Physical Fitness

[OVERKILL]

 There's been a lot of discussion about weapons, gear and skills (and rightly so), but what about physical fitness? How do you know if your fit? Is being able to walk 5 miles enough? 10 miles? How many push-ups and sit-ups should I be able to do? Should it matter whether I can do pull-ups or not? I think it's pretty well agreed that cardio is probably the most important aspect to focus on (or maybe not, tell me your opinion), but strength is important too, but how important?

[Robin Holmes]

If you can walk for a few miles and still keep going, consider yourself fit. Strength is only important if you plan on carrying a heavy weapon with you. Like an axe, hammer, or a heavyish rifle.

[CyberNinjaWalrus]

Well I guess I could consider myself fit then! If needed I could walk(or run) for a pretty good chunk of time. My stamina has improved greatly since I started high school. Gotta carry all my books in my backpack and have 3-4 minutes to get to every class. (Did I mention every class alternates between the first and second floor?)

[OVERKILL]

If you can walk for a few miles and still keep going, consider yourself fit. Strength is only important if you plan on carrying a heavy weapon with you. Like an axe, hammer, or a heavyish rifle.

How far is "a few" ?
You will need endurance to carry axes, hammers and rifles; not strength.

[Robin Holmes]

I wasn't thinking long term. I was thinking short term. It takes a lot of strength to swing those things. I consider a few miles to be roughly fiveish.

[OVERKILL]

I wasn't thinking long term. I was thinking short term. It takes a lot of strength to swing those things. I consider a few miles to be roughly fiveish.

 I was too, that's why I said you need ENDURANCE, not strength, for the long run. Fiveish doesn't sound like a lot, unless you mean while carrying a 60lb+ load.

[TheAngelKing47]

You're not fit enough. It's something you have to work on and continuously maintain several days a week. Fitness is the core of a good fighter, regardless of martial arts, weapons, or even tactics if you're not fit you are building on a foundation of sand.

[OVERKILL]

 How fit is fit enough, that's what I want to know.

[24/7420]

Rule #1 Cardio. 

In the book "The Zombie Combat Manual by Roger Ma" they discuss a baseline of fitness as being able to complete the following without feeling substantially spent

Cover 5 miles in 60 mins
30 standard push-ups or 50 easy ones
5 unassisted pull ups or 10 assisted ones
50 jumping jacks

hope that helps

24/7
 

[OVERKILL]

 Anything as a goal to strive for is better than nothing I suppose.
 One thing, not a complaint at you but at the guy who wrote the book, what is "substantially spent"? That may be a different feeling for me than for you or the author.

[Slinger]

Cover 5 miles in 60 mins
30 standard push-ups or 50 easy ones
5 unassisted pull ups or 10 assisted ones
50 jumping jacks

I think that's pretty solid, but you've got to take in consideration the terrain you'll be moving thru, as well as equipment weight, etc.

Maybe try to do those things, as a test, while hauling said gear, or its weight equivalent. 

I consider myself pretty fit, I work in residential construction, and farm besides, plus I'm an avid outdoorsman, camping etc.

You also have to consider age.  You older guys will agree with me here.  I'm about 30, and I'm alot stiffer and more stove up in the morning than I was ten years ago.