La Sierra High School Physical Education

I had heard the stories about the La Sierra program and knew that it was rigorous, championed by JFK as part of the President's Council of Physical Fitness, and that graduates maintained lifelong fitness.

A recent article on "Art of Manliness" provided a deeper insight with a link to the Concepts & Philosophy handbook and the incredible physical standards.

As a background, all Freshman start with white trunks and once meeting the standards, move on to red, blue and for the elite few gold trunks.  It is important to train in peer groups at similar fitness levels and also be competitive.  I believe CrossFit encourages this as well with the white board.

I would not pass the white minimum standards:

• pull-ups - 2
• push-ups - 16
• bar dips - 4
• sit-ups (2 min) - 30
• standing broad jump - 6'
• shuttle run (200 yards) - 38 seconds - (50 yards down and back twice)
• rope climb (18' Stand Start) - Hands/Feet
• 880 yard run - 3:30
• Mile Run - 7:30
• Man Lift and Carry - 440 yards - hoist man on shoulders, can switch to piggyback
• Pegboard (vertical) - 2 holes
• Swim 50 yard (freestyle) - 40 seconds

Currently I would fail the half mile, mile, man lift and carry, pegboard, swim and probably the shuttle run as well.

The maximum blue standards are awe inspiring:

• bar dips (parallel bar) - 52
• pull-ups (horizontal bar) - 34
• handstand push-ups - 50
• alt 1 arm burpee (30 seconds) - 26 (no push)
• 300 yard shuttle run - 47.5 seconds
• rope climb - 20' hands only, sitting - 2 trips
• agility run III - 17 seconds - (?down and back 30 feet, through evenly spaced cones, down and back 30 feet)
• Extension Press-up - 8 inches - 100 - brutally difficult, starting with modified press-up
• Vertical Pegboard - 5 trips - 
• Handstand - 45 seconds
• Man Lift and Carry - 5 miles
• Mile Run - 5:15
• Five Mile Jog - finish
• Obstacle Course - complete
• Swim - Front Prone Position - 1 mile
• Swim - Underwater - 50 yards
• Swim - Any combination of strokes - 2 miles
• Execute front hanging float w/arms and ankles tied - deep water - 6 minutes
• Stay afloat in deep water in vertical position - use of arms or legs permitted within 8 foot circle - 2 hours

I might be able to swim a mile and jog 5 miles.  Some of the items are remind me of Navy Seal drownproofing.  I need to look up some of the movements just to give them a try.