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Lets here some good stories about getting back in shape (or staying in shape).

I always worked out hard with free weights - but I was never in good cardio shape until I started to train for my big game hunts out west. They have kept me in shape from age 30 to age 43 (which I am now).

It has helped me stay healthy.

Despite never having been a runner I ran a 1/2 marathon this spring and I am running a full marathon the end of this month. Until this year I ran over 5 miles exactly once, 6-/12 miles.

To quote Anthony Hopkins in The Edge, "What one man can do another man can do". I hated running, if I can do it so can you!

Several guys here helped me out quit a bit (Thanks Carl).

Good luck, train hard and to quote C Hanes "I will accept no excuses and produce only results".

Take care guys and lets here about your workouts

Guys, see the link to a recent Bowsite Feature on fitness from a fellow bowhunter and a reasonably accomplished marathoner (2:36:14 PR) and ultra-distance trail runner (multiple 100 mile mountain trail races), me. lol

Over the past several years I've coached several hunters and fellow Bowsiters, (including Cameron, for the Western States 100) on fitness for hunting the mountains as well as running marathons and ultras.

If I can help you, just ask. There's no charge. I just do it to help.

That is why you are still doing what you do every year.

I always trained for marathons for personal goals and for stress relief during my first marriage/divorce, fighting for visitation ect.

Magazines like Runner and Outside had great articles for training advice from the pro runners.

It was my self confidence that kept me motivated.

My hips and shins would kill me some days!! haha

Keep the faith and you will complete your first marathon DV.

Good luck, Robb

If you're interested in personal advice or coaching, e-mail me @ [email protected] after Sept. 10th or so. I'm leaving tomorrow AM for a UT archery elk hunt and will be back on Sept. 13 at the latest.

Currently I'm down to 214 from 230 lbs from the excersize and diet. I truthfully haven't felt this good in a long , long time!

It is never to late, its a lifestyle change.

I'm definitely at the point where I'm going to more.

Great subject and yes anyone can do it.

Great post!

You are 100% correct that anyone can do it. Positive thinking gets positive results. Negative thinking, not so much.

But who here wants to be around negative people anyway?

Well done!

I understand that some folks scoff at the idea of dedicating so much effort toward being in shape to hunt. I do it out of respect for the animal, the sport, and my fellow sportsmen. Thanks to all the bowsite folks for fueling both passions and good luck to everyone this season!

Paladin

Like many guys, I was a late bloomer. I started running due to the simplicity. I realized that working out for 2-3 months wasn't erasing 2-3 years of sins. I decided the best way to prepare physically was not fall out of shape.

Started running on Feb 1 2007. I have now finished numerous 1/2's, 9 marathons, 3 50K's and my first 50 miler in June. (I am 48 years old).

As far as training, I am a high mileage guy. I have run enough marathons to know I work best with a slightly shorter training cycle (14-15 weeks) I typically start official training with 40-50 MPW avg for at least a month. Most of my miles (80% or so) are 75-90 sec slower than my marathon pace. (If I am trying for a PR).

I do speed work, but I generally am walking a tight rope. I am more prone injury with speed. Mile repeats and tempo runs are my bread and butter. For tempo, after warm up miles, I'll run 20-45 minutes at a pace between 10K and 1/2 marathon pace. And then cool down.

I advise only incorporating speed until your complete at least one if not two marathons. There is so much to learn about yourself before adding in that dynamic. IMHO.

I have logged more than 2000 miles per year, 5 years in a row.

Training isn't always fun. But you only get out of it what you put in. I never cheat myself.

Believe it or not, you can run for fun. When I am done with my target race, I run whenever I feel likely and however far I want. It might be for 5 miles. Next time it might be a 14 miler.

I also XT with emphasis on core and other cardio. EX Biking, elliptical, rowing, Stairmaster, crunches, pushups, planks, etc. I am adding these things in at least 3 times a week.

Keep in touch Don and thanks for checking in.

I am a part time hunter chasing a full time elk. I need to narrow that gap somehow!

It's a life decision as much at anything. Be healthier because you want to be healthier longer. I want to be here longer for my son.

I'll be chasing elk this Saturday in MT and know that my training will pay dividends and break my archery elk curse.

Whatever you do, have fun with it!

On the first Saturday of May that same year I ran a 2:58, felt great at the end and at that point realized I had serious potential.

In late Sept. the following year, I ran 2:36:14. That works out to an average pace of 5:58/mile.

You have no idea what you are capable of until you try!

Variety is key to keeping things interesting and keep your fitness from plateauing. I love to do all kinds of different workouts pushing myself to my limits and beyond. Working with a trainer changed my life and now I do workouts or runs with friends a couple times a week as well as my solo training. It makes all the difference in the world to keeping me on track, keep it competitive, and fun!

Bill, sent you a PM, Chicago, May 2015!

Paladin, Ironman....wow! Much respect!

This photo was taken Sunday morning as we did "family one mile testing" at a local track. :)

If you are doing full Ironmans, I hope that you are doing some of it for Paladin also!

One of my old room mates was just getting out of the army at the time and was doing a lot of triathlons and inspired me to start swimming since I couldn't do anything else. He did this in his unique special operations way by cursing me and calling me a lazy and and idiot for a solid five minutes without ever repeating himself once......but it worked.

I have swam almost 5000 miles since then and I rarely miss a day. I'm going to try for the 20+ miles to catalina or around Manhattan island one of these days soon.

As far as my old room mate? I swim the 5K Tampa Bay Frogman swim in his memory every year now.

The difference of hunting in shape and out is amazing.

Recovery time and pure stamina will dramatically increase the enjoyment.

Plus makes it easier to get all that meat out.

Good stuff.

My girlfriend is also into fitness and she has been teaching me a lot, supporting me and motivating me. She has done competitive dance and danced for the cavs a couple years ago - she trains HARD, even by guy standards.

My trips out west really helped motivate me to stay in shape and have made a big difference in my life.

There is plenty of research to show that running does not damage healthy knees. Any activity, done improperly can damage knees, including biking.

It is impact and impact is not good.

I'm not trying to change your mind here. Running CAN cause damage and injury, but usually that's a result of too much too soon, poor form, or a predisposition to arthritis or cartilage degeneration.

His pal looked at him incredulously and said, "Are you nuts? You can't outrun a bear!"

To which the first guy replied, "No, but I can outrun you!"

Good Huntin!!

Rob

Funny you say that. I was going to bail on my Y workout and thought of this thread. 35 minutes on Stairmaster and my body was happy!

My dad always asks me "How are you knees?" Knees are fine. I have dinged other body parts. (Groin pull, calf strains, hamstrings wonky, etc)

Someone asked about supplements. I take MSM/Glucosamine, a multi vitamin and COQ10. Can't say if it makes a difference as I have been taking MSM ever since I started running (7 years) I consider it cheaper than a doctors visit. I take the multi-vitamin for the added iron. (I get low iron when I train hard). I started taking COQ10 just this year. It is supposed to help with recover/reducing soreness after long workouts. Again, cheap insurance.

And lastly, if I ever get the opportunity to hunt with BigDan, I will be worried if he is packing a .22 for bear protection. I think he might be planning to add 40 grain weights to my legs in a time of crisis!

...and I'd already had three cups of coffee!

I've steadily gotten in better shape, but finally figured out how to eat right in 2011. I'm now 190 and have done lots of triathlons (up to Olympic distance), 5k, 10k, and one half marathon. A full marathon is on the radar for next year, then maybe a 50 miler after that, we'll see.

Hunting is a lot more fun now that I can outpace the guys I used to struggle to keep up with!

Once you get old (I am about the same age), you have to keep an eye on the running muscles that tighten up. Look up calf exercises and stretches (there are 2 calf musles and you need to stretch each differently). If you end up with calfs that are too tight, then it will affect your achilles and that can be a longer injury.

Good luck.

Good for you

I haven't totally mastered the healthy eating part yet...I'm good for at least a gallon of ice cream a week.

On the subject of running, 120 miles last month, most in a month since my lone marathon (3:45)Have run many, many halves (1:41 and change for a PR) and no desire to ever run another marathon...just too much of a time commitment. With all I have going on, I can't do it. I still run 3 to 4 times per week, anywhere from 6 to 10 miles per run, and that is good for me.

Need to get back on the bike too.

Would like to take a stab at some sprint tri's at some point though.

My approach to getting into shape and staying in shape is a little more passive. I used to run and it hurt my knees and I didn’t enjoy it very much. I work in a river bluff city that has a lot of hills and steep outdoor stairways. Last year I started doing some stairs. There are 157 stairs from top to bottom and I do them 3 to 7 times, 2-3 times per week. Sometimes I run, sometimes I walk, sometimes I do a little of both. They are a great workout and they have been adopted by one of the fitness clubs in town.

My legs are in the best shape of my life, my knees are stronger and don’t hurt and my girlfriend appreciates the fact that my legs and butt are rock hard. The stairs workout is good cardio too.

I also lift weights during the winter months and do a lot of active things like splitting all my firewood by hand with a splitting maul.

My life is too busy and I enjoy too many activities to be obsessed with physical fitness or running marathons or doing Ironman events. That being said, I will turn 54 before this year’s elk hunt is over and I am in better shape than anybody my age that I know personally. And I’ve always been able to get it done on my elk hunts.

Your daughter is a looker!!;)

Man, I wish I had a stairway like that close to home!