Preparing for Boot Camp with Rubber Mulch
After enlisting yourself for boot camp, it’s not enough to go by the list of “stuff to bring” that the enlistment officer gives you. You have to do your own research to make sure that you understand what boot camp really is.
A lot of times, recruiters all over the United States sell boot camp like a commercial product leading to mismatched expectations. In the end, only 40% of those enlisted make it through boot camp.
It is important for you to realize that boot camp begins at day 1, regardless of varying fitness levels. Drill sergeants won’t waste a week trying to place everyone at the same level. The pace is the drill sergeant’s pace. To help you begin, below are 3 areas of fitness that you can work on, so you can count down the days without stressing out.
1. Conditioning
Although you’ve already been going to the gym regularly, it only means that you have a nice body. Boot camp requires a functional body. It’s okay to continue working out in the gym, but also make sure that you do conditioning exercises around your body weight.
Try exercising without traditional gym equipment or weights. Go to the woods and try navigating a course. Climb over and under the trees. After all, living in camp is almost like living outdoors.
2. Endurance
Training for endurance always involves running and swimming. If a pool is not readily accessible, then focusing on running is okay. To protect your ankles and knees, look for a path that has rubber mulch surface. Most public parks already have rubber mulch jogging paths so one should be easy to find.
Most pro athletes and elite coaches recommend holistic trainings to be carried out on rubber mulch surfaces to minimize injury and to better assess your progress.
3. Flow
Combining strength and endurance gives you a natural flow. This means that you won’t be awkward navigating through obstacles because efficiency through movement will come naturally to you. And as you gain more strength and endurance, your flow will automatically progress.
