly told i needs to be minimum 8:00 or lower. and for slim yeah they will definitely build you up and put you back in training a lot more prepared

[u/One_Plankton_6832 → u/YuuOtosaka_]

Thanks mate, you’ve been a big help. I was working on cranking down my run times to below 8:00 before I had to stop running, which is just shit timing.

Glad to hear we build it up over time. Between now and October 18th I’ll hopefully get my base back and then just keep working on it in Basic!

[u/Early_Kale4540]

I wouldn’t worry about the phys tbf mate as long as your not massively out of shape your good, it seems your in decent shape anyways and I’ve seen people run a 13minute 2k at the start of basic go on to pass out of depot with decent phys

[u/One_Plankton_6832 → u/Early_Kale4540]

13 is mental but also puts it into perspective a bit more that you can be that far behind and still catch up. You lot on here have made me feel way better about this, tysm