Getting Ready

[jasoneke]

I'm getting ready for the PREP next month and I think I'll do fine. I'd like to know how everyone felt after doing the obstacle course. Does it tax you very much?

I'm up to level 6.7 - 6.8 on the shuttle and at the rate that I'm improving, I figure I should be at around 7.5 by the time I do my test.

I go to the gym 5 days a week, and I'm not at all concerned about the upper body strength (I think I'm fine anarobically). I've gone to Georgian College and had a look at the course, tried the equipment, dragged the dummy and jumped over the wall, this should all be fine.

I just wonder if 10 minutes will be enough recovery time for me.

Any insight would be great.

[hummerh1]

You should be fine the 10mins is the minimum I had about 22 mins in between the pursuit circuit and the shuttle

[jasoneke]

I had a practice PREP session at Georgian College today. Things went well.
I did the obstacle in 2:20 and completed the shuttle (actually did a couple extra laps).
I had to pay for the exercise, but it was well worth it, now I know the technique and that I can do it. I have another 26 days before the actual test in Barrie, so I'm feeling pretty good about it. Now I just have to keep doing what I'm doing and pick up on the PATI and WCT studying.
It was also a good experience, because there were two guys doing their PARE test, so I got to see what that's like.

[lavics79]

You should be fine the 10mins is the minimum I had about 22 mins in between the pursuit circuit and the shuttle

Nice...my first time doing it.. I was 1 week coming out of the flu and had a hard time getting my breath, and the time between the pursuit and shuttle was pretty much 5 min...not the best time of my life.

[hummerh1]

Wow,I guess it all comes down to if you are the first person in the next shuttle heat and have to wait for the rest of the group to complete the pursuit portion of the test.

[wortman]

The last person who finishes the pursuit & restraint is allowed a max. of 10 minutes prior to doing the shuttle run - I know it happened to me, and that was on three hours sleep the night before - did I mention I'm a smoker also!

Hummerh1 is correct in saying it is 6:30 minutes; 6:30 minutes of your life - approx. the amount of time it takes me to have a smoke - oh that was bad, lol!

Good luck!

[JD_TO]

Some advice and motivation I could share on to others when i did my shuttle run. Was it is a good idea to talk with the group you are going to run with pump each other up motivate each other. Because when I was ready to give up at level 5.5 it was those same guys who wouldn't let me quit and just kept pushing until I finished.

[wortman]

I agree with JD_TO - being surrounded with motivation is a plus; plus of not wanting to let them down along with yourself, great advice for sure - it displays teamwork.

Recently I've been participating in various classes, bodypump, bodycombat type classes at my gym. Talk about working within a team for about an hour - making us all feel like little kids enjoying recess at school all over again - they are very addictive for sure!

The classes gets your heart rate up with mini breaks along the way. I did a class the other evening and within the class we did 82 pushups - mind you they were not at one time, but throughout the class - not to mention running relays, situps, and various body moves.

So if any of you are interested in para-military type workouts - call around your area and see if any gyms offer group workout classes. I strongly recommend it!

I only wished I discovered/began doing this sooner!

Wortman
ps: re: the 82 pushups, 30 of them on my toes, the other 52 from my knees, lol!

[RDS]

On top of all of the information given, make sure your body is 'super-hydrated'. This doesn't mean drinking a whole lot of water before the PREP, as that's a bad idea...but making sure you are keeping up hydration levels (8 glasses of water a day) for at least a week beforehand, while avoiding caffeine (coffee, pop, etc.) and alcohol for at least four days beforehand will make the PREP much easier to handle as your trachea and nasal passages will be able to remain moist, which will make breathing while under stress that much easier.

Take little sips of water when needed before the pursuit and restraint course and before the shuttle run...avoid large amounts. Be sure to have a healthy breakfast in the morning (with enough time for digestion) and a carb-loaded dinner (pasta) the night before.