I’m glad you have gotten motivated again. I was beginning to worry. And I am also glad that you got Five Fingers, because now I can live vicariously through your experiences with them. And what kind did you get? I’m guessing you got the sprints. I would have gotten the sprints. or the next one up. But the basic and the winter are just too much on either side.
April 1
48 Days Till Boot Camp
Poolee PT
I had a great PT tonight.
Ran 3 Miles
3 Rounds of
10 Pullups
25m Lunges
10 KB Swings
15 Ball Slam
I wore my Vibram Five Fingers tonight and around mile 2 my feet were killing me. I finished the run strong though and overall had a good session.
Draper
Yes I got the sprints. I wanted the KSOs which covers the whole foot but they were out so I went with the sprints. It feels really weird running in them. It’s like running barefoot and you can feel your foot “griping” the ground. After running though I have had some of the worst pain in my lower leg that I have ever had. I guess the muscles haven’t been used in a while so they are on fire.
Shit I’m so jealous of you. As soon as I get a job the first thing I am going to buy is Vibrams. Good job on the PT. Now we’re both back on track. Only 48 days left my man. Get that nutrition in gear. That’s when the weight really starts to fall off. Then again, you already know that…
April 3
146 Days Till Boot Camp
Psssh…Nutrition. What the fuck are you talking about?
I turn 19 today.
When I enlisted that was a stipulation from my parents that they wanted me to be 19 before I leave. Well it is finally here and I am closer to going than ever.
To honestly access myself I would say I’m 70% ready to go.
Physically I have had an interesting trip since early December when I started preparing.
My pullups have gone from about 10 to pushing 20. My crunches have gone from 45 to 90 probably 100 in 2 minutes by now. My run has been all over the board depending on how I feel or my motivation.
My weight hasn’t really fluctuated at all and has stayed pretty consistently in the 200-205lb range.
Overall I think I have done a good job working towards my goals but I don’t think I’ve done enough. I have accomplished some things but So what? Who cares? I do believe I’m 70% ready but it’s that last 30% that makes the difference. I still have along way to go.
So far as my Boot Camp knowledge goes I have everything memorized and then some with the exception of the 13 Leadership Traits which with the exception of Honor, Courage, Commitment is probably the most important thing for me to have memorized.
To be honest some of my progress has been halted recently because of my crappy dedication the last few weeks. I received the advice to still be a teenager and not totally focus on the Marine Corps. Well that’s exactly what I did and I took it too far, I got wrapped up in some bullshit and didn’t PT for days. My mental motivation was low, not because I was doubting what I am doing it’s just that I was pre-occupied and being immature.
I don’t know how many people read this log or how many posters still read it but I would like to thank you all for helping me and giving me advice.
In my 19th year I am going to become a United States Marine and I hope to give it my all and be the best Marine I can be. I know that starts now and it starts with my mindset and work ethic.
Here’s to a good year.
Happy Birthday.
April 4
45 Days Till Boot Camp
I took an IST today.
I stayed up late last night and wasn’t sure about how well I would do on this IST but it turned out ok and I was pleased but like always still disappointed that I did not achieve more.
Previous IST
14 Pullups
90 Crunches
11:02 1.5 Mile
Today’s IST
18 Pullups
91 Crunches
10:45 1.5 Mile Run
I can’t believe I couldn’t get 100 crunches. I thought I had that in the bag but that just teaches me I can’t assume anything. My pullups went well as I did 18 full arm extended repetitions. I wanted those last two so bad but I just couldn’t do it.
The run is by far the most disappointing of the 3 events. I have been consistently shaving around 30 secs off of my time each IST and this time it was only around 15 seconds faster. I really need to work on my running.
I also weighed in at 200lbs on the dot. I’m still undecided what my target weight is going to be once I’m in the fleet but I’m pretty sure I don’t want to dip under 200lbs.
It’s good to know I’m making progress.
Taking into consideration your most recent rut, you still improved on every aspect. More can be done, but then again, can’t more ALWAYS be done. You are moving forward.
I would recommend you getting down to 10% body fat aka 185 pounds. You would shit on everyone in the Corps.
10% Body fat?
Are you serious?
I am pleased I improved but I have a long as way to go. I’m glad my little rut didn’t hurt me too bad but it probably kept me from maxing out pullups and crunches this time.
I don’t know about weighing 185. I guess we’ll see what weight I am when I get out of boot and I’ll probably have a better idea of what I want to weigh then.
I’m guessing you will like weighing less like I do. I have set my goals much higher now. I can weigh the same I do now but have so much more muscle to tap into if i were just at a lower body fat.
Imagine 200 pounds of muscle at 8% bf. Not 200 pounds of muscle gained bodybuilding, but 200 pounds gained by squatting and power cleaning and jumping and running.
Ooh.
I don’t know man. I don’t think I would like weighing less but I probably wouldn’t mind having a lower body fat percentage. Once I’m in the fleet I’ll be burning calories like its nobody’s business and will have plenty of access to food so that will probably help to keep me learner than I am now.
I can’t wait to be able to squat again. I miss it.
You have the rest of your life to train, stay mission focused for now devil dog.
Yes Sir.
But when you are done, Squat often
April 6
43 Days Till Boot Camp
Ran 3 Miles
10 Pullups with 45lbs
Keep it up. I think one way to think is this whole period prior to the end of your civilian life is your rolling start. Everything you know now you’ll grin about occasionally a year down the road; in two years this will be a vague memory though the log will ensure you can go back and see how things are like now.
This is your past that is quickly going to fall behind you as the future comes up. Motivate yourself with pictures words and toss in 10-15 minutes of meditation on where you are and where you want to be tomorrow, the next day etc.
Just thought I’d randomly throw up some thumbs and tell ya to get it done.
April 7
42 Days Till Boot Camp
Group PT
Ran 1.5 Miles
Did calisthenics on the way
Stair Sprints 3
Pushups 15 15 15
Crunches 50 50 50
Pullups 10 10 10
BW Squats 50
I had a light day today with the Poolees. Tomorrow should be better.
kinein
I agree that this is my running start. I hope to get off to a good start in the Marine Corps and that my preparation will help me in achieving my goal of becoming a United States Marine. I like the self reflection idea. I do that usually but I don’t put a lot of effort into it right now but I think a little more wouldn’t hurt.
When I get a forwarded email on my phone saying that a topic that i have just subscribed to has a new message, and it just so happens to be twelve thirty at night when i get it, it means that whoever wrote it is up at twelve thirty. Make that sleep more regular sir.
But then again so am i. but i’m going to sleep now. keep whoopin’ down on those Poolees.
April 8
41 Days Till Boot Camp
Group PT again
Ran 2 Miles
My Staff Sergeant decided he was going to book it and try to break us the fuck off and well he accomplished his mission for about 2/3 of the Poolees. I just bared my head kept going and stayed within 25 yards of him.
3 circuits of:
Squat Thrusters
KB Swings
Crunches
Lunges
Flutter Kicks
Buddy Drags
Fireman Carries
Pullups
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Today was a pretty good PT and I’m pleased that I was able to complete all the pullups up and down the ladder.
Draper
Seriously I’ve been staying up later and later but its actually the Poolees fault. We started hanging out alot and well its just too much fucking fun hanging out with future Marines like myself and I just stay out. I need to work on it.
PT sounds freakin’ sweet.
And I guess if it means that you have friends now, then I’m okay with you staying out late. I thought you were just sitting in your room watching the History Channel producing cortisol.
Draper
Yeah who would of thought that I would make friends and enjoy hanging out with them. We PT and then we’ll go out to eat and then onto someone’s house and either play video games or have some sort of competition so we can all talk shit to each other. It’s great.
I’m so busy now because of school and Poolee stuff that I’m barely home now. For example I was only at my house for like 6 hours yesterday and now I’m at school and after this I’m going to hang with my future Marines.
Good Times.