Run, run, RUN
Let’s be honest…
A lot of people hate running.
Maybe the military ruined it for you. Maybe high school track burned you out. Maybe you just associate running with punishment, shin splints, or someone yelling at you to go faster.
This blog isn’t here to teach you how to build a running program. There are plenty of experts who specialize in that.
This blog is simply here to say something most of us already know but don’t always want to hear:
If you are physically able… you probably should be running on some level.
Not because it’s trendy.
Because performance-based professions and high-level training environments consistently require it.
From elite military units to SWAT teams to law enforcement academies running standards exist for one simple reason:
You need to be able to move your body under stress.
Whether you’re chasing a suspect, hiking into a hunting spot, running stages at a match, or just trying to stay capable as you age… aerobic endurance matters.
A Real Example
In my small town, I’m friends with a police officer who wanted to transfer to his ideal department. He had the experience and the skills. The problem was the department required:
1.5 miles in 15 minutes
That’s about a 10-minute mile pace.
For someone who runs regularly, that’s very reasonable.
For someone who hasn’t had a running routine in 10+ years, that can take 6–12 months of consistent training to reach safely.
Unfortunately, he didn’t meet the standard in time and didn’t get the job.
That’s the reality of performance-based careers. Sometimes physical readiness is the gatekeeper.
“But I Shoot Competitions Without Running”
And that’s fair. Some competition shooters don’t run and still perform extremely well.
But professionals whose job is stopping violent threats especially specialized teams almost universally include endurance training.
They train alone.
They train in groups.
They train when it’s inconvenient.
Because when things go bad, endurance becomes survivability.
Running Standards Exist Everywhere
Across military and tactical communities, running remains one of the simplest and most reliable measures of operational fitness.
Army – 2-mile run
Navy – 1.5-mile run
Air Force – 2-mile run or alternate aerobic test
Marine Corps – 3-mile run
Coast Guard – 1.5-mile run
Standards vary by age and role, but the pattern stays consistent:
Running is still a baseline measure of readiness.
Specialized Units Raise the Bar
Many tactical team selections push endurance higher.
For example, SWAT and SRT style selections (including departments like Miami-Dade SRT) often expect candidates capable of roughly:
1.5 miles in about 12 minutes
That’s about an 8-minute mile pace, often combined with strength and obstacle work.
That’s not elite runner territory — but it absolutely requires training.
Elite Units Push It Even Further
Special operations and rescue units demand even higher endurance. Pararescue candidates, for example, must pass strict entry fitness testing, and many successful candidates train toward being capable of roughly:
6 miles in about 42 minutes
About a 7-minute mile pace
That isn’t always a formal stopwatch requirement, it’s simply the level of endurance typically needed to survive the pipeline.
This Isn’t About Becoming a Runner
You don’t have to run marathons.
You don’t need expensive gear.
You don’t need to obsess over mileage.
This is about capability.
Being able to move efficiently over distance improves:
- Shooting stage recovery
- Hunting and backcountry travel
- Tactical movement under gear
- Injury resistance
- Cardiovascular health
- Long-term durability
The Truth
If you completely avoid running, your aerobic capacity will eventually limit you somewhere.
Maybe on a call.
Maybe in training.
Maybe on a mountain.
Maybe just keeping up with life.
It shows up eventually.
The Good News
You don’t need to be fast.
You don’t need to be perfect.
ou just need to start thinking about it.
Even modest, consistent running can dramatically improve performance and keep career and lifestyle doors open.
Every elite performance organization in military, law enforcement, rescue, and tactical communities includes running standards for a reason.
It’s simple.
It’s measurable.
It’s honest about physical readiness.
You don’t have to love running.
You just have to respect what it builds.
