Pre Safari Physical Training P.T.

[Tra3]

Pre-safari training test on Monday: Boston Marathon.
This is a year-round process of trying to pay attention to staying in shape. I’m really running so next year’s version of me is still capable to do the things I love to do.

 

[Rare Breed]

Wow!!!! Now that is impressive my friend!!! Congratulations!!!

 

[BeeMaa]

Pre-safari training test on Monday: Boston Marathon.
This is a year-round process of trying to pay attention to staying in shape. I’m really running so next year’s version of me is still capable to do the things I love to do.

No, I'm not waiting for you to tell me about the marathon. I was just sitting here (literally) eating popcorn and thinking how daunting a marathon can be. Best of luck my friend, and please do tell us about the marathon.

 

[BeeMaa]

 

[Tra3]

No, I'm not waiting for you to tell me about the marathon. I was just sitting here (literally) eating popcorn and thinking how daunting a marathon can be. Best of luck my friend, and please do tell us about the marathon.

Finished in 3:16, with two sit down bathroom stops due to stomach pains. It rained some, which was helpful. Now I’m having a rough time with stairs.
I truly love the training to get to a marathon. The event itself is part endurance of body and part endurance of the mind. Figuring out how to keep running when you’d much rather quit, that is the marathon.
It translates to life. And to hunting. You can’t see the finish line in a marathon until the very end. I think when we hunt it is the same.

 

[BeeMaa]

Finished in 3:16, with two sit down bathroom stops due to stomach pains. It rained some, which was helpful. Now I’m having a rough time with stairs.
I truly love the training to get to a marathon. The event itself is part endurance of body and part endurance of the mind. Figuring out how to keep running when you’d much rather quit, that is the marathon.
It translates to life. And to hunting. You can’t see the finish line in a marathon until the very end. I think when we hunt it is the same.

Congratulations.

Lots of parallels between running a marathon, hunting and navigating life. Having the sand to see it through can be rough.

 

[K E Johnson]

Training is more than physical, mental is also a huge key. If anyone really thinks they are tough, I highly recommend they try the MR 340 River Race. 340 miles of paddling from Kaw Point in Kansas City Kansas, (yes there is a Kansas City Missouri) to St Charles Missouri. The longest continuous river race in the world. I completed it in 2011 in 54 hours and 37 minutes earning me 5th place in men’s solo.
If I was in that condition now, I would have zero problems on safari. Time and other factors have taken their toll.
Mental conditioning is also a key factor. Never give up, never surrender!
Know where the finish line is helps.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Am currently on a hike on the South African Wild Coast from East London going north, about 70km all. About half beach sand and the rest rocks, which is a real test. Carrying a pack. After the first day I thought I would die, but you strengthen up pretty fast. If you don't get an injury I can think of no faster way to prepare for an arduous hunt. All wearing my Courteney Safaris, not a single problem.

 

[Backyardsniper]

@Kevin Peacocke hard as woodpecker lips! Keep after it man!

 

[Finprof]

Right now I am doing the Camino Frances from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela Spain. It is 112 km total. The way is quite hilly. Total elevation gain is 9800 feet.
Originally it was a pilgrimage to the body of St James but many non-religious are doing it.
The terrain and vistas are magnificent and the Galician food is great.
We are almost finished. Only 30km to go but we are breaking it up over 2 days.

 

[juan pablo pozzi]

I thought I would throw this out there just for fun. One of the other forums I frequent has a section for "Physical Fitness for Mountain Hunting" where guys discuss thier various methods of getting in shape for an upcoming hunt. Thought it would be interesting to see what some of you guys do. I live in a pretty rural area in KY so I have a lot of freedom to do some things that would be more difficult to pull off in a more metropolitan area.
I do the normal gym stuff but for hunting trip prep my usual go to us the tried and true Ruck March. I strap up my pack with somewhere between 30 and 50lb and take off around the neighborhood. Sometimes I will carry my rifle but usually just the pack and do somewhere between 5 and 10 miles, mostly in the 5 to 7 mile range but occasionally longer.
Sprints at the rifle range is always a favorite, our range is 400yds long and has a gravel road down the middle so sometimes when I'm the only one there it gives me the opportunity to get creative with my shooting under stress drills.
What is some of your go to pre hunt P.T. routines?

 

[juan pablo pozzi]

I consider the best way to train for hunting its indeed bird hunting with dogs .You must use a double shotgun ,to train for your double rifle,of course you will walk a lot witj birds and shells .I do weigth lifting too,and mtb some rucksacking with my doubles shooting targets on jungle lanes.Cheers from Argentina dr Pozzi PD Im 55 years old

 

[Altitude sickness]

My daughter is training for an October marathon. I went to support her last week for a half Marathon. That gave me the feeling that I should start running again and join her.

So early Saturday morning she went for a 10 mile run and I joined her. I quickly realized her pace was too much for me. And I wouldn’t even make it 5 miles. So I jumped in the jeep to wait at mile roads to encourage her.

I’m sore as hell today.

But encouraged to run more with her.

 

[Backyardsniper]

A new thing I have added to my fitness plan is walking 18 holes at my local golf course. I can say with pretty good confidence that if you can hoof 18 holes and carry your clubs you'll be good to go on pretty much whatever safari you go on. It is give or take about 8 miles around the course, depending on how much walking in circles looking for misplaced balls you do. Add 20-25lbs of clubs to that and its a pretty solid workout.

 

[TOBY458]

A new thing I have added to my fitness plan is walking 18 holes at my local golf course. I can say with pretty good confidence that if you can hoof 18 holes and carry your clubs you'll be good to go on pretty much whatever safari you go on. It is give or take about 8 miles around the course, depending on how much walking in circles looking for misplaced balls you do. Add 20-25lbs of clubs to that and its a pretty solid workout.

Where does your cooler go?

 

[Backyardsniper]

I hammer down a few at the turn, or just toss a few in with the balls. They won't get that hot before I drink them. Ha ha

 

[Backyardsniper]

@TOBY458 but this is what separates the pro beer drinkers from the amateurs. That is in fact a shower beer holder. The wife bought that for me several years ago and it is GREAT! All the pros know the shower beer is the best beer. Lawn mowing beer, one more beer on the balcony while she's finishing getting ready to go to dinner, and the airport beer run it a close second. After a hard day of work though, the shower beer is king!

 

[TOBY458]

@TOBY458 but this is what separates the pro beer drinkers from the amateurs. That is in fact a shower beer holder. The wife bought that for me several years ago and it is GREAT! All the pros know the shower beer is the best beer. Lawn mowing beer, one more beer on the balcony while she's finishing getting ready to go to dinner, and the airport beer run it a close second. After a hard day of work though, the shower beer is king!View attachment 627773

Now that is a man with a can and a plan!

 

[HookMeUpII]

I over-prepped for RSA and it ended up being a breeze. Don't know that it would have been hard had I not, but difficult to say. I have had to pass PT's in the past, trained pretty much my whole life, had to pass diving quals, among other things.

Prior to going, I completely switched my lifestyle around again. Went from weight/strength training to just being more functional. Kettlebells, bodyweight exercises, cardio (row machine, running, etc.) I didn't really run all that far. Maybe 1.5-2 miles a clip. Maybe the occasional 3 miles now and then if I felt good.

But, I was also 39 at the time and still in my "prime" so to speak. I think where people may run into some issues is with bad backs, bad knees, hips, etc. We had a member of our party the 2nd to last day have his back give him some issues.

If you are very overweight, it might be beneficial to lose some pounds. I was about 190 lbs when I went and I'm 5'10". I have a bigger frame from years of weights so 190 is a fly-weight for me.

 

[Tra3]

Im a couple weeks away from a hunt. I’ve been increasing mileage on my pedal bike because it is summer and easy to ride in the warm weather. It will translate well to the endurance needed for walking down an elephant.

The more training I do, the more I can enjoy a hunt because I’m not exhausted.

Now, the battle will be to not overwork myself in the office before I get on the plane.