Description
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
This 15-Week, 6 day/week training program is sport-specifically designed to prepare fit athletes to run a 100-Mile Stage Ultra Marathon over 4 days (approx 25 miles/day). This training plan is specifically designed to be completed the 15 weeks directly before your race.
This training program has 4 general objectives:
(1) Increase speed over ground
(2) Increase total body and functional core strength
(3) Increase running-specific strength endurance and running-specific connective tissue/joint strength and durability
(3) Increase running aerobic base and efficiency for longer distance runs
(4) Prepare you mental fitness, leg strength endurance and cardio fitness for a 100-mile stage event
This is Version 1 of this plan, built January, 2024.
Speed Over Ground Work
This training program deploys multiple – mile assessments and uses the athlete’s assessment time to dictate paces for follow-on, 2-mile threshold intervals to develop speed over ground. It’s intended that the assessments and follow-on intervals be completed on a flat course – a running track or similar.
Easy and Moderate Paced Runs
While the Speed Over Ground work in the sticks with the 6-mile assessment and 2-mile intervals, the plan’s easy and moderate pace, longer run volume, increases throughout the plan.
You’ll run easy, long distance three times/week and moderate-paced, long distance one time per week. Your moderate-pace run will occur on Saturday,
Total weekly running volume in the plan begins at 30 Miles total in Week 1 and increased to 82 Miles total in week 12.
Weeks, 13, 14 and 15 are “taper” weeks into your race after or at the end of week 15.
Below it the total volume per week in the plan:
Week Volume in Miles
1 30
2 36
3 42
4 48
5 30 (unload)
6 54
7 60
8 68
9 74
10 30 (unload)
11 76
12 82
13 54 (taper)
14 36 (taper)
15 28 (taper plus race week)
Strength Work
This training plan includes focused, running-specific leg, mid-section and upper body strength training deploying bodyweight and freeweights. You’ll train strength and chassis integrity (functional core), together, 1-day/week except for unload weeks.
Training for Elevation Gain/Loss
The strength training in the initial weeks of the plan includes eccenctric leg strength training for downhill running. However, the program does not include focused uphill endurance programming beyond your 4x weekly trail runs. Chose trail runs with moderate to significant elevation gain/losses for this volume mileage.
WEEKLY SCHEDULE for NON-ASSESSMENT WEEKS
- Mon: Total Rest
- Tue: 6-Mile Run Assessment or 2-mile Threshold Running Intervals
- Wed: Strength and Chassis Integrity
- Thu: Easy-Pace Long Run
- Frii: Easy-Pace Long Run
- Sat: Moderate Pace Long Run
- Sun: Easy Pace Long Run
COMMON QUESTIONS
What is the Required Equipment?
- – Stop Watch (smarphone will work)
- – Fully Equipped Weight Room with Barbells/Dumbbells, etc.
- – 40-pound sandbag for women, 60-pound sandbag for men
- – Foam Roller
How Long do the Sessions Last?
Gym-based sessions last 45-60 minutes. Running based sessions can extend to several hours. Longest days will be Saturday and Sunday.
How many miles do I need to be running per week to begin this plan.
30 miles
What if I’m already running 50 miles per week?
You can shorten the plan accordingly and begin on week 6, which is a 54-mile week.
What if I miss a day?
If you miss a strength or chassis integrity day, skip it and move on. If you miss a prescribed running day, make up the session you missed the next day and follow the programming as prescribed – skipping a strength or chassis integrity day to get back on schedule. The running in the programming is progressive – it builds upon itself. Don’t skip ahead.
Where do I find unfamiliar exercises?
See our Exercise Library HERE. The Run Calculator is listed as an exercise.
What does “4/8x Push Ups” mean? How about “45/65#?”
Women do 4x Push Ups, men do 8x Push Ups
Women use 45 pounds, men use 65 pounds
Can I see sample training?
Click the “Sample Training” tab to see the entire first week of programming. You are encouraged to do it before purchasing.
How do I access the plan? Pdf? Online?
Plan access is online, via username and password via a web browser or our phone app.
Do you have an App?
Yes.
Can I print out sessions to take to the gym?
Yes – you can print a week of programming at a time.
How do I record my assessment Results?
Notebook and pencil.
What about nutrition?
See our Nutritional Guidelines HERE.
More Questions?
Email coach@mtntactical.com
– Rob Shaul
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.
Sample Training
BELOW IS THE ENTIRE FIRST WEEK OF PROGRAMMING FROM THE PLAN:
***************
MONDAY
SESSION 1
Obj: Run Assessment
Warm up:
4 Rounds
Training:
(1) Run 6 Miles for Time
Flat Course - Track preferred.
RECORD FINISH TIME
(2) 2 Rounds
*************
TUESDAY
SESSION 2
Obj: Strength, Chassis Integrity
Warm up:
3 Rounds
Training:
(1) 5 Rounds - Grind
"Grind" = work steadily, not frantically through the exercises in this circuit for the prescribed number of rounds or time.
(2) 15-Minute Grind
(2) Foam Roll Legs, Low Back
Comments:
This session should take no more than 60 minutes to complete.
****************
WEDNESDAY
SESSION 3
Total Rest
***************
THURSDAY
SESSION 4
Obj: Easy-Pace Trail Run
Training:
(1) Trail Run 6 Miles, Easy Pace
"Easy" = you can speak in full sentences while moving.
(2) 2 Rounds
Comments:
Run a hilly course with a good amount of elevation gain/loss.
************
FRIDAY
SESSION 5
Obj: Easy-Pace Trail Run
Training:
(1) Trail Run 6 Miles, Easy Pace
"Easy" = you can speak in full sentences while moving.
(2) 2 Rounds
Comments:
Run a hilly course with a good amount of elevation gain/loss.
**************
SATURDAY
SESSION 6
Obj: Moderate-Pace Trail Run
Training:
(1) Trail Run 6 Miles, Moderate Pace
"Moderate" = Comfortable but not easy
(2) 2 Rounds
Comments:
Run a hilly course with a significant amount of elevation gain/loss.
*************
SUNDAY
SESSION 7
Obj: Easy-Pace Trail Run
Training:
(1) Trail Run 6 Miles, Easy Pace
"Easy" = you can speak in full sentences while moving.
(2) 2 Rounds
Comments:
Run a hilly course with a significant amount of elevation gain/loss.
1) Mission Direct
Gym numbers mean nothing. All that matters is mission performance.
To this end, MTI’s fitness solutions and programming are not boxed in by convention, tradition, orthodoxy, public opinion or any other artificial constraint driven by inside or outside forces.
We begin with the raw fitness demands of the mission and build a fitness solution which directly prepares the athlete for those demands.
2) Fitness Solutions Built from the Ground Up
MTI’s programming is not “re-tread” bodybuilding, football, CrossFit, kettlebell, strength or general fitness programming. We’ve built our fitness programming for mountain and tactical athletes from the ground up.
The Fluid Periodization methodology we deploy to concurrently train multiple fitness attributes is completely original and has continued to evolve and improve over the years.
Our mid-section training methodology, Chassis Integrity, is also original, as is our endurance programming, 7 strength training progressions, tactical agility, and work capacity programming.
Our mountain sports pre-season training plans, tactical PFT, selection, school, course, and fitness improvement training plans across military, LE and Fire Rescue are MTI-developed, tested and athlete-proven.
Over the years hundreds of athletes and coaches have taken our advanced programming and unit fitness leader programming courses and MTI is widely recognized within the mountain and tactical professions and fitness media as a thought leader in fitness programming for military and tactical athletes.
3) The MTI Method
→ Research: MTI begins program design with extensive research of the fitness demands of the mission, sport or event, identifies the exercises and progressions which sport-specifically meet those demands, chose end-of-cycle goals, and program backward to design the training plan.
→ Deploy & Assess: We deploy the training plan “Lab Rats” at our Wyoming facility. Training session and cycle issues are identified and fixed as we work through the training plan. Post cycle we assess the programming’s effectiveness and efficiency. We keep the stuff that works, and fix or toss the stuff that doesn’t.
→ Publish & Assess Again: Plan is published for purchase as an individual training plan and made available to our subscribers. Feedback/results are assessed.
→ Iterate: We take what we learn from lab rats and athletes, re-visit, update and improve already published training plans. Several of our individual training plans are on their 4th or 5th version.
4) Mission-Direct Research
MTI exists to “Improve Mountain and Tactical Athletes mission performance and keep them safe.” To that end, we have developed a unique research methodology aimed at identifying real world areas of improvement and identifying immediately deployable mission-direct solutions. Click HERE to learn more about MTI’s Mission-Direct Research methodology, and Here to read about just few of our research efforts.
5) Field Proven
Our stuff works. Weekly we receive unsolicited reviews of our programming and testimonials to its effectiveness.
6) Programming Breadth
MTI’s library of 200+ sport-specific fitness plans for mountain and tactical athletes is unmatched. Resources range from specific programming for tactical special forces selections, to specific plans for climbing Rainier and Denali, to general fitness solutions such as running improvement, to post-rehab from injury.
Over the past decade, MTI has partnered with hundreds of athletes throughout their individual mountain and tactical careers, and provided fitness solutions as they face new mountain objectives, tactical schools, selections, PFTs and deployments, and came back from injury.
7) Worldwide Influence
Our work is not limited to US Athletes.
We’ve developed selection-specific training plans for Canadian, UK, Australian and German Special Forces Selections and worked with individual military personnel from Scandinavia, South, and Central America.
Canadian, Australian, UK and western European law enforcement and fire/rescue athletes have used MTI programming for mission-direct fitness.
On the mountain side, Alpinists from Japan to Slovakia have consulted with MTI and used MTI’s programming to prepare for mountain objectives.
8) Mission Performance beyond Fitness
MTI’s exists is to improve Mission Performance for mountain and tactical athletes and keep them safe.
This focus on “mission direct” solutions, enhancements and improvements drives our work and research and extends beyond fitness solutions to include training, leadership, gear, team culture, and safety.
Fitness is just one area of our work.
Our non-fitness research has included tactical cultures, combat uniforms, and gore-tex performance, and effect of stress on marksmanship.
Our work on defining what it means to be a Quiet Professional has had penetrating influence and driven healthy conversations with both mountain and tactical professionals.
9) Direct, Honest, Clear Answers
Since 2007 we’ve taken and answered dozens of questions weekly from mountain and tactical athletes. We’ve saved these individual Q&A’s and now thousands are archived on our site.
We’re not salesmen, and our answers are noted for their directness, honesty, and clarity. Our stuff isn’t for everyone. If we can help, we’ll let you know. If we can’t, we’ll let you know that, too.
– Rob Shaul, Founder
All of the Above is Backed Up By Our Promise: Our Stuff Works. Guaranteed.
Our Stuff Works. Guaranteed.
By Rob Shaul
I received notes frequently from athletes hesitant to purchase a subscription or training plans asking me to sell them on why they should make the purchase.
While I understand the question, I’m not a salesman – so I can’t put a hard sale on anyone for our programming.
I can tell them the process we go through to design our programming.
We begin with extensive research on the fitness demands of the event, identify the exercises and progressions which sport specifically meet those demands, chose end-of-cycle goals, and program backward to design the plan.
Then we test the cycle on ourselves and our lab rats here in Wyoming. We document, note what works and doesn’t work, re-assess, and make changes and modifications.
Then we publish the programming in the form of one of our plans or as part of our subscription daily training sessions for tactical and mountain athletes.
We don’t stop there – our daily programming is the “tip of the spear” for our programming evolution. We use these sessions to learn and make continuous improvement.
As we learn more and improve, we go back, and update the sport-specific training plans on the website. For example, we’re currently on Version 5 of our Ruck Based Selection Training Plan and Version 3 of our Dryland Ski Training Plan and Version 4 of our Big Game Back Country Hunting Training Plan.
We understand our programing isn’t cheap, but we believe it’s a great value. The $79 for the Ruck Based Selection Training Plan, and $39 for the Dryland Ski Training Plan reflect the, research, work, innovative theory, iteration, testing and feedback we’ve put in and received to make these plans effective.
All that matters for us is outside performance, and we feel strongly that Our Stuff Works in the real world.
Here’s our guarantee:
1) Individual Training Plan Purchase:
If you purchase an individual training plan, follow it as prescribed before your season/event/pft/selection, and if you don’t feel you were physically ready for your season/event/pft/selection, and/or didn’t see dramatic improvements in your early season performance, we’ll refund your money, no questions asked.
2) Athlete’s Subscription
If you purchase an Athletes’ Subscription, follow the training sessions as prescribed, and are not satisfied with the quality of the programming, notify us within 30 days of purchase, and we’ll refund your money, no questions asked.
Questions?
Email: rob@mtntactical.com
COMMON QUESTIONS:
Do you have any reviews or testimonials from athletes who have used your Athlete’s Subscription
Yes. Click HERE.
Is it true you guarantee your stuff works?
Yes. If you purchase an Athletes’ Subscription, follow the training sessions as prescribed, and are not satisfied with the quality of the programming, notify us within 30 days of purchase, and we’ll refund your money, no questions asked.
How is MTI programming different than CrossFit?
This is a common question. Read our answer HERE.
You have a lot of competitors. Why should I choose MTI?
MTI is driven to improve mountain and tactical athletes’ mission performance and keep them safe. This emphasis and focus on mission performance sets us apart. Read about more that sets us apart HERE.
If I purchase a plan or subscription, how do I access the programming?
All of our plans are online, accessible via username and password.
You can log in through our →Website or Mobile App →IOS and Android.
Do you have downloadable .pdf’s of the training plans?
No. But you can print the programming, by week, from your browser. You access individual training plans online via a username and password.
Do you have a mobile app?
Yes, we do. Available for IOS and Android.
What is the difference between purchasing an individual training plan, packet of plans or an Athlete’s Subscription?
- Plan – Like purchasing the DVD of the first Star Wars movie. You own it forever, including any updates we make to the plan.
- Packet – Like purchasing the DVD’s of all the Star Wars movies. You own them forever, including any updates we make to the plans.
- Athlete’s Subscription – Like subscribing to Netflix. You get access to all 200+ plan in our library, but lose access if you unsubscribe.
If I purchase an Athletes Subscription Can I cancel on my own, anytime?
Yes.
Do I have to contact MTI to cancel or can I do it myself?
You can do it yourself. Instructions HERE.
If I purchase a subscription and have questions about where to start or what plans(s) to use for my goals, will you help?
Yes. We answer dozens of training questions from athletes weekly. Email coach@mtntactical.com.
If you add new plans or update existing plans after I subscribe will I have access to them?
Yes. We are continuously adding training plans and packets (2-5/month) and updating plans. With your subscription you’ll have access to all new plans, new courses and plan updates.
What Equipment is Required?
Click the “Required Equipment” tab to find out what equipment is required for the specific plan you are interested in.
Where do I find unfamiliar exercises?
See our Exercise Library HERE. The Run and Ruck Calculators are listed as exercises.
What about nutrition?
See our Nutritional Guidelines HERE.
Can I see sample training?
Click the “Sample Training” tab to see the entire first week of programming. You are encouraged to do it before purchasing.
What if I have more questions?
Email rob@mtntactical.com
