Running is part of the daily life of a soldier, whatever regiment you are in.

Great for physical fitness, military running training is also essential for surviving missions. And you have to be trained to carry the load!

Here are our tips for making quick progress in running.

Sleep to progress in running

The goal is to get about eight hours of sleep per night. This means allowing at least eight and a half hours in bed. If your life does not allow it for the moment, modify your expectations as for your feelings and your performances.

"But I've always slept six hours a night and I feel fine." Good for you ! But you may be wrong. Try getting eight hours of sleep a night for a week and see if you perform better.

If not, come back at six o'clock and focus on the other areas. You may be an exception to the myriad of sleep sciences. But often, it is only a feeling that is quickly flouted!

The importance of hydration

If you're thirsty, it's often too late. Thirst is a terrible indicator of hydration status. We often confuse thirst with hunger and sometimes feel tired before realizing we are simply dehydrated. Your goal should be to never be thirsty. Drink water more often and monitor your condition and performance.

There is not a single athlete in the world who performs so well when dehydrated!

Nutrition

Nutrition is a huge and complex field. It revolves around psychology and habits much more than simple will power. Adopting simple habits like drinking water more regularly is the first step towards good nutrition.

A simple question before any meal can help improve your diet.
"How will I feel after eating this?" Lethargic? Heavy ? Thrilled ? Satisfied ? Fueled and motivated?

Make a conscious decision about what to eat to perform better and you'll be well on your way. Want some cake but you're about to go for a 10k run? No doubt wait until the end of the race to treat yourself!

Choose vegetables instead and cook as much fresh food as possible. You will see, it is not that difficult.

Military training for running

Should you do your long-term running on a Tuesday or a Sunday? Do you do strength training in the morning or at night? What about my interval sessions? Simplify your life! Obtain, or even create, a plan. Stick to this plan long enough to know if it is working. Rehearse and progress the plan. If you want to get a program that works, that will allow you to progress without wasting time, we leave you to click here.

A plan must last at least six weeks to know if it is effective. If you're not sure you can create one that will work, get a tried and true plan, perhaps created by us?

Plans should be reasonably gradual, around 3-5% per week and allow for a week of recovery or rest every 4-6 weeks.

Working hard and focusing on technique is far more important than the time of day or day of the week you train. Focus on what matters: the intention and the right execution.