In additional to creating climbing content on YouTube, professional rock climber Magnus Midtbø also takes on physical challenges, including the military physical fitness tests that are so popular among fitness vloggers. Inspired by a recent video from Brandon William, Midtbø’s latest challenge sees him attempting the physical fitness test that the FBI uses to screen potential agents.
The FBI’s PFT consists of pullups, pushups, situps, a 300-meter sprint, and a 1.5-mile run. Each round is worth up to a maximum of 10 points. Participants must achieve at least 12 points overall in order to pass the test, and must get at least 1 point on each round; if you fail in an event, that’s an automatic fail, you can’t make it up in the other exercises. “The unique thing about this test is that you’re only allowed to have 5 minutes between each exercise,” says Midtbø.
The test begins with 1 minute of pushups. 71 reps are required for a perfect score, with a minimum of 30 to pass. Additionally, the pushups must be consecutive; no pauses allowed. Midtbø completes 60 reps in 60 seconds, securing 7 points, and his first passing score of the test.
After a 5-minute rest period, it’s time for 1 minute of situps. Midtbø performs 52 situps, earning him 7 points, although he had been aiming for higher. “I thought if I just kept a steady pace, I would be able to do it,” he says.
Next up is a 300-meter run. A “perfect” score of 10 points here would require Midtbø completing the run in 40.9 seconds or less. He finishes the sprint in 43 seconds, which is still easily a passing score, and another 7 points. “I feel like the biggest difference is that when you haven’t run in a while, you just feel sick afterwards,” he says. “That was just 300 meters, and now I’ve got to run 2.4 km.”
The 1.5-mile run must be completed in 9 minutes or faster for a perfect score. “I’m going to pace myself, or try to at least,” he says before setting off, ultimately finishing in 9:18. This is still a good time, worth 9 points, but the exertion leads to Midtbø collapsing onto the side of the track, gasping for air. “I don’t understand how some people do this voluntarily, as a sport, do this every day,” he says.
The final event in the test is pullups; there is no time limit here, participants must crank out reps until failure. Midtbø completes 24 reps here, a perfect score of 10 points, bringing his total to 40 points and making him totally ready for Special Agent training.
“My body is just so tired right now, just from the first rep it was really hard,” he says. “Doing all these in a row, with only 5 minutes in between, was really tough… It’s definitely a good workout, though.”
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