Q&A 1.10.24 - Mountain Tactical Institute

QUESTION

I am just reaching out for some programming suggestions as to what to complete next. I’ve done a few of your programs (Relative Strength, Rat 6, Operation Ugly to name a few) and I’m feeling a bit “stuck.”

I’ve seen great progress in all areas of fitness and feel like I need an ego check if you will. I’d like a program that will honestly help me build some solid muscle but also have that “gut punch” component to mentally humble me like I first experienced when starting CrossFit/military athlete training.

Thanks for all that you do.

ANSWER

A personal favorite of mine is 357 Strength. Challenging strength work, and short ass-kicker work capacity efforts following. I think this might be just what you’re looking for.

QUESTION

Thanks for putting it together for multi-sport folks like me.

Could you please explain how the Daily Sessions are provided to athletes? I cannot find info in the email, website or app that tells me if they are like other plans I’ve purchased- a big table of Sessions by week and day- or a ‘daily feed’ like I hear about from friends who follow CrossFit programming, where the athletes never see the ‘full’ program?

Thanks for any detail you can provide before I commit to the (very reasonable) $15/mo. I’m trying to decide between this new offering or another plan(s) as I look ahead to two events in June: an uphill challenge (29,029 feet

self supported – no gondola or chairlift ride down the hill) $ and a 15K obstacle course race; and later in the year an as-yet-loosely-defined long-ass run.

ANSWER

The programming is uploaded a month at a time, so if you were to sign up today you would have access to a full month of programming. We generally leave that programming up and available for 3-4 months. So in April, you would have access to the Jan, Feb, March, and April programming cycles.

QUESTION

I’m 24 and currently in the process to go to an SFRE in March. I’m trading hard and have met pretty good times on runs and rucks but I would like to some guidance in what program I should start? I want to gain some mass and strength cause I’m a smaller frame guy I’m 5’6 and 158 lbs and I’ll deal with what I got and I know I can do whatever I put my mind too but I also understand mass carries mass and in Selections there’s a lot of stress under heavy weight. Any programs you would suggest where I would gain strength, increase ruck and run times and gain a little bit of size. I’ll have to eat and sleep but I have a super fast metabolism. I would love some feedback! Thank you.

ANSWER

Start Hector from our Greek Hero Packet, followed by the SFRE Training Plan leading up to your SFRE. Once that is complete with your selection, drop back into the Greek Hero Packet, beginning with Apollo.

QUESTION

Just picked up the Mountain Elite Daily Programming Stream and wanted to ask how I should think about using this in conjunction with work as a ski patroller, mountain guide, and general recreationalist. The biggest problem I’ve had with trying to follow your programming over the years is that I can’t get anywhere near finishing your programs in the prescribed timeframe while also working/playing/etc. Too many big days in the mountains (not complaining) results in too many days away from the training program. I assume that once this Alpinist block completes, we’ll roll directly into another session and another assessment? Should I just not worry about completing a full block of programming and trust that getting to wherever I get to will continue to yield the results I’m looking for? Appreciate any guidance you can provide on this front.

For reference, I work as a ski patroller and climbing and backpacking guide and my additional rec sports are mountain biking, kayaking, and trail running.

Thanks very much!

ANSWER

A fair question we get often. We fully understand that the fitness programming is secondary to the work and play in the mountains (as it should be). We leave the programming up for several months, so it won’t disappear Feb 1. Generally, I’m leaving it up for 4 months… so Jan will still be viewable in April.

To complete the programming with your mountain schedle, just work through it sequentially. If that means you do 3 sessions in week 1, that’s completely fine. Just pick up with session 4 the following week.

QUESTION

I am a current monthly subscriber to MTN Tactical and I was looking at doing the 52-week Ruck Based Selection Program and on the app it states that it is included in the monthly subscription for $35 but it says that I have buy in order to use it. Is it a glitch in the system or is it not included in the monthly plan?

ANSWER

It is included in the Athlete Subscription, but you’ll need to look up the individual plans that make up the packet. Here they are in order:

1-7 (1) Military On Ramp Training Plan – Establish base fitness for the follow-on plans
8 Total Rest
9-15   (2)  Humility – Bodyweight Strength, loaded work capacity, IBA runs and long, unloaded runs
16-22     (3) Big 24 – Barbell based, total strength
23-29   (4) Fortitude – Gym based strength, distance running and rucking
30-36   (5) Valor – Gym based work capacity, short, intense running and rucking intervals
37-43   (6) Resilience – Gym-based Strength, Chassis Integrity, Heavy Rucking and distance running
44 Total Rest
45-52   (7) Ruck-Based Selection Training Plan

QUESTION

I will be doing winter surfing and back country skiing in 6 weeks right before doing 550 miles on the camino de santiago. What programs of yours shouldn I start doing to put myself in a proper place to avoid injury?

ANSWER

Sounds like an awesome winter!
Knock out the Backpacking Preseason Training Plan in the 6 weeks after your surfing and skiing trip. The plan is 7 weeks long… Skip week 5 so you get the deload in before starting Camino de Santiago.

QUESTION

I’m currently in search of a new fitness plan. I’m a TACP (was active STS type and transitioned to guard) and a SWAT guy in my civilian job. I’m also currently slated to deploy in the very near future. I’ve looked through some of your guys plans and wanted to see if you guys had any recommendations. I was looking for a weekly type plan. Thanks

ANSWER

With the upcoming deployment, the best plan programming for you is going to be the Daily Operator Sessions.

QUESTION

I’m 38 years old, 5’11”, 186lbs probably 14-16 percent body fat. Relatively decent shape minus having bad knees..I’m looking to get into better athletic and full body shape. My comfort weight is around 192-195lbs. I’m looking to get more athletic and strength. I was once in the private security sector and enjoy the challenge of having standards and structure other than just standards weight lifting that I’m bored with. I do mainly workouts body building style, I have access to a full gym equipment with planet fitness and some other local free weight gyms in the area. 3-4 day split, mixing reps weekly. Id like to work my way into being in good enough shape I could easily compete with people going through the police or military training, or if someone asks me to run a warrior dash I can finish respectfully.

Any ideas on a starting point or program?

ANSWER

Our Full Gym, GPP Training is where to start.

Couple options:

1) Johnny – balanced, multii-modal training plan to include endurance, strength, work capacity and chassis integrity.

2) Busy Dad Full Gym 1 – Same programming overall from the macro level, but shorter, 45 min sessions (vs. 60 min)

Both of these are individual plan purchases. We also have daily programming streams you can subscribe to for each (GPP and Busy Dad) – however I recommend most start our stuff with an individual plan.

Click the “sample training” tab at each plan to see and test the first week of programming.

– Rob

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