Things I Wish I Knew About Preparing for the British Military as a Woman | By @izyr_fitness

June 15, 2026

What do I wish I knew before starting my journey to join British Military?

You don't need to go all in from day one...

I thought I needed to run faster, lift heavier and push harder than everyone else straight away. Looking back, starting slow would've saved me a lot of frustration. Building fitness takes time, and going too heavy too early can have you burnt out before you've even really started.

I wish I knew that consistency beats ego every time. Small steps, showing up regularly, and building habits matter more than trying to prove yourself in every session. I also wish someone had told me to get comfortable being uncomfortable. Early mornings, sore legs, tired session, and pushing through mental barriers are all part of the process.

Growth rarely happens when you're comfortable.

As a female in the British Military I wish I nailed the BASICS FIRST. Get a solid 2km run time and build your running properly instead of just doing random hard sessions. Three runs a week is enough to create a strong base:

ONE LONG ZONE 2 RUN
ONE INTERVAL SESSION
ONE THRESHOLD SESSION

You don't need to do more - you need to do it consistently.

And don't neglect strength. I think a lot of females naturally focus on cardio and forget upper-body work, but strength matters. Practice your press ups and work towards pull ups if you can't do them yet. You don't need to be the strongest in the room, but when training starts and you've got weight on your back, you'll be grateful you built that foundation early.

More than anything, I wish I knew that this journey isn't about being perfect. It's about preparing your body and mind, getting a little stronger every week, and trusting the process.