By Anonymous I have long disliked the term “peakbagging.” I feel like the implication that a person is capable of “bagging” a mountain’s summit is naïve bordering on irresponsible. If the mountain wanted to throw you off, it would throw you off. If it wanted you dead, it would kill you. It is for this […]
Rob Shaul
Mini Study: Biking Has Little Transfer to Uphill Movement Under Load
By Rob Shaul BLUF This 3.5-week Mini-Study investigated the transfer of biking/cycling/spinning to uphill movement under load. Anecdotally we have heard that biking/spinning improved uphill movement, and designed this mini-study to test this theory. Remote, volunteer athletes were divided into two groups, A and B. At the beginning of the cycle, both groups completed […]
Lab Rats Needed Starting August 17, 2020 to Test the Effect of Time-Based Training Volumes for Strength, Work Capacity and Endurance
By Rob Shaul MTI needs remote lab rats for an upcoming, multi-modal 5 day/week, 4-week, “Mini-Study.” The Mini-Study will test the effect of training volume across three training measurables: Strength, Sprint-Based Work Capacity, and Endurance (3-Mile run Performance). Specifically, we’re interested to see if we can reach the same fitness results by training 3/4 of […]
The Mountain Always Wins
By Rob Shaul In my 30s the mountains were my opponent. Every hike a race; every climb, a competition. I’d congratulate myself back at the trailhead on my ability to crush a peak, hammer a 20-mile loop and dominate a boulder field. Fitness, nutrition, gear and skill were my weapons and every outing I gave […]
Triathletes Needed to Lab Rat MTI’s Triathlon Programming
UPDATE – WE’VE RECEIVED ALL THE LAB RATS WE NEED FOR THIS TRIAL. By Rob Shaul We recently designed training plans for Sprint and Olympic-distance Triathlons and are recruiting remote lab rats to test our programming. MTI’s triathlon programming is significantly different than the norm for race programming in the triathlon world. We’re interested […]
My Definition of a “Great” Athlete
By Rob Shaul My definition has consistently been “excellent movement in space.” I believe this is a natural, God-given skill you can’t teach or coach. This definition has many biases. First – it’s not related to fitness. I’ve seen many people who naturally can move well in space, yet are not fit. Second – it’s […]
Lab Rats Needed to Test Biking’s Ability to Improve Loaded Uphill Movement Performance
*** UPDATE July 6, 2020**** We’ve received enough lab rats for this mini study and won’t be accepting any new applications. ******** By Rob Shaul MTI is calling for remote lab rats for an upcoming, narrow, focused, 3.5 weeks, 3-day/week Mini-Study testing the ability of cycling to increase uphill hiking performance. This will be a […]
Job Posting: Part Time, Contract, Strength & Conditioning Coach/Researcher
MTI works to improve mission performance for mountain and tactical athletes, and keep them safe. We’re looking to add a remote, part time Strength & Conditioning Coach/Researcher to our team. This will be an ideal position for an established, credentialed strength and conditioning coach interested in a new challenge, and/or a transitioning tactical athlete looking […]
MTI’s Approach to Triathlon Programming
By Rob Shaul I’ve been asked many times over the years to design triathlon-specific training plans and until now, I’ve always resisted. Why? First – triathlon programming is out of MTI’s lane in programming primarily for mountain and tactical athletes. Second – there is a plethora of triathlon training plans already available – whereas, […]
Arete 6.11.20
Military / National Security / Foreign Policy DC Guard members test positive for COVID-19 after protests, Air Force Times Four areas SOCOM’s chief information officer wants to modernize, Defense News Iran says it will execute informant who led CIA to Soleimani, Al Jazeera Beam them up: More than 8,500 airmen ask to go to Space Force, Air Force Times […]