Army Leaders and Mud Runs

I see more and  more soldiers and members of other services working as a team to conquer obstacles on mission. In fact, I served in the army and have always loved the "accomplish" the mission attitude. I'm seeing more and more of you on the mud run courses battling obstacle after obstacle and representing well. Army Strong is alive and well.

Here are some exercises to add to your daily dozen. Get your teams, squads or buddies together and ready to rattle some cages at your next race. Join our blog or Facebook pages for your daily dose of preparation.

Here's just a sample:
Ok, I decided enough was enough and started back to training in earnest. Since I did the Spartan Sprint Atlanta in 1:06, I decided to see how long the run portion might be. I did a 4.5 mile for personal record and made it in 33 minutes. Now I have a strategy on where to improve my time. I have to figure out how to break down training that shows 33 minutes for the run and 33 minutes for the obstacles. I know there are variables, but it's a start.

Obstacle 1-5 pull ups with leg lifts
Obstacle 2-5 chin ups with leg lifts
Obstacle 3-5 alternate grip pull ups with leg lifts

Run 4.5 miles
Obstacle 4-run up steep embankment
Obstacle 5-jump over obstacle
Obstacle 6-jump over obstacle

Obstacle 7-10 burpees
Obstacle 8-5 lunges on each leg
Obstacle 9-10 burpees
Obstacle 10-5 side lunges on each leg
Obstacle 11-10 burpees
Obstacle 12-30 air squats
Obstacle 13-5 pull ups with leg lifts
Obstacle 14-5 chin ups with leg lifts
Obstacle 15-5 alternate grip pull ups with leg lifts

Stretch

Blog of an Obstacle Racer

The following is an excerpt from a blog. The blog references Army Physical Readiness Training; check it out.

Run 5.5 miles and begin with an easy pace. Make sure you stretch just a little to get the kinks out of your legs. Once ready, head out the door to your favorite trail and go.

As you run, pour it on for about thirty seconds and then jog for five minutes. This will get you used to forcing sprints and demanding something from your body when you need it.

Be sure to not only run off the paved areas, but along grass, ditches and where ever your adventures take you. During my run I jumped across narrow ditches that run perpendicular to my course and through ditches that run parallel to the course.

If you run through neighborhoods, run in grass and stay off the sidewalks. You might have to dodge poles and mailboxes, but it will keep you sharp.

For those of you who live in Huntsville, Alabama and who might work on Redstone Arsenal, we have a fitness trail. The run covers miles and miles of asphalt trail. However, when possible I run the just off the trail and through leaves, woods and fields. My run goes from the Von Braun II building to the swimming pool and then back.

Try these obstacles from the Army Physical Readiness Training book. They are fun: