Except for the PFT, all the running at OCS is on gravel or grass. If you want to get motivated, run in boots and do hills. Just don't overwork yourself right before you go.
...how is it possible that so many people get injured? i can understand things like accidents but i was under the impression that it was just to much wear on their legs.
Make sure you get the right type of running shoes that will make a world of difference. I recommend going to a running specialty store and have them look at your feet, sometimes they will watch you run to determine your foot type.
Eh, you can quite honestly go to OCS with a pair of canvas top Converses and make it through just fine. The running store will be good in picking out a pair of shoes that will hurt you less than the rest if you're lucky. People's feet and knees don't turn to dust at OCS and TBS because they're running in the wrong tennis shoes. Blame the overstress injuries on the lowest common denominator/lowest bidder boots and everything that Treetop flyer mentioned. If I could have gone on the hikes barefoot, I would have. That's how I feel about the latest generation of Marine Corps combat boots (I never got foot and leg injuries in 5 years of wearing the black boots before these).
You must be blessed with nice feet, I have high arches and have to wear orthotics all the time. Anytime I switch out of brooks shoes I start to have foot pain. How many miles a week are run at OCS?
I wouldn't say the actual mileage is all that high, but it's all "Quality" mileage. It's mostly hills and trails combined with not wanting to look like the weak one in a group of type A people that are being screened and evaluated. Very little huffy-puffy pavement pounding, and no track type events (unless fireman's carry is a track event). You'll see most of the injuries come from the events with boots on. Funny you should mention my feet because I was born with crippled feet and had five surgeries to correct them. I refuse to get started in on how the running shoe(and moreso, cheap boots) serves to FUBAR an elegantly designed suspension system that nature gifted to us as the human foot.
I wouldn't say the actual mileage is all that high, but it's all "Quality" mileage. It's mostly hills and trails combined with not wanting to look like the weak one in a group of type A people that are being screened and evaluated. Very little huffy-puffy pavement pounding, and no track type events (unless fireman's carry is a track event). You'll see most of the injuries come from the events with boots on. Funny you should mention my feet because I was born with crippled feet and had five surgeries to correct them. I refuse to get started in on how the running shoe(and moreso, cheap boots) serves to FUBAR an elegantly designed suspension system that nature gifted to us as the human foot.