574 | Building the Mountain Hunter: Physiology, Foundations, and the 20-Week Training Plan

About this episode

John Frieh discusses a new 20-week training plan for backcountry hunting, focusing on endurance and aerobic fitness.

John Frieh from Evoke Endurance joins us to discuss a new 20-week training plan, developed in collaboration with Scott Johnston, specifically designed for the unique demands of backcountry hunting. The conversation explores the physiological foundations of endurance, the importance of structured programming, and how hunters can transition from being "strong" to being "aerobically fit" for the mountains. Why Fitness is a Specific Task Definition: Fitness is defined as the specific ability to perform a chosen task; being fit for one activity often means being "unfit" for another if the training is too specialized. Safety: In mountain hunting, fitness acts as a safety buffer that determines your ability to handle multi-day efforts and return home safely. The Hunting Demand: Unlike many mountain sports where loads decrease over time, hunting is unique because the physical demand often peaks at the end when packing out an animal. The Power of the Aerobic "Gas Tank" Mitochondria: Endurance is powered by mitochondria, the "powerhouses" of the cells that produce energy (ATP) from fat. Efficiency: Proper aerobic training increases mitochondrial density, which John compares to upgrading a…

People in this episode

Guest: John Frieh

Topics covered

• backcountry hunting
• endurance training
• physiological foundations
• structured programming
• aerobic fitness
• safety in mountain hunting

Keywords

• mountain hunter
• training plan
• fitness
• aerobic
• endurance
• safety
• physiology
• hunting demands

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Evoke Endurance

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