Fitness test- feel like this is impossible.

[AngeloMysterioso]

I’ve applied for a role as a whole time firefighter, got through the first two rounds of assessment and was sent a day for my bleep test. From the day of the email to the day I have to do it was 3 weeks- now it’s a week and a half. I’ve had practice runs but can’t seem to get past level 6 and I need to get to 8.8. I’m 39, I have three children and I work until 2 a.m. four nights a week, so my spare time not spent working or looking after my children is spent sleeping, and even then I’m not getting anywhere near enough sleep and I’m permanently exhausted. I simply don't have the time for loads of training, going to the gym etc. I don’t know how on earth I’m ever going to manage to reach that level, when doing any training means depriving myself of sleep which I need so badly. Do I just give up and accept that it won’t happen? I’m so unhappy with my life as it is now and was really keen on this, but I just don’t see how I’m going to get there.

Why don't you get your "fantastic childminder" to do some shifts now so you can train????? Or ask your in-laws if they live nearby?????

https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/training/a40046207/dynamic-stretching/

All the naysayers popping along to tell OP she's too old, unfit and female to be a fire fighter. FFS.

Anyway OP it's clear you're a fit lady but a PP is correct - most of the issues with the bleep test are about technique, not fitness. If you can run nonstop ag a decent pace for 9.5mins you don't need to go to the gym. You need to practice the bleep test specifically.

Per my previous posts, I was running it twice a day in practice, along with other fitness work. I highly recommend you try something like that - it's the timing and the turning. Don't step off the line to early or you'll fail. Technique is half the battle!

I feel slightly sick and weak kneed at the sound of the damn beep even all these years later 😂

The Initial training is really fitness based as well, I know three firefighters. They were in great shape before and still had to work hard to be ready. To be blunt if you’re not ready for the fitness test you’re surely not ready for training! So it would only be an issue shortly after

She does need to practise the technique and ideally run with someone to pace her during the actual run

Have you tried downloading the fitness test app and practicing with that instead of going for runs? Bleep test is so different from actual running and you can literally measure the distance out in your garden and do it whilst your child naps or when you’ve finished work?

That’s what I’ve done. I got to level 6, and I need to get to 8.8. If the task was just running 1.34 km in 7:52 I’d be fine!

I don't want to give you false hope, but I had to do the bleep test when I applied for the Met a few years ago and despite training I couldn't do it in any of my practice sessions. I was the same as you - I wasn't unfit, just couldn't do the increasing speed. On the day I was sure I'd fail but luckily the test was with others and I just tried to keep up with them and to my massive surprise, actually passed. I never did join the Met though.. Very good luck, just do everything you can do to prepare and give it everything on the day!

I think doing it with others and the pressure does help, a fair few moons ago now I had a fitness test and hadn't prepped enough, on the day though got a really good time because of the adrenalin!

I live in a tiny town and the only road I feel comfortable running on is one stretch in town. So that's what I do in winter. I do the same run up and down it.

The benefit is that you really get to know your own fitness just doing the same stretch.

I personally would keep going and I would do the assessment - if you fail then you have had the practise.

The bleep test for the Met is 15 metre shuttles to level 5.4, for firefighters it’s 20 metres to level 8.8 which is quite a bit harder

I'm sure I'm A LOT less fit than the OP though. You go for it OP, Good luck!