Fortitude: Slight Endurance Emphasis
$59.00
- 7-Week Plan
- Combines Gym-based Barbell with Military Endurance (running/rucking)
- Includes Core Strength and Durability
- This training plan is one of the 200+ Plans included with an Athlete’s Subscription.
Description
Fortitude is a 7-week, gym-based training plan which concurrently trains strength, military endurance (running, ruck running) and Chassis Integrity.
Fortitude is specifically designed for military and other tactical athletes who have good work capacity, but need to increase their strength and endurance.
This training program combines heavy, barbell-based strength training with moderately-paced running and ruck running, and Chassis Integrity circuits. Chassis Integrity is MTI’s functional core/mid-section training methodology.
Fortitude’s strength programming is built around three classic MTI barbell exercises: (1) Craig Special (hang squat clean + front squat); (2) Bench Press; and (3) Back Squat and our Big 24 progression methodology.
Also trained for strength are weighted pull ups (10# for women, 25# for men), walking lunges and MTI’s Kneeling Curl to Press exercise.
Fortitude’s endurance programming will have you running unloaded 2x/week, and ruck running @ 45# + 10# sledge, dumbbell or rubber rifle, 1x/week. The plan’s unloaded running pushes to 9 miles. The ruck runs push to 7 miles. All endurance in the plan is at a moderate pace.
This is Version 3 of the plan, updated September 2024.
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Monday: Strength, Endurance (unloaded run to 5 miles)
Tuesday: Strength, Chassis Integrity
Wednesday: Ruck Run (pushes to 7 miles)
Thursday: Strength, Chassis Integrity
Friday: Endurance (unloaded run to 9 miles)
REQUIRED EQUIPMENT
- Fully Equipped Functional Fitness Gym including barbells, racks, bumper plates, sandbags (40# for women, 60# for men), Dumbbells and/or kettlebells, plyo boxes, etc.
- Ruck and 45# of filler/load
- Backpack for weighted pull ups. We find it’s easier/faster to put on a backpack then wear a dip belt.
- 10# dumbbell, rubber rifle or sledge hammer
- Stop watch
- Foam Roller
COMMON QUESTIONS
Who is this plan appropriate for?
Fortitude is not appropriate for severely de-conditioned athletes. It is appropriate fit athletes who want to concurrently build strength and endurance.
How long do the training sessions last?
– Monday’s sessions may push to 90 minutes, and can be broken into a 2-a-day if needed.
– Tuesday’s and Thursday’s sessions are designed to be completed in 60 minutes.
– Wednesday’s Ruck Run may push to 90 minutes depending upon your pace
– Friday’s endurance run may push to 90 minutes depending upon your pace.
What does “4/8x” mean? How about “15/25#”?
First number is for women, second is for men, both for reps, and loading. Examples:
4/8x Chin Ups = Women do 4x, Men do 8x
15/25# = Women us 15#, Men us 25#.
What if I don’t have Dumbbells or I don’t have kettlebells?
All the dumbbell/kettlebell exercises in the training plan are interchangeable. For example, if the training session calls for a “5x Slasher @ 16/20kg” and you don’t have kettlebells, women use a 35# dumbbell and men use a 45# dumbbell. You’ll need to make the pound to kg conversion. Use google.
My gym doesn’t have sandbags. What should I do?
Make one and take it to the gym when you train … a sandbag (40# for women, 60# for men) is required for this program. Get your MTI Sandbag HERE, other vendors sell them too, and you can make your own. Be resourceful.
What if I miss a day?
Begin where you left off when you return to training. This program is progressed – each session builds upon the prior session – so don’t skip a session or skip around. Follow the training sessions in order, regardless.
Where do I find unfamiliar exercises?
See our Exercise Library HERE. The Run/Ruck Calculator is listed as an exercise.
What about nutrition?
See our Nutritional Guidelines HERE.
Can I see sample training?
Yes. Click the “Sample Training” tab to see the entire first week of programming.
How do I access the plan?
Access is online, via username and password. You can log in either through our website or through our app (Mtn Tactical Fitness) available for IOS and Android.
Can I print out sessions to take to the gym?
Yes – you can print a week of programming at a time.
More Questions? Email: coach@mtntactical.com
DISCLAIMER
Before beginning any exercise program, consult with your physician to ensure that you are in proper health. Physical training contains inherent risks including, but not limited to, muscle strains, tears, physical and bodily injury up to and including death. This training program is not meant to provide medical advice; you should obtain medical advice from your private health care practitioner. If you are unable to assume these risks then you should not engage in this training program. No liability is assumed by Mountain Tactical Institute, Inc, its owners or employees, and you train at your own risk. Mountain Tactical Institute makes no warranty, express or implied, of any kind in connection with this training program.
Required Equipment
- Stopwatch
- Fully-equipped functional fitness gym with barbells, racks, bench for bench press, pull up bar, kettlebells and/or dumbbells, plyo boxes, etc.
- 45# Ruck for men, 35# Ruck for women plus a 10# dumbbell, rubber rifle or sledge hammer. We prefer old ALICE packs for rucking.
- Recommended - GPS Enabled Sport Watch such as the Garmin Forerunner 10. A GPS watch will allow you to add variety to your running and rucking routes.
Sample Training
Below is Week 1 from this Training Plan:
*********
SESSION 1
Obj: Strength/Endurance
Warm up:
3 Rounds
5x Craig Special @ 45/65#
10x Push Ups
10x Sit Ups
Instep Stretch
Training:
(1) 8 Rounds
2x Craig Special- increase load each round until 2x is hard, but doable
Hip Flexor Stretch
RECORD YOUR FINISHING CRAIG SPECIAL LOAD
(2) Run 3 Miles, Moderate Pace
Moderate = comfortable, but not easy.
*********
SESSION 2
Obj: Strength Assessment/Chassis Integrity
Warm-up:
3 Rounds
8x Bench Press @ 45/95#
4x Walking Lunge
1x Pull up
Instep Stretch
Training:
(1) Max Rep Weighted Pull Ups # 10/25#
RECORD YOUR MAX REPS
(2) 8 Rounds
3x Bench Press - increase load each round until 3x is hard, but doable
3x Walking Lunge - increase load each round until 3x is hard, but doable
30% Max Pull Weighted Pull Up reps from Part (1) @ 10/25#
Lat + Pec Stretch
RECORD YOUR FINISHING BENCH PRESS AND WALKING LUNGE LOADS
- 15 Minute Grind
6x Sandbag Getup @ 40/60# (alternate shoulders each round)
3x Keg Lift with Sandbag @ 40/60#
Sandbag Pick Up and Carry @ 40/60#
(4) Foam Roll Legs and Low Back
*********
SESSION 3
Obj: Loaded Endurance
Training:
(1) Ruck Run 4 Miles @ 35/45# Ruck + 10# dumbbell, sledge hammer or rubber rifle at a moderate pace.
Moderate = comfortable, but not easy.
*********
SESSION 4
Obj: Strength Assessment/ Chassis Integrity
Warm-up:
3 Rounds
8x Back Squat @ 45/95#
8x Dumbbell Push Press @ 15/25#
1x Pull up
Instep Stretch
Training:
(1) 8 Rounds
3x Back Squat - increase load each round until 3x is hard, but doable
3x Kneeling Curl to Press - increase load each round until 3x is hard, but doable
30% Max Pull Weighted Pull Up reps from SESSION 2 @ 10/25#
Lat + Pec Stretch
RECORD YOUR FINISHING BACK SQUAT AND KNEELING CURL TO PRESS LOADS
- 15 Minute Grind
5x Kneeling Plate Half Moon @ 25/35#
5x Slasher @ 16/20kg
15/15 Standing Founder
(4) Foam Roll Legs and Low Back
*********
SESSION 5
Obj: Endurance
Training:
(1) Run 6 miles at a moderate pace.
Moderate = comfortable, but not easy.
Testimonials
Our Stuff Works. Guaranteed.
You may also like…
- 15 Weeks, 6 days per week
- 5-week training blocks for short, moderate, and long distance rucks
- Use as stand alone program, or concurrently with the daily training sessions (subscription), or a strength plan
- This training plan is one of the 190+ Plans included with an Athlete’s Subscription.
- 7 weeks, 5 day/week training plan
- Deploys strength and endurance assessments and follow-on progressions.
- Designed for Military Athletes looking to make gains across the board – strength, work capacity, Chassis Integrity, and speed-over-ground endurance.
- This training plan is one of the 250+ Plans included with an Athlete’s Subscription.
Rucking Improvement Training Plan
Valor: Slight Work Capacity Focus
Athlete's Subscription Package
Need all access programming? The Athlete Subscription gives you 450+ Plans and 4 Daily Programming Streams.