Zoobernarf

21 days guys...

navy1314

I try not to think about it. i tell myself the miles and push ups every day are for my gf, not my future favorite summer.

SuperDoc2013

Hahaha.. I think about it every day. Extremely excited, and kicked up the work-out schedule too, hopefully the PT won't be a disappointment. I've got about 2 weeks left till I transfer and then it's game ON guys! Hope to see you all there with those freshly shaven heads.

navy1314

Im excited but at the same time im ready to part ways with the real world. At the end of the day i think im prepared to be a plebe and start following orders. still getting my endurance up to par, i think ill manage

navalacdmyhpfl

i am going to have about 4 days to get in shape for plebe summer so it should be interesting ... i have had track meets since mid december and the season finally ends this saturday then i have to take a 2 week zero activity break or risk putting myself in an almost guarenteed stress fracture position then i can start running again the sunday before I-Day

Can't wait though i bet its going to be wicked sweet

navy1314

hey navalacdmyhpfl i hear you. my season started in early january and i suffered shin splints throughout the later part of the year. my season finished at the end of may and i took a week off. last week i started changing over to distance running after being a sprinter all year, its not easy. but yeah im excited for plebe summer

navalacdmyhpfl

yeah i am kinda bummed i had to drop out of Nationals (Nike Outdoors) because I needed to give myself time off before plebe summer and i had to turn down an invite to the US Junior Nationals cause they are during plebe summer but then once i thought about it the only reason i worked so hard at track was to help get myself into USNA so its definately a worthwhile sacrifice.

navy1314 are you running for USNA with me next year?

navy1314

psh i wish. i ran sprints for my high school and i was decent but nowhere near good enough for Division I. I plan on trying out for the soccer team and if that doesnt pan out i also look to try out for their drumline. ive been playing drums since i was ten, and the thought of playing for the Navy-Army game is just insane. but i will be running for sure, no choice

xenia_guy

speaking of shin splints, anyone know of a good treatment? I've been icing 3-4 times a day, taking Aleve, and riding the bike instead of running, but it seems like the smallest pressure i put on that leg takes me back to square one of the injury.

navalacdmyhpfl

if you are new to running i would tell you, and your going to hate this, you need new shoes, especially if you went to like the local sports store and just bought nikes cause you knew the name (i hate nike trainers if you couldn't tell), if you go to a running specialty store and bring them the shoes you have been running in they can look at them determine what type of stride you have and then match you to a shoe

as for treatment of shin splints what you are doing is all there is short of taking time off with shin splints its about prevention i.e. proper footwear, proper running mechanics, and not treatment

navy1314

yeah i iced throughout the year but then towards the end of the season i decided it would be best to just take time off. i had been hurdling at the time and was in a relay so it didnt hurt the team too bad. now my shins handle distance rnning fine. another excercise you try is to lean up against a wall and raise the front of your foot and hold for 10 sec. do several sets of those as they will build the muscle alone the shin bone.

sloanq

what navalacdmyhpfl said is true. i was suffering from shin splints early this year in track season, but realized the shoes i was training in were about 9 months old. hence, a whole xc season in them and thus wayyy to old. i took them in to a specialty running store and they found shoes that fit my type of feet and looked at the old ones to see how they are worn out on the souls. long story short: getting new shoes really helped. my shins feel MUCH better now, just because of new shoes.

SuperDoc2013

Yeah, shin splints can be pretty nasty. They're caused by either overloading or bio-mechanical inefficiencies.. such as flat-feet, poor posture, sub-par running mechanics, etc. Prevention is the first objective here, obviously. Treatment of the specific injury, related to the damage of the tendons connecting the tibia and fibula bones, is pretty straightforward. Remember R.I.C.E. It stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. Follow this regime for a few days.. and if it doesn't get any better, see a professional. There are other methods like massaging, applying heat, etc., that might work, but the priority is to not get here in the first place.

The cause of shin splints is actually the force and the way your feet strike the ground.. if it's not correct, it will strain the tendons, which will tense up and pull on the the bones of your feet causing pain. Running shoes are extremely important, make sure you have the right type and fit. And have someone evaluate your running posture.. make sure you don't over pronate, or land of the balls of your feet. And running on hard surfaces like concrete is not the best thing to do either.. try gravel or a rubber track.

Stretching is also key, flexible and warmed up muscles and tendons won't cramp, or tense up. It will also relieve pressure from your bones and won't cause that pain. Flexibility is always integral to maintaining a healthy, injury-free body.

A lot of Marines get shin splints here.. we see these patients all the time. Especially since they mindlessly run in "boots and utes" which causes a lot of damage to their legs and back. Just don't over-exert yourself.

BUT Anyway.. I'm still stoked out of my mind for this Summer.. a nice little change of pace. And to Navy1314.. yeah, you're kind of "parting ways with the real world," I guess.. don't really know what you mean by the "real world." Sure, the Academy experience might be a bit sheltered and in ways surreal, but the Military IS as real as the world gets. The world where people fight for other peoples' freedoms, the world where people defend what is right.. the world where people serve with honor, courage and commitment. That's me, and that's all of you. And I really respect that all of you guys and girls have decided to go down this road. It's a great thing.

We're all shipmates! Hahaha.. see you all in a few weeks.

navy1314

i have no problem parting with everyone, but in my mind i view my journey to the academy as life changing so in a way the world i once knew will be gone. But im ready to make that step. cant wait to hopefully run into some of you guys or gals in the next few weeks

navy2010

Some thoughts as you start counting down the "Days" (hours and minutes) to I'Day!

Three key things:

1. Relax. Enjoy for time at home. Have some fun with classmates before they all scatter. NO drinking, NO trouble, NO injuries.

2. Sleep. The biggest complaint is lack of sleep. Start changing that circadian rhythm now. Up early- 0530. Lights out: 2300. NO naps during the day. Constant MOVEMENT- no TV, no X-box, no lounging. Start adjusting now.

3. Attitude. Don't let an academy appointment go to your head. Bad enough it gets to your parents head, but don't let it get to yours. You are flying high now, but in the weeks ahead you will feel like there is not a thing in the world you can do "right." All I can tell you is that it will pass. The biggest obstacle to the process is "you" - the attitude you bring to the table. No doubt you do not "think" this applies to YOU- ahh, but it does. YOU are accustomed to doing things for YOU. YOUR way. On YOUR schedule. When YOU want it. Things that reap YOU the rewards you seek.

In the weeks ahead, you will learn that it is no longer about YOU. It is about SHIP, SHIPMATE, and then- and only then- about SELF. It doesn't matter how fast YOU run- it matters how fast your TEAM runs. It doesn't matter that YOU make your rack perfectly, the room will fail if your SHIPMATES are not squared away. Oh- and here is the kicker- it will be YOU taking the heat because you let your SHIPMATES fail. It doesn't matter that YOU know your plebe rates, can rattle off your chow calls, report to formation on time (aka "Early")- all that matters is that the person standing next to you is doing the same, and that you have their back and they have yours. There is truth behind "the chain is only as strong as its weakest link"- so it is not about YOU- you are but ONE LINK- one of MANY- it is ALL about SHIP, then SHIPMATE, and then self. And there is a reason why the last is in lower case.

Why bring this up? Let’s just say it is hard to learn the lesson when your well-intentioned, and very proud parents, are intent on YOU being the best. How is "my plebe" doing, look at "my (son, daughter)", "look honey, Johnny is out front!" What mom and dad have not yet trained their eyes to see are the ones in your team falling behind- and you not there to help them along! They do not yet realize that the one up front setting the pace has to make sure that those that are following can keep up with it- and if they can't, that someone is helping them do it. SOME of your parents will get it- some never do. What matters is that YOU get it. Those of you coming from a military family have a huge leg up- priceless. For those of you who have parents that lag behind, learn to practice tolerance. Again, it doesn't matter if they ever get it, as long as you do. So attitude- park egos at the door, and do what you can to shift the focus from you to ship and shipmate.

Now the truth about plebe summer.
In many aspects, more "hype" than reality. Back in the day- a different story. But plebe summer has undergone a dramatic change in how the 4th class system is administered and applied. You will not be the "last class to have a real plebe summer." The last class has already happened, and there is no way to bring that back. Nevertheless, it will be a challenge, but not one you can't meet.

First 3 weeks- the hardest. Next 3- life gets better. Then PPW, then 2 weeks that seem unremarkable. Baseball game and so-long to whiteworks. Then reform, and a rough week or so to adjust to real life inside Mother B, and then classes start and everyone hunkers down to the rhythm of academics. Town liberty. Throw in football games, a few 3-day weekends, and before you know, you will be packing your bags to go home for some Turkey. Blink your eyes and you are climbing Herndon, and enjoying your luau, or dipping that ring, or shaking someone's hand to get that commission. Days drag, but years fly. Point? Embrace your time on the yard, for it will go far too quick. Almost every alumnus I speak to wish they could do it over again- well, not all of it, and not "all" of them, but more than not. Let’s just say they appreciate it more now than while they were there. So embrace it. It's "OK" to "lock on."

One final note, I promise.
TRIM your hair. Girls- get it cut now and styled the way you want it. Guys- get it cut short (NO BUZZ)- but well trimmed. Let some sun get on your neck and forehead so that it's not stark white when all the rest of it comes off and you look really silly. On second thought, no one is going to care how you look other than your parents and significant other so don't waste too much time worrying about it.

Significant other-
hmmmm.....
will save that discussion for another time.
Lets just say if you can fly solo, do it. Your life will be a whole lot less complicated.


As of right now: 11:40am EST, here is your countdown:
I-Day: 17 days-18 hrs-50 minutes

http://www.usna.org/events.html

Enjoy every one of them!