Episode Details

DOWNLOAD THE FREE 4-MONTH TRAINING PLAN PDF:

👉 https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools

🎁 THE ULTIMATE GUIDED HUNT GIVEAWAY: Every $5 spent at Forged in the Backcountry (including the new camo Forged Base Boxers) earns one entry to win an all-expenses-paid custom guided hunt with Mindful Hunter Outfitting. You pick the hunt: BC Black Bear or Mule Deer, Alberta Archery Mule Deer, or Rifle Coues Deer in Mexico. 👉 https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/

The truth about backcountry hunting fitness. If you are doing CrossFit, high-intensity intervals, or heavy lifting to get ready for the mountains, you might actually be hurting your performance. In this video, I break down the 10 core principles of mountain endurance, heavily inspired by the groundbreaking book Training for the Uphill Athlete.

Learn why cardiovascular capacity isn't the real goal, why you need to build a fat-burning aerobic engine, and why "Zone 2" is the secret to endless energy in the backcountry. Whether you're training for an elk hunt, a sheep hunt, or just want to carry a heavy pack without gassing out, this is the exact system I use to spend 140 days a year in the field at 47 years old.

What we cover in this video:

• Why "Metcon" workouts create Aerobic Deficiency Syndrome
• The 80/20 rule for Zone 2 training
• How to build Muscular Endurance (ME) with heavy rucking
• Why having too much muscle mass hurts mountain performance
• A complete 16-week periodized training plan
• The best cardio machines if you live in a flat or urban area

If you want to arrive at the trailhead fresh, durable, and capable without paying for a monthly fitness subscription—this video is for you.

Chapters:

00:00 - Why Most Hunting Fitness Programs Are Flawed

01:01 - The Book That Changed My Endurance Training

02:40 - Principle 1: Endurance is a Metabolic Problem

06:50 - Principle 2: Zone 2 is the Foundation

09:01 - Principle 3: Specificity is King (The SAID Principle)

10:25 - Principle 4: Muscular Endurance is the Secret Weapon

11:44 - Principle 5: Continuity and Gradualness

12:33 - Principle 6: Periodize Your Training Year

13:30 - Principle 7: Separate Aerobic and Anaerobic Work

16:01 - Principle 8: Respect Global Fatigue Cost

17:25 - Principle 9: Avoid the Gym Bro Trap

19:11 - Principle 10: Train to Hunt, Don't Hunt to Train

21:15 - How Fatigue Destroys Your Marksmanship Accuracy

23:15 - Free 4-Month Backcountry Training Plan Breakdown

26:33 - No Mountains? The Best Cardio Machines for Hunters

Reels

5:00 – condense video and frustrated with other programs

Jake Downs

https://www.instagram.com/jake_d_downs/

Jay Nichol

jay@mindfulhunter.com

https://www.mindful-reviews.com/

https://www.mindfulhunter.com/

Forged In The Backcountry

https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/

Merch

https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop

Newsletter

https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact

IG

https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/

Podcast

https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide