ABILITY GROUP RUN
The AGR trains Soldiers in groups of near-equal ability. Each ability group runs at a prescribed pace intense enough to produce a training effect for that group and each Soldier in it. Leaders should program these runs for specific lengths of time, not miles to be run. This training method provides a challenge for each ability group while controlling injuries. The PRT leader conducts a 1-mile run assessment to assign Soldiers in ability groups. Based on each Soldier’s 1-mile run assessment time, the PRT leader assigns the Soldier to one of the groups shown in Table 10-3.
Table 10-3. Ability group assignment
| Toughening Phase AGR Assignments | Sustaining Phase AGR Assignments |
| A Group 7:15 and faster | A Group 6:30 and faster |
| B Group 7:16 to 8:15 | B Group 6:31 to 7:15 |
| C Group 8:16 to 10:15 | C Group 7:16 to 8:00 |
| D Group 10:16 and slower | D Group 8:01 and slower |
Some Soldiers may make the cut off times to qualify for an ability group but are unable to maintain the prescribed running pace listed in the PRT schedule. If this occurs, they may drop down to the slower group and progress later to the faster running group. Ability group runs must be conducted for the duration and intensity specified in the training schedules in Chapter 5, Planning Considerations. The frequency of AGRs is one or two times per week. Ability group runs, speed running, and foot marching (greater than 5 km) should not be conducted on the same or consecutive days. The running duration is determined by time, not distance. Soldiers should move to faster groups when they are ready because they progress at different rates. Those who have difficulty maintaining the specified pace within an ability group should be placed in a slower ability group. Supervision will prevent a constant shifting of Soldiers between groups due to lack of individual effort. See the training schedules in Chapter 5, Planning Considerations, for AGR times and pace. Routes used for sustained running in ability groups should be well lighted, free from hazards and traffic, and marked at ¼-mile intervals. Ability group leaders will ensure running is at the proper pace prescribed for their group by checking their split times at each ¼-mile marker along the route. Table 10-4 shows the appropriate ¼-mile split time based on the AGR pace.
Table 10-4. Quarter-mile split times based on AGR pace
| Pace/Mile | 1/4-Mile Split | Pace/Mile | 1/4-Mile Split | Pace/Mile | 1/4-Mile Split |
| 6:00 6:15 6:30 6:45 7:00 7:15 7:30 7:45 8:00 | 1:30 1:34 1:37 1:42 1:45 1:48 1:52 1:56 2:00 | 8:15 8:30 8:45 9:00 9:15 9:30 9:45 10:00 10:15 | 2:03 2:07 2:11 2:15 2:19 2:23 2:27 2:30 2:34 | 10:30 10:45 11:00 11:15 11:30 11:45 12:00 12:15 12:30 | 2:38 2:42 2:45 2:49 2:53 2:57 3:00 3:04 3:07 |
Refer to Table 10-2 for endurance and mobility activities, prescriptions of intensity, duration, and volume within the toughening and sustaining phases. In addition, Chapter 5, Planning Considerations, provides the template for commanders and PRT leaders to implement endurance and mobility activities into their PRT programs.