30 Days to a Better Man Day 26: Take the Marine Corps Fitness Test

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Permalink Reply by Craig Lloyd on June 26, 2009 at 5:11am

Awesome. I expected at least one day's task to be "down and give me 20!". I did a couple of sets of pull up's and press-ups last night and ran 4.5miles this morning so I'll see if I can do this later or tomorrow morning. It's been years since I bothered with crunches but I'll give them a go! I try to be 'expedition ready' so if I don't come 1st class I'll be disappointed.

Good luck everyone, and if it's any consolation to the less fit - us fitter guys should be in as much pain afterwards if we are really testing ourselves! Pre-hydrate and gentle stretches before and after.

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Permalink Reply by Craig Lloyd on June 26, 2009 at 1:03pm

Argh!!! My efforts in the past 24hours conspired against me. 12 pull-ups, 60 crunches, 23.40 run.
Score = 186 = 2nd class effort. Being honest, had I been fresh it would have been closer, but still not 1st class. I'll be trying this again in a month! Luckily come October I can slip into that 27+ zone and it gets closer...

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Carter on June 26, 2009 at 8:09am

I had to go through my physical fitness test to get my second degree black belt about two months ago, so the crunches weren't hard (had to do 100 for the test--along with 50 push-ups, 50 squats, 30 leg lifts, 100 jumping jacks...). I'm embarrassed to say I don't think I could do a pull-up, and I don't have a pull-up bar in my house.

I'll try the 3 mile run later today, but man it's hot outside. I can't promise high speeds! I'll make sure to pre-hydrate and stretch, of course.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Barbour on June 26, 2009 at 8:23am

Hard. Core.

I'm slowly getting myself back into shape, and beginning Week 3 of the "One Hundred Pushups" program (hundredpushups.com). There's a "20 pull-ups" program out there similar to the 100 pushups program, and I'll be working on that as soon as I find a decent pullup bar (either in a playground or that I can install in my house).

Crunches seem to be getting a bad rap these days (see http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/17/core-myths/ for example), and I don't have a great back to begin with. I'll do other core work, but maybe not in crunch form (e.g., hanging leg lifts).

Power through, gents.

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Permalink Reply by Dave D on June 26, 2009 at 9:04am

This is kind of sad, but I can't do any pullups. I'm working on it, though.

I was able to do 63 crunches in two minutes.

I've been running and my last 5K time was a blazing 35 minutes.

So my total score is 63.

I'll keep plugging along and trying to get better as I get older.

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Permalink Reply by Daniel J. Ellers on June 26, 2009 at 12:40pm

Failed. Or would've if I even tried. I'm a big fat slob.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Barbour on June 27, 2009 at 8:16am

I think a lot of us may be a little disheartened by the challenge-- I'm not a great runner, and I'm terrible with pullups. I may not take the challenge for a while, but I will. And when I do, I intend to do well. Just plug away at the goals, and you'll be there in no time.

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Permalink Reply by Paul on June 26, 2009 at 2:07pm

I am looking forward to this one. I will do it this evening since I have no plans after work.

I usually feel pretty good about myself since my BMI is just about perfect...but after looking at this I am hoping to put up respectable class 3 numbers. It is the running I am most worried about.

I'll post my results tonight.

Kudos to Craig, a lot of us would love to have those numbers!

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Permalink Reply by Ross Moore on June 26, 2009 at 7:10pm

2, 51, 32:30. Good test -- I'll keep working.
On the bright side, it gave me another great reason to shower with Old Spice body wash, put on O.S. deodorant, and apply O.S. cologne.

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Permalink Reply by Craig Lloyd on June 27, 2009 at 3:22am

Good work Ross - on taking the test, and smelling good afterwards! I washed twice and was still sweating a bit so I had to hit the talc powder.

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Permalink Reply by Paul on June 26, 2009 at 10:56pm

I ran today- no place to do pull ups (the playground I planned to use was closed). I will do pull ups and sit ups later.

I ran for the first time in a LONG time today. It was a VERY hot evening. I was probably about a half mile from being done with the 3 miles when I started to get symptoms of heat exhaustion- cold chills, nausea, and stuff. (The last few tenths I was thinking about running on the grass so if I passed out I wouldn't hurt myself :/) So I went ahead and stopped, probably only a tenth of a mile from the end. But I figured it was better than putting my health at risk. I stopped at about 27:30, so I will give myself credit for 29:00 for the sake of the test. That's 34 points, so I have some making up to do with the pull ups and sit ups.

I'll post when I get those done, but all in all, it was a good day. I felt like crap for most of the run, but after a cold shower (my clothes are still drying from sweat) I felt pretty good about myself. I actually thought it might be fun to start working out again.

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Permalink Reply by Craig Lloyd on June 27, 2009 at 3:16am

Well done Paul! Great effort there. Running in the heat is tough.

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