Q: I have just over three months until ranger school, committed to the Ranger School v6 program. Planning to do the program twice to cover that span of time. What is your recommendation?
A: Congrats on the date, Rich … I wouldn’t recommend repeating the plan back to back …. it’ too intense and designed to have you peak directly before RAP week. Repeating the plan back to back might lead to over training and plateauing.
I’d recommend weeks 1-4 of the plan, the weeks 1-4 of Fortitude, then complete the full plan the 8 weeks directly before RAP week.
Fortitude will maintain and continue to build your overall infantry fitness, but not overtrain you.
You can “flex” the weeks of Fortitude depending upon how many exact weeks you have – cut or do additional weeks as needed.
Q: I was wondering, which of your training plans you would recommend for Lemmon equipment such as dumbbells kettle bells, and sandbags then also includes 5K running distances? Not really looking to increase my mileage beyond 5K at a time honestly just looking into it increase speed.
A: Apache – the first plan in our Great Plains series of limited equipment plans. Includes a 3-mile run assessment and follow-on speed over ground intervals.
Q: I am currently following the Backcountry Big Game Hunting program. Completed Base and am just completing Build 1. Will complete the program in time for a major back country hiking event I am doing in September. I was wondering what you would suggest program wise (post event) to maintain fitness at or near the same level.
A: Our Mountain Pursuit Daily stream is designed as off-season and day to day fitness for committed backcountry hunters – and is what I’d recommend.
Q: Recently trained up for and completed a 50k ultra using Meathead Marathon. The “course” was a 200m indoor loop.
I really enjoyed the plan and used it specifically because it allowed me to continue some strength training. The mileage was challenging but doable, and the core training in particular felt helpful. When it came time to do the 50k, fatigue was actually never a factor, which I attribute to Meathead Marathon. Thanks!
A: Thanks for the note and glad the plan worked for you … but wow, running 200m circles for that long! …. the mental grind must have been something!
Q: I have a question, might be stupid, but could i use the SFOD Training plan for SFQC Selection, or should i use the SFQC plan and once completed and in better shape use the SFOD
A: I’m not sure I understand your question, but SFOD-D selection is very unique in it’s focus on rucking and the plan reflects this.
SFQC is not that focused on rucking – which is why the plan is different.
Think of the plans as tools. Always best to use the specific tool for the specific job.
So – use the specific plan for the specific event you’re training for.
Q: Hello, I was wondering if you had any advice on how to fix/stop calf strains. I get them when trying to push off quickly on one foot. Would love to be able to jump/run/hop and go to the dojo without issues.
Thanks for your time
A: If it’s just one foot it’s an injury to that foot .. . if it’s both feet it’s probably a strength issue, but could be a flexibility, mobility issue.
Try strength first – do one-leg calf raised on a plate or step. Start with 3 rounds of 10 reps each foot every other day … and really push the range of movement – down and up.
If you’re sore the next day, stay with 10x reps. If not, increase to 15 reps, etc.
Q: I’m looking at using the MTI Ironman training plan in preparation for my first Ironman in mid-October. I will have about 20 weeks in total to train for the event. During mid-July to mid-August I will also have a 3-4 week stretch where I will only have access to running/some sandbag training.
I’m fit enough now to run about a half marathon, bike 50-60 miles and swim around 3,000 meters separately.
I have a lot of experience with zone 2 training so that’s what I’ve been focusing on to bring my endurance capacity up, but I would love to start using a plan and really focusing in on what I need to do to be ready. Any advice on where to start the MTI plan, as well as how to adapt it when I won’t have access to a pool/bike/gym would be greatly appreciated.
A: don’t have an easy answer for you – an Ironman is a no-joke event, and I believe to go long you have to train long.
Our Ironman plan is 23 weeks long – including the 2-week taper.
Given your current level of fitness, start the plan at week 7, which is an assessment week, and proceed forward from there.
July-August? This is tough, and I don’t have a good answer for you. You’ll lose significant bike and swim fitness during this time and only have 5-6 weeks until your event. Sandbag work won’t replace either … and I’d recommend using time to convert the prescribed swimming and biking to time and run, instead. So … if you have a 90 mile bike ride prescribed and calculate that would take you 4 hours, run for 4 hours instead.
When you come back, re-start the plan at Week 11 – another assessment week – and see how much the bike and swim crush you. If you survive …. continue forward from there and complete as much of the plan as possible before your event … but skip forward to complete at least one of the taper weeks before your event.
Questions for MTI? Email coach@mtntactical.com
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