1.5-Mile Run
The 1.5-mile run is the final event of the Physical Screening Test (PST) and measures a candidate's running speed and cardiovascular endurance. Performed after the swim and calisthenics events, it tests the ability to produce a fast run effort on fatigued legs — a skill directly relevant to BUD/S demands.
Event Rules and Standards
Candidates run 1.5 miles on a flat, measured course. The minimum qualifying time is 10 minutes 30 seconds, while competitive times are typically under 9 minutes. The run is the final PST event, performed after a 10-minute rest following pull-ups. Running fast on pre-fatigued legs requires both fitness and pacing discipline.
Run Pace and Interval Calibration
A candidate's 1.5-mile run time determines their interval running paces for the training program. The NSW guide provides pace charts that translate the PST run time into quarter-mile interval targets. Improving the PST run time directly improves the quality of every interval running session in the program, creating a compounding training effect.
Running in BUD/S Preparation
The 26-week program develops running fitness through LSD runs (building aerobic endurance over 3-6+ mile distances), CHI runs (sustained high-intensity efforts), and interval runs (speed work at calibrated paces). Running appears on alternating days with swimming, typically three times per week, with distances and intensities increasing as the program progresses.
Don't neglect the run because the swim feels harder. BUD/S involves miles of soft-sand running daily — your run fitness matters as much as your swim.
Related Terms
The Physical Screening Test (PST) is the standardized fitness assessment used by Naval Special Warfare to evaluate candidates for SEAL training. It measures performance across five events: 500-yard swim, push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, and a 1.5-mile run, each with minimum and competitive score thresholds.
Interval training is a cardio method that alternates between high-intensity work periods and active recovery periods. In the NSW preparation program, interval sessions target running and swimming speed by training the body to sustain faster paces through repeated timed efforts.
Long Slow Distance (LSD) training is a cardio methodology that emphasizes sustained, moderate-intensity effort over extended durations. In BUD/S preparation, LSD sessions build the aerobic base required for long swims, runs, and the prolonged physical output demanded throughout SEAL selection.
Continuous High Intensity (CHI) training is a cardio method that sustains a near-maximal effort for a set duration, typically 15-20 minutes. In the NSW preparation program, CHI sessions bridge the gap between LSD endurance work and short-burst interval training by developing the ability to maintain a fast pace without rest breaks.
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