Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

I can run a mile and a half in 8 minutes (that's with no training before hand) and I regularly go to the gym, and am in great shape. What are most requirements for the physical training? If you need location, in the Ohio/West Virginia area.

A mile and a half in 8 minutes? Is that even legal? I don't think you'd have a problem with that aspect. They stressed running more than anything in my academy and I would imagine that's the general rule.

A mile and a half in 8 minutes? Is that even legal? I don't think you'd have a problem with that aspect. They stressed running more than anything in my academy and I would imagine that's the general rule.

haha well i ran cross country a year, and played football so i have pretty good endurance.

Your cardio sounds good. As for the weights, keep in mind that most academies use body weight exercises. Try looking up some of the "Insanity," "P90X" and Crossfit exercises. I can't speak for state, but I know what the Marshal Service put me through...hour and a half long "fitness blocks" which were really just beat-down smoke sessions.

Before I left for the academy, I was big on heavy weight workouts...I lost most of that during the 18 or so weeks; on the plus side my cardio was rockin. :yesnod: Either way, to be honest, no one is ever truly ready physically for what they will do to you, but you can be prepared.

Good luck.

I'm calling BS on your 8 minute mile and a half with no training! Not possible! Some academy's are very physical demanding. Most people who quit our academy is due to the PT.



Be Safe.

I can run a mile and a half in 8 minutes (that's with no training before hand)

On a treadmill or on a track? Big difference.

lol, I was estimating on the run, its not an exact time. And the last time I timed myself was about 3 months ago on a treadmill, and I got close to 10:00. I was estimating since I've been running so much lately, but yeah its most likely not that, just cutting myself some slack :)

lol, I was estimating on the run, its not an exact time. And the last time I timed myself was about 3 months ago on a treadmill, and I got close to 10:00. I was estimating since I've been running so much lately, but yeah its most likely not that, just cutting myself some slack :)

ROTFLMFAO
You run 10 min on a treadmill and you now "estimate" your 1.5 mile run to be 8 min. My money is on 10:20. Your REAL run will be slower than a treadmill time.

ROTFLMFAO
You run 10 min on a treadmill and you now "estimate" your 1.5 mile run to be 8 min. My money is on 10:20. Your REAL run will be slower than a treadmill time.

When I said that I was still meaning on the treadmill. And yeah haha I kinda do see how I made myself look dumb.

LOL Dumb is a bit strong for my taste. No worries. :) Most candidates find the run the most challenging. With a good base in running, you will likely have an easier time getting to (and maintaining) the fit standards.

I was about to say... Our best runner in the academy did about 9:30. I've never heard of anyone doing less than 9 minutes. I'm sure it happens, but it has to be extremely rare.

Look at some of the high school 5k times around the nation - pretty damn fast! I wouldn't be surprised at all if a legit cross country runner ran an 8 minute mile and a half... IIRC, our fastest guy did it in about 9 min - without pushing himself to exhaustion... He almost lapped me... lol

Btw, a 9 minute mile and a half averages out to "only" a 6 min mile pace. Our fastest B2V runners will run sub 6 min miles for 10K (6.2 miles - give or take a mile) up and down hills. Some run closer to a 5 minute mile pace... And that's nothing compared to Serious runners. A few olympics ago, the one where the guy dressed up in the court jester outfit basically tackled the lead runner in the marathon, I remember that the top 3 guys covered the LAST 3K (the LAST 3.1 miles) of the marathon in LESS THAN 14 minutes... :eek6:

I was about to say... Our best runner in the academy did about 9:30. I've never heard of anyone doing less than 9 minutes. I'm sure it happens, but it has to be extremely rare.

I am hardly an athlete and I would have to side with Sam on this one. I used to run sub 12min splits for my 2 mile splits on my 5k (and I was a sprinter, just staying in shape in the off-season). My first several years on the job, my 1.5 mile time would hover on both sides of the 9 min mark all the time. These days (15 years later), I still sit under 10 min consistently.

When I was in the army we had to run two miles as part of the PT test. I was in good shape and my personal goal was always to try and break thirteen minutes for the two miles. I never managed to do it, though I came within seconds a number of times.

I would have loved to been able to run 5:20 miles, but that was never in the cards for me.

I still haven't heard of times like that being that common, but I disagree Switch, if you are running 1.5 miles in that amount of time you are an athlete. I'm not saying you could be in the NFL, but that is still athletic in itself in my opinion.

The 2 mile record at my high school is I think about 10 to 11 minutes. Some of these kids are crazy with how they condition.

I am hardly an athlete...

Ok, I vote THAT comment to be the understatement of the year on RP... :biggrinjester:

I can run a mile and a half in 8 minutes (that's with no training before hand) and I regularly go to the gym, and am in great shape. What are most requirements for the physical training? If you need location, in the Ohio/West Virginia area.

The requirements will vary from area to area, agency to agency. Check your local departments/academies. IF you can run a mile and a half in 8 minutes, I will go out on a limb and say that you will have NO problem with the running portion of the academy.

That being said, in this line of work, you need to be able to Run, Fight, and Shoot - sometimes all three during the same incident. IMO, "Functional strength" and "fight conditioning" is what you should be striving for as far as the Conditioning aspect of a physical altercation is concerned. Also, you're Not going to be wearing the ideal attire/equipment or running on a nice spongy track when you run "for real"...

Don't let Switch fool ya Greggles! He ran college track and was competitive! He is an athlete. While in the academy, we had three guys (all in their mid 20's) run in the 8's for their mile and a half. I was 5th in the class of 80 something recruits and my time was 9:18. I assisted someone on the PT test last week and ran a 10:30 (it hurt also).

To lower your time, you have to train correctly and do core work.


Be Safe.

I ran till I puked. Several times.

I WAS a bit of an athlete, but those days are long behind me.

Adding to what samuel said, I would like to pass on what I have told several co-workers. It first came up when a buddy told me how he could bench 300 lbs (this is back when I thought that that was a lot of weight :)). This same guy was at risk of a heart attack when running more than 50 yards. I asked him what good having a lot of fight in you is if you cannot get to the fight. Conversely, there is no benefit in getting to the fight if you can can do the job when you are there. This job is all about balance.

...which brings me to cross-fit. :smilielol5:
(I couldn't resist)

...which brings me to cross-fit. :smilielol5:
(I couldn't resist)

I'm beginning to think you are on their payroll.

I strongly believe some people just have a body makeup that allows them to distance run so well or bodybuild. For example I have very long arms and legs and don't see me ever being the size of an NFL linebacker based on my body structure. In addition distance running was never one of my strengths.

The guy in the academy with me that ran the 1.5 mile consistently with those times and drank like a fish every night (It always smelled good at 6am on PT mornings). Had I done that I wouldnt have been able to run 50 feet.

My all time best was 3 miles in 19:17. I was 19. Now my best times are mid 10 min 1.5 miles. Only, I couldn't do that after heavy pushups/ situps. It dropped to an abysmal 12 min +. So, I started doing Crossfit. Now I'm training for the academy in the AM and doing the Crossfit Gym thing at night. I don't think I will have a problem.

I have to give credit to Crossfit. Not only will it get you ready (Fight Gone Bad :eek6:) but it is very good at getting you to and past the sick feeling when working out. Before I would brush on this and stop, now I know to expect it and how to deal with it. That will be priceless going to the academy...which is now based on Crossfit and Tabata Intervals.