actually you need to be in 9kmh to pass the test. With boots, backpack w\ weapon (11kg minimum) and water (camelbak 3l, aka. 3kg) you got yourself a nice pack. I did speedwalk when I was going up hills, running on some flats and some downhills. I barely made it. So, I'd guess you have to run. And besides, if you make it in 3 hours 30 min you get a silver button instead, ranks higher than the 4hours 30 mins which is bronze.
My partner got a bad cramp when we had fucking 2km left, fucking sucked to have to leave him behind (it's an individual test, but me and that dude always does stuff together)...
HP, it's compulsory. And I kinda like it. But I do not like speedruns, since my feet suck balls.
But it's cool to test yourself, to see if you can actually do it (about 30 out of 90 made it I think, if it wasn't a lower number. That said, my battalion isn't the best trained one..