Off-Season Strength for Endurance Athletes

Off-Season Strength for Endurance Athletes

$49.00

• 6 weeks, 6 days/week
• Designed specifically for endurance athletes to generate more power, build a stronger midsection, and increase durability for an injury-free season
• Best completed in the off-season with no, or little, endurance work
• This training plan is one of the 450+ Plans included with an Athlete’s Subscription.

Description

This training program is designed as an off-season strength program for endurance athletes after their long race or recreation season is completed.  This program is designed to be done in the off-season with a significant break from your endurance activity – running, swimming, biking or whatever.  This is an intense strength training program, designed to be completed alone, without any additional training.

This is Version 3 of this plan, Updated December 2025.

Program Goals:

  • Build total body (lower/upper/core) for power generation, durability and overall longevity in your sport, without significant mass gain.
  • Build the eccentric strength and strength endurance in your legs to prepare you for the eccentric loading which occurs during long-distance training and descending on runs.
  • Build short duration (10 min or less) work capacity.
  • Build your core/midsection strength and overall strength to add stability during training and increase overall durability using MTI’s Chassis Integrity programming methodolgy.
  • Build durability and functional movement, that teaches your body how to move effectively to reduce the chance of injury and increase strength

This is a progressive, 6-week,  gym-based strength training program. You will train 6 days/week for a total of 36 training sessions. The intention is that Monday through Saturday are training days and Sunday is a total rest days. As prescribed, Saturday is a 40-60 minute, easy pace, recovery run. 

This training program is designed to be completed in any commercial gym, with basic equipment freeweight equipment – barbells, rack, dumbbells and/or kettlebells. 

Strength Training:

You’ll train strength 3 days/week during this program, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Each strength training day you’ll train strength for the entire body – lower and upper, with 3 focused strength exercises each session. 

The Monday and Wednesday lower body strength training in this program is built around classic, compound (multi-joint) strength exercises including back squats, hinge lifts (dead lifts), and walking lunges. Friday, you’ll train lower body eccentric strength via MTI’s Leg Blaster strength progression. Leg Blasters are a bodyweight, lower body exercise complex we use to train downhill “braking” strength. 

Each strength day you’ll also train upper body press and upper body pull strength using barbells, dumbbells and pull ups bars.

The strength training in this plan isn’t assessment-based, but it does progress. As you work through the plan, the average load on the barbell will increase. We manipulate your load using the number of reps per set for each strength exercise with the exception of pull ups and chin ups. The first two weeks of the plan you’ll do 8 reps per set, the second two weeks 6 reps per set, and 4 reps per set the final two weeks.

In addition to gradually increasing the load lifted per rep, the higher reps early in the plan will help you familiarize yourself again with basic barbell strength movements. To that end, this plan does not include any barbell power lifts or olympic lifts like power cleans or snatches.

Work Capacity and Chassis Integrity

Two days a weeks, Tuesdays and Thursdays, you’ll train Work Capacity and Chassis Integrity during the same session.

Tuesday’s work capacity effort is short (10 minutes) and intense. Tuesday’s chassis integrity effort is a 15 minute grind of 4 exercises.

Thursday’s you’ll train chassis integrity and work capacity concurrently in a longer 20-30 minute effort that combines 1-2 chassis integrity exercises with step ups or a 200m run.

Recovery Run

A 40-60 minute, easy pace recovery run is scheduled for Saturdays. The main purpose of this effort isn’t to train aerobic fitness, but rather to help flush your sore muscles from the previous week’s training.

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

  • Monday – Total Body Strength (Lower, Upper Press & Upper Pull)
  • Tuesday – Short, Intense Work Capacity, Chassis Integrity Grind
  • Wednesday – Total Body Strength (Lower, Upper Press & Upper Pull)
  • Thursday – Work Capacity + Chassis Integrity extended grind (20-30 minutes)
  • Friday – Total Body Strength (Lower Eccentric via Leg Blasters, Upper Press & Upper Pull)

COMMON QUESTIONS

How long should the training sessions take?
Each session should take around 60 or less minutes.

What do the Training Sessions look like? Can I test the programming before purchase?
Click the “Sample Training” tab to see the entire first week of programming. Test it before purchase.

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.

What if I can’t complete the exercises using the prescribed loads?
Drop, or “scale” the load or weight as necessary to meet the prescribed number of reps. For example, if the training session calls for 10x weighted sit ups with 45# and this is too, heavy, drop down to 35# or 25#, – whatever is required, to get 10 reps.

What if I’ve never trained in a gym before?
The strength sessions are built around classic barbell exercises like back squats, walking lunges, bench presses and pull ups. These are not complicated exercises, but they can be awkward at first. You can also teach yourself these exercises by being patient, using lighter weights, and sticking with it. Practice helps! There are many web-based sites and resources to find information on performing these common exercises and our website includes exericse videos. Be resourceful and patient. 

Isn’t taking a 6-week break going to make me weaker at my sport when I come back?
Sport specifically yes, you will likely lose some endurance activity (run, bike, swim) fitness during this program.
We believe you will regain your sport-specific fitness quickly. What this program will give you is a chance to recharge mentally, and rebuild physically. Endurance athletes often suffer from overuse injuries caused by dangerous muscle imbalances. This program is aimed at rebuilding you physically and making you more durable going into your endurance training and racing season. It is also aimed at improving and increasing your endurance sport longevity.

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.

More Questions?
Email: coach@mtntactical.com

Good Luck!

Rob Shaul
Mountain Tactical Institute
Jackson, WY

 

Required Equipment


  • Fully equipped weigh room. This training plan can be completed in any commercial gym

  • Stopwatch with interval timer

Sample Training

SESSION 1

OBJ: Total Body Strength

Warm Up:

3 Rounds

Training:

(1) 5 Rounds

  • 8x Back Squat - Increase load rapidly each round until 8x is hard but doable. Aim to be at your hard but doable load by round 3
  • Pigeon Stretch

(2) 5 Rounds

  • 8x Arnold Press - Increase load rapidly each round until 8x is hard but doable. Aim to be at your hard but doable load by round 3
  • 8x 1-Arm Row - Increase load rapidly each round until 8x is hard but doable. Aim to be at your hard but doable load by round 3
  • 5x Shoulder Dislocate

(3) 2 Rounds

-------------------

SESSION 2

Obj: Work Capacity, Chassis Integrity

Warm Up:

Training:

(1) 9 Minute AMRAP

(2) 4 Rounds

(3) 2 Rounds

---------------

SESSION 3

Obj: Strength

Warm Up:

3 Rounds

Training:

(1) 5 Rounds

  • 8x Hinge Lift - - Increase load rapidly each round until 8x is hard but doable. Aim to be at your hard but doable load by round 3
  • Foam Roll Low Back

(2) 5 Rounds

(3) 2 Rounds

------------------

SESSION 4

Obj: Work Capacity + Chassis Integrity Grind

Warm up:

3 Rounds

Training:

(1) 20 Minute Grind

(2) 2 Rounds

------------------

  • SESSION 5
  • Obj: Strength

Warm Up:

3 Rounds

Training:

(1) 8 Rounds

(2) 5 Rounds

  • 8x Bench Press - Increase load rapidly each round until 8x is hard but doable. Aim to be at your hard but doable load by round 3
  • 2/5x Pull Ups
  • 5x Shoulder Dislocates

(3) 2 Rounds

---------------

SESSION 6

Obj: Recovery Run

Training:

(1) 40 Minute Recovery Run, Easy Pace

"Easy" = you can speak in full sentences while moving.

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

Athlete's Subscription Package

Need all access programming? The Athlete Subscription gives you 450+ Plans and 13x Daily Programming Streams.

SIGN UP