I was wondering if it would be healthy or not to go out by a water back pack and then go out and run until u can't run no more?

Now, Im not a running expert... but I believe running until you "can't run no more" is a very bad idea. Running like that would probably increase your likeliness to develope an injury, forcing you to stop running. I kinda did the same thing... I ran 13 miles through the hills of fairbanks ( my legs were not ready for that type of run yet) just to see if I could do it, which I did. I only gained two things from that... self satisfaction, and a good case of shin splints. That one day of triumph was not worth the several weeks that I have been forced to rest. My advice is to train smart. Slowy increase mileage and stay injury free.
Chris

If you run until you can't run no more, how will you get home?
Seriously, don't do it. You can run pretty far before serious fatigue sets in but you will do a lot of damage in the process. Slowly build up your distances. There are a lot of basic rules but if you read my work out on the Home page it explains the basics: Speed Days, Easy Days, Rest Days, Gradual increases in distance and speed. Give it a read. If you still need advice, PM me.

I agree w/ GuardMC. I spent most of last year training for two marathons, which was a bad idea for someone my age (18). Even though I stuck to a 16-week plan for both marathons I still developed running related injuries because of the distances. Even after I gained speed and became more comfortable with long distances my body and most bodies aren't designed to shrug off 26.2mi. Check out www.runnersworld.com and look at their half-marathon or marathon plans and be sure to GRADUALLY add mileage.

-Andy

Agreed,

No matter what Greek mythology intimates, the normal human is not designed to run 26 miles + 385 yds...that's why (I assume, having never run a marathon) that most marathon training programs rarely have a guy/gal run more than 15 miles during training...you build, rest, push (during the marathon) then rest/recover for upwards of a month (from what I've heard) after the race. It is very tough on the body and make no mistake, marathon training is very SPECIFIC...PJ/CCT/CRO/STO do not need to be able to run marathons...some Operators run them...most don't...if you're training for AFSOF...keep that in mind.

TE brings up a good point: Special Tactics is not a work out club. Many of the posts, both questions and answers focus on general fitness, which is good but often they lack focus on what it actually takes to get ready for and complete the Pipeline. Special Ops tends to attract fitness oriented people but fitness in itself is just a tool to help you better do your job. Your mind is what really matters.
That being said, get as fit as you can for the Pipeline, once you have been operating for a while, you will figure out what to focus on.
So, for you guys starting out, don't focus on one area to the exclusion of others. You have to pass EACH and EVERY EVENT once you are in the Pipeline; Running a 15:00 3 mile won't help you if you can't do enough cals or pass your swim. Do a well balanced work out, at least two events a day, at least 5 days a week.
A SEAL I once met was disgusted with a lot of the younger guys joining the teams. The young guys were fit enough, in fact they focused on PT more than on learning critical skills. It was, he said, like they all thought that they were Semi-Pro Triatheletes who sometimes went to the field, did a SCUBA dive, or jumped out of planes. Their focus was bass ackwards. They should have been focusing on being Warriors, learning the trade and doing PT to help them complete the mission. In his opinion, these kids though fitness had become the mission. Some of the older guys did to. At that point, he decided to become an Instructor to help redirect the focus of new Trainees. He was hard at it when I met him. I can not become an Instructor (aint no Guard Officer slots out there) so I'll just render some advice here. Learn your skills first, stay fit for what the mission's demands, not for what a particular sport or
passtime demands. Stay well rounded, and ALWAYS be able to pick up a ruck, strap on some boots and get your move on. If you can't max the PT Eval in all events and pick up a 60lb ruck, full LBE and rifle, and pass the CCS or Kirtland final Ruck March times, change your training to do so. MC

Guard,
what are the final evals and ruck march(with 60) times at kirtland?

I have no idea. I get the Pipeline Info from this site, ask a Trainee, or a call one of the schools to ask an Instructor. I'm on Leave so I can't do any of those things. Maybe someone else can help.

Hmm, I just run around my neighborhood. Every now and than I'll decide to go a new route, see new places...

Running till you drop probably isnt a good idea, haha.

Just to underscore Guard MC's advice: I once asked a senior PJ, (gettin' up to gramps age) how tough it was to keep up with the youngsters. His answer: "I can do pretty much what I always could do; it just takes me longer to keep myself in shape. As long as I can physically do my job, I'll do my job."

His emphasis was on doing the job, not on PT. PT is a means toward an end. The end is doing the job. In that sense, PT is another tool an operator uses to get the job done.