5 full months out. R U in shape?
Elk
Archery elk opener in most states starts in just over 5 months. Are you in shape? What’s your exercise routine like this far out? Please share some motivation for us all.
Well right now I'm icing the knee I had replace in December after walking a couple miles today. Having the other knee replaced next monday. :) But should be hiking the local ski hill in June. That's my main workout 4 or 5 days a week. Excellent for legs and aerobic. Plus some weight work. Should be healed and ready by end of August. I'm 77 by the way.
My exercise routine stays the same, year round. It’s five days a week on tread mill, 30-40 min at a very fast walk with 8-10% incline. And two days a week, weight machine. I’m 73 and have been on similar routine for 40 years. Im not marathon shape at all, but I’ve hunted elk the past five years and will this September.
Mountain Tough program here. Been doing it for about 2 years when was prepping for WY elk hunt. HIIT has lots of benefits beyond getting ready for the mountains. It's not just for young dudes like we USED TO be.....
Still too early to do anything for elk. I’ve started this time of year before and I peaked by June. No sense in peaking too early, so I start my hiking and rucking in June now. I just hammer the heavy weights to add as much muscle and strength until then. Strength is rarely a weakness.
Plus, I don’t even know if I’ll draw a tag until April or May….so there’s that.
Better than I have been in the last 5 years but a long way to go yet. Sheep instead of elk but plan on being in the best shape of my life by September 1
I’ve been slacking over the winter.
Got up at 6am while on a family vacation last Saturday. Made a short drive ti a trailhead that goes up a steep 3000 ft mountain.
Got back to the resort in time to shower and good lunch at a local brewery!
I prefer to train on actual trails versus exorcise equipment. It really strengthens all the stabilizing muscle/ligaments. I also found out a long time ago real world hiking helps strengthen everything for hiking down hill as well. I don’t run into knee pain like most that just train in the gym do when hunting rolls around.
No.... As I sit here at my desk wondering where the wife and I should go for beer and wings! ha! terrible! Worst of it is yet to come when I load the boat up with beer and sandwiches all summer long.... I have never been one to train really hard for elk hunting but as I age it does get harder out there... I seem to get around fairly well during the hunt but my body is destroyed after.. Yep time to get on some kind of workout routine..
Weights in the winter months, soon will switch to more cardio based exercise when my work hours change, running and backpack cardio, if I don’t draw elk I’ll be ready for all other fall hunts, it creates as much mental toughness for me as physical
This thread is making me feel bad. I am sitting here the heaviest I have ever been in my life. Carrying the most muscle I am have ever had. But would love to lose 10lbs of fat. As far as the packing and hunting goes. I have 2 boys that will more than make up for my shortfalls.
I’d tell you, but a whole bunch of people who’ve never so much as laid eyes on me would tell you I was lying…
Five months? Spring bear starts May 15. Just came back from doing hill climbs with 55 pounds in my pack.
Yes! But I'm going to be in better shape in 5 months!
I’ve just been walking and doing stairs since back surgery in December. Today was my first physical therapy. I plan to be in good shape by September!
In shape, you mean round? Yep im there
Lifting and running. Tuesdays and Thursdays are 2-a-days when I get up and hit the road running at 4 a.m. then lift after work. So yesterday was a morning 5K then after work I hit the gym and did 10 rounds of 5 pullups, 5 dips, and 10 pushups, then 4 sets of cable rows super setted with single arm dumbell rows.
The workouts are easy for me to be consistent with. The diet is the biggest struggle but I've been eating clean and keeping sugar out of my life. The diet is at least as important if not MORE important than the training!
I’m not doing a damn thing until all the results are posted. No sense in depriving myself of all those Oreos if I don’t draw a tag!
Been doing HIIT training 5 days a week and 1 day of lifting for the past 2 years, Sunday rest day. I'm ready for a 10 day hunt right now but working on better training in the kitchen. Would like to drop 10-15lbs by September for my AZ archery bull hunt. Turning 61 next month.
Nice, good to hear some of you are on it already. I know it’s early but it’s been on my mind. Last years hunt was really good and I was impressed with elk numbers in the new area I tried. I went into the season in fairly good shape. Cardio was great and my back felt good (past injury). However by about day 4/5 my Achilles tendon on my right heel was screaming. I’ve never experienced that or had any issues there. I can’t point to any specific point in time the injury happened while hunting but it was a rough final 3/4 days. Of course I’m an idiot and kept going like I was fine. Still every once in a while it flames up so I’m worrying about this year. Maybe I need to strengthen my calves more this year to relieve stress from the tendon?
First I just had my yearly physical. Numbers were excellent. Doctors happy. Sugar level way down, cholesterol down to 86...... Yes year round exercise works, also low carb diet for me. So for me, I am at my local Y, all water work outs, (military based), and 2 days of medium lifting. I had a accident in 2022, that left my right arm and shoulder disabled, and I am permanent legal disabled, so I shoot a crossbow.
Navy special warfare trainers, who trained high school and college candidates, to pass Navy swim tests, helped me while training at my pool. Since the over hand movement is gone, no more lap swimming., they taught me a combat swim, that still works the core, and cardio. They also suggested a belt , deep water aqua jogging. That took off 26 lbs.....
So at 74, I feel good. I am going cow elk hunting. For fun and meat. Shot a few bulls, so rack means little to me.
I have assistance on removal, and plan to water hole hunt.....
Good for you Mike! Love hearing guys who keep churning through the hard times. 74 and still at it. I hope to be like you brother. Good luck this year.
Try walk 2 miles everyday with the wife, the shoot the walk thru course 4x a week, various elevation changes. Try to eat healthy, but not always the case. Age 61, and still running around the Colorado mtns.
Elk??? I have turkey season coming up. I am 68 years old. I speed walk 3 miles a day up some pretty steep areas. When I get back from morning walk I have a weight routine I go through for about 20 minutes. After lunch I shoot my bow for about 20 to 30 minutes and go for an afternoon walk. I have a treadmill but there is something about walking fast and going nowhere that doesn't sit right with me. I still enjoy playing basketball but I think that may be a torn tendon just waiting to happen.
It’s 12 months a year thing for me. Imo better to be in shape all year.
In NH you only have to be 15 feet off the road. So I’m good. As long as it’s flat.
C’mon. Why can’t we post pics?
Is the cheerleader going down again?
Doing pretty decent. With minimal snow, did more outside runs. Hitting the Y 3-5 times a week. Rowing, stairmaster, elliptical, and weights.
Also shooting outside much earlier than most years.
Totally slacking…broke my leg the end of November. Now getting Back to full steam on the treadmill and just getting around to doing normal stuff outside on uneven ground.
Had a Ladder accident on Feb. 14th/AM and broke a rib #6.
It's been tough but I'm up to 2.5--3 miles a day now walking and improving every day.
I'm meeting with a guy and his Mrs. down on my last year D-Ram unit as she should draw the tag and giving them a hike around into area's I was into rams.
We'll see how bad a shape I am in by next Friday!!
Good luck, Robb
Robb, ladder accident climbing out a second floor window on Valentines Day?? Go figure. :)
It’s a year round commitment. I’m in the gym seven days a week lifting hard and heavy. I’ll occasionally run when it’s warm out. Did a bulk from the end of November to February and put 22 pounds on. Once February hit, I started carnivore diet. Five weeks in and I’ve dropped 12 pounds and leaned out, but most importantly my energy levels stay consistently high throughout the entire day, my strength maintained if not increased, and I just feel great.
I'm in shape. That shape happens to be generally round with a slight tendency toward pear.
^ Coondog’s clearly NOT a greybeard!
LOL
Treadmills at the gym will hit a 30% grade, so I load up my #30 of kitty litter in a pack and do brisk walks with steeper/faster intervals. I usually top out around 25% grade on my intervals. Trouble with treadmills is that they don’t challenge your balance like packing weight over a trail does…. And there’s just nothing about sea-level training that can really make the transition to 11k “easy”…
I’m looking forward to clocking some trail miles before it gets too damned hot again. Buddy of mine & I are eyeing a stretch of trail that’s rated as the nastiest in the Northeast… It’s not High, but it’s Steep….
Im down 3lbs. 37 more to go!
Still doing my workout routine 4x per week (treadmill with pack, pushups, crunches, tricep lifts), but still carrying 5 pounds of "winter weight".
If the rain ever quits, I'll quickly be back to "fighting weight".
No! But there is always the last two weeks of August!!!!
After 30 seconds on the treadmill I want to punch someone. I hate treadmills. I look at the time and it feels like an eternity. I’d rather go hike up a hill for an hour. And I do. lol.
I’m with ya Blood! Don’t always have time to hit the trails so have to resort to the gym most days.
“No! But there is always the last two weeks of August!!!!“
Yeah that used to be me in my 20’s and early 30’s and would be just fine. Not anymore. I’m only 39 but I feel it if I’m not in good shape heading into season.
I ran 9.2 miles and drank 6 beers last weekend. I’m prepared!
Best thing for me about a treadmill is No Downhills. Up is easier on the knees.
But seriously, guys…. Getting in shape “for the season” is insanity. I had a pretty solid lifestyle the first 40 years, then got busy supporting a family and parked my ass in a chair for 20 years. Damn near killed me.
So last summer I started clawing it back, but it’s like being at 12,000 feet— you give up a foot in elevation and you’ve gotta climb 4 feet to get six inches back.
Don’t do it. If you wanna kick ass 2 weeks out of the year, you’ve gotta bust ass the other 50. No way around it. You can go THROUGH it if you’re willing to suffer extra and take the hit to your overall health, but it’s pretty Stupid.
Take that from a guy recovering from 20 years of Stupid…
And FWIW, yesterday was Leg Day….
But what’s your skwaat, Corax? ;)
Im getting there.
That leg press rack is the last thing I’m going to do.
I’ve had self inflicted Injuries in the past from overdoing it.
I will take doing bleachers or hiking steep inclines before I do heavy leg squats.
You’re not wrong about overdoing things and getting hurt. I’m always trying to toe that line, but I need to rebuild some muscle mass…. But yeah…. Dislocated shoulder told me I’m done squatting. I don’t really dare bench, either. Call it Old Dude Privilege :p
The bad thing about Rib injuries is that ya can't do sit-ups, crunches, push-ups, any lifting ect---Nothing but just walking for the first few months.
So, I'm just trying to stay motivated and challenging myself.
Out of here in about an hour for the week, I shall find out how I'm doing for sure.
Good luck, Robb
Very poorly training for a marathon in June. Between that and training at work I’ll be fine come season.
Doing what I always do. Two days of cardio, one day strength training then repeat. Don't miss many days. Been mostly walking for cardio this winter with a few runs mixed in. Usually a 4 mile brisk walk. My treadmill took a poop so haven't been able to use it. Basically I get home from work and exercise for an hour.
Turkey season will shed a few pounds, softball season will keep them from going back on, and pronhorn season is the perfect time to get the legs going again….spot and stalk of course.:)
……and stairs everyday at work, lots of them.
Midwest, yes my first and last. I’ll stick to halves and trail racing from here on out.
Yep- good luck, Yooper!!!
Overrated IMO. It's all mental.
I'm stronger mentally when I'm stronger physically. I don't train for next season, I train for the next 20 seasons.
Nope. But im working on it.
Guessing the detailed version is “I don't train [for a few months] for next season, I train [year ‘round] for the next 20 seasons.”
True Dat. ;)
I thought doing this(ACL) in Nov. would give me enough time, but I guess I underestimated the healing time at 53 years old. I have had a lot of sports related injuries over my life, including this knee when I was 16, but never has anything taken this long to recover. Getting a little nervous for Sept.
elkocd, I’ve had three acl repairs. Along with all sorts of other miniscus and other knee ligaments repaired during those surgeries.
The one thing I’ve learned from all this is keep active. Your knee doesn’t hurt as bad if you stay active. And, weight train that leg until it’s back to the same size as your other.
The stronger your legs are, the better that knee is going to feel.
Unless you are an athlete, it takes non athletes longer to get their injured leg back to strength, then you Imagine.
Thanks boys we’ll see how it goes
WV Mountaineer I am a life long athlete and have been doing all my PT and weight training diligently. As the weather improves I will get out on my back every day over the summer and hopefully that will also help a lot. The main issue I have is pain, inflammation and mobility issues despite working the thing like it's my job! The knee just seems to be angry all the time and can't get over the hump. Hopefully the next few months I'll see some good improvement.
Dam Rick, sorry to hear your having trouble brother. Keep at it. I think you’ll be fine by September. You’ll likely look back and all the sudden It’ll be better than you expected.
Something I'll address after draw results are out...
I'm working out..... more places to kill elk close to the road. Couple more years and I'll be calling bulls into the highway borrow pit. This year I had multiple bull encounters within 1/2 mile of roads, passed one at 10 yards I called in when I was standing beside a road, and bugled a nice 5x6 in to 8 yards, 200 yards from my truck.
As far as physical stuff,I do kettlebells, run stairs and bike this time of year, plus fishing and a touch of Scotch for after dinner dessert, but don't kill myself working out. Those days are in the rear view.
Hunt smarter, not harder.
I’ve gained my winter fluff and am still eating like crap. Now that Easter is behind me maybe I can get things headed in the right direction. I did ride me e-bike like two miles the other day. Does that count as exercise?
Damn that knee looks painful.
Heal up smart and well.
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My week down in D-Ram country went okay, my breathing was rough and the #6 rib is right there and the heart.
Still feel good about it though. I actually started sit-ups/25, crunches 25/and leg lifts/ 25.
I tried 25 push-ups and made it to 5 and said hell no, I could feel the pain.
Go for it Yooper89!! Exciting.
Good luck, Robb
I started lifting about 2 years ago and it’s made a huge difference in my metabolism. I watch what I eat but I’m actually trying to eat MORE not less. I finish off my cardio in the summer with a ton of stair stepper work and it works great… nearly 150 miles last September hasn’t felt that good since I was in my 20’s.
The photo on the left was taken a couple weeks ago at age 51… photo on the right was ~age 44…
Well done Corey! Looks like you’re ready for elk country brother. Keep at it.
Strong work Cory! Great job!
I read "You Can't Hurt Me" over Thanksgiving and on December 1 I started riding bike in the basement and doing some intermittent fasting. I've dropped 25 pounds since and my cardio is doing better on the bike. Now that spring is here, I go for a 4 mile walk some days. I need to add a pack with some weights for the walk. I also need to start doing body weight exercises to build muscle. (pull up, push up, abs and squats)
Hell yeah Gil...
Good for you,
Robb
Who's gonna carry the boats, wisconsinteacher?! ;-) Nice work!
Just finished my morning 5K. It's hard to get out of a warm bed at 3:45 am when it's cold, dark, and windy outside. I do better when I do stuff that sucks and when the run is out of the way, I can look forward to the gym tonight.
Always motivating to read the posts here. Keep at it, y'all!
Midwest, I wrote that on a piece of paper and taped it to the workout TV!!!!
Nick, you are a perfect example of how consistency, day-in-day-out workout routine becomes the way of life.
I've changed my mid-day snack from Nacho's (I was a Chipaholic!) to fruit and I am seeing great weight results.
Good luck, Robb
My cardio is good year round. I started incorporating my weighted pack hikes in February. I’m battling a lot of soreness now especially in an ankle I broke badly 11 years ago. Trying to figure out the right balance. My diet has been crap. That is the difference maker. If I ate clean all year I’d weigh 200 lbs. Any weight below 240 for me I can hunt good and get up and down the mountains well.
I thought Cory was going to say, "the pic on the left is what I see and the right is what everyone else sees." Wish I had that level of dedication.
I will say that my sons are giving me WICKED body dysmorphia…. LOL
Sometimes I feel like Kermit the Frog standing next to Stretch Armstrong….
Nick is always an inspiration for me!
“Man cannot remake himself without suffering, for he is both the marble and the sculptor” Alexis Carrel
Nice work gil_wy and everyone else, keep after your fitness goals!
Turns out my legs are in better shape than my feet.
6.5 miles and 1500 feet or so of gain in a pair of boots I haven’t worn in 6 months was not my best decision…
Those Darn Tough socks are pretty darn tough on the unhardened skin…
Yeah, Darn Tough are awful on heels. I can attest to that.
Glad it’s not just a Me Thing ;)
Kinda surprising that I didn’t have any issues with them in Sept, carrying 3-5 times the weight on much steeper terrain, for the most part, and many more hours/day…..
Getting better. January I started not feeling "well". Actually just kind of tired and not wanting to get very active. It got bad enough my wife was upset with me because I was not doing much around the house etc. I was "always tired or not feeling well". Well 2 days after she laid into I ended up in the ER with several blood clots in my lungs. I had one big clot in my lower left lung that was killing tissue, 2 more in my upper left lung and 2 in my right lung. Darn near did me in... With meds things are getting better but now we start the hunt to figure out why. In the mean time we have determined I also have a fib and my heart rate goes crazy.
I am losing some weight via diet and light exercise. But am waiting Echo Cardiogram and some other test before I am allowed to go back to a hard work out schedule. Luckily all the meds and the plan is working great and I feel better now than I did last fall...
Keep after it WYO...best of luck!
Thanks. It was interesting. Last fall on my sons sheep tag, I had one night where we pulled up to hike into the mountain and I got like 600 yards and could catch my breath and things were crazy. Went back to truck drank water slept in the truck bed etc. The next morning we got up and did over 7 miles with over 3000 feet vertical elevation. I think tings were going sideways back then... Hopefully the specialist I am seeing soon will get it sorted out.
Get that figured out Rob. Blood Clots are not good!
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183.6 lbs. this early AM.
I started training with my backpack on, 2 months to the day since my ladder accident and broken # 6 rib.
Starting out with just 12 total pounds and just 1 mile with it on my back/3 days this week.
Fixin' to leave for the gym in about 10 minutes.
Plus, I had my 3rd (since mid-November 2023) Outpatient preventative Skin Cancer Surgery procedure. This time CO2 Laser on some spots on my face.
The smell of burning flesh is creepy.
Anyways, may sound weird but my life is very motivating, and I am happy.
Good luck, Robb
Update on last week’s carnage
Update on last week’s carnage
Just a note for anyone who (as I did) may have bitten off a little more than the USRDA….
I slapped a couple Compeed blister care bandaids on my heels last week. I was kinda flinching at the cost of them at over a buck apiece, but they lasted about a week. I knocked out about 35 minutes on a treadmill at 20% incline without issue on Monday night, so I replaced that first pair and went for another hike yesterday (softer boots and cushier socks) and we knocked out 14-15 miles with no issues.
Not that you would want to rest your feet for 5-6 days during a hunt, but for pre-season blunders, they might get you back up & running quite a bit sooner. I’m sure it would have saved me even more grief if I had applied them at the first signs of a hotspot, so the rest of the box will live in my pack going forward….
These are legit for prevention too…
I been working hard at the new regiment. I had 2 stents put in last July. Was 274 and Dr. said you gotta lose weight. Started light at first but now at full throttle. Walk/running 5 miles 4 days a week and the other 3 days doing free weights and stretching. Down to 238 now and feeling great.
Good for you BC.
I'm up to 1.5 miles with backpack on this week, slow and steady. Then 1.5 without backpack on. Rib seems to be accepting.
Up to 100 sit-ups/100 crunches, 80 scissors/leg lifts still not much on push-ups @ 20 but----- and no weights yet.
Good luck, Robb
I hunt the mountains from Kansas every year, get out of the truck or the plane, and hike up the mountain. Takes me a day or two to acclimate. I'm usually short of breath and in some sort of arrhythmia. By day 2 or 3, I'm usually good to go. No amount of "training" around here will replicate the thin air of the mountains. It does help that I mow about 50 commercial yards all summer on my days off. My buddy plays paintball all year around on the weekends and that really helps him stay in shape.
Not an Elk hunter, but about an hour to 3 of endurance training 4-6 X week and 2 days of strength training. Pretty much year round, with some intentional recovery periods for family trips or parts of hunting season - hanging in a saddle is not very, um, active ha ha ha!
Great to see so many being active - AWESOME work folks!
Here’s a good article for you all…
https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/how-can-strength-training-build-healthier-bodies-we-age
This is a great podcast on muscle building and strength…
https://youtu.be/IAnhFUUCq6c?si=cXQA7xci1Ga4dZa8
Good week here; about a dozen miles Tuesday and 8 today with around 2600 vertical. Good thing no more blisters.
I've got my first big test coming up this week as I leave this early AM, for the week up to Wyoming.
Looks like snow flurries most days----luv it!
Although not the best for digi-scoping wildlife.
I'm 182.7 this morning. Almost skinny for 6'1 tall.
Still not at full training with my rib injury, I did some wheelbarrow work out back and after just 2 loads, I could feel it, so I quit it.
I won't be back until after the Wyo elk draw results post, oh well.
Good luck, Robb
What’s the best way to simulate weight in the pack, without really packing it. Plate weights, water, sand bags?
I prefer wet sand in a trash bag then inside a game bag. Seems to sit the best in the pack for me for training.
It’s almost time to start up. MT elk tag in hand. Slow and steady now till September. With a peak around the first week of September.
DIY, go to the Depot and get a 40 or 50lb bag of sand or crushed stone and some duct tape. Wrap the whole thing in tape and you have a nice Ruck sack to place in your pack.
I am in A shape......generally spherical. LOLOLOLOL sob
I get a 40lb bag of salt. I put in a pillow case. Works great.
Getting a Murph done most every week and getting in some good trail running miles. This is a step back week but will ramp up the miles next week. Cleaning up the diet and want to drop another 10 lbs. by August.
I had a decent baseline fitness, but after drawing both a moose and elk tags for the same unit/season, I'm ramping up. I'm lucky to live at elevation with lots of trails right out the door. So I'm alternating hikes and biking with kettlebell/weight/resistance workouts, and will start weighted pack wave training next week.
Turned 70 last week. 6' 3", 195. Not as easy to get into marathon hunting shape as it used to be....
MTNTOUGH here. I've been going 3+ days a week year round for about a year and a half now. There's plenty of room for improvement, but I'm in the best shape of my life. It definitely helped last September with a solo antlerless Shiras tag. As long as I avoid injury, I'll be ready for elk in late September.
Ended up just running a half this past weekend. Now it’s back to weights and running. Will be hunting a premier WY tag this year but don’t think it’ll be overly strenuous. Between exercise and training at work I’ll be more than fine come September. Looking forward to the season that’s for sure.
Been in the gym at least 3-4 times per week for the last month. Will begin some pack training this week, light at first then will ramp up. Have been focusing on legs and core mostly with a fair amount of cardio. Eating fairly clean and feeling pretty good right now. Should be tip top by September if I can keep the momentum.
Good for you guys/gals.
I use 2 liter Mnt. Dew bottles filled with water to add to my training backpack for more weight as I train.
I got the Green light from my Dr. to start back lifting weights, she had me start with 5lb barbells, slowly but steady, I'm up to 10 lb'ders now.
Back up to Wyo next week what a difference a month will make as I'm up to 2.5/3 miles a day with 20lb now in the backpack.
If the rib starts acting up, I just back it down a little.
Good luck, Robb
Bullelk
Had a dam ladder fall in 2020. 5 vertebrae burst fractures, 4 bursr disc, broke 4 ribs and took a tree limb about 6" into my right side and a lenea alba tear. Still trying to feel better.
Hiked weighted pack 3 times this week for 1hr. Also been running 3 miles every other day. At 64 have keep after it so I can keep up with Paul.
Damn Matte!!
Hang in their man,
Robb
Not gonna be in shape this year…or get much practice. Just broke tibia, fibula, and BOTH wrists. Leg bones were plated on Wednesday. Maybe I can pack something out on my new rig.
Dam Jason! What happened?
Holy crap! What happened Jason?!?!
Jason you have another motorcycle accident?
Sorry Bowboy, I am going bull moose hunting at a lower elevation this September and even sleep in the popup trailer. Talk about comfort!. Oh wait, I might have to pack out 300 pounds of moose meat. Ok, I better hit the road for a 6 mile jog and pump some iron after :) My best, Paul
Paul you need to kill them close to the road. :)
Geez Jason!
I thought you sold that damn motorbike last time.
Good luck, Robb
Forgot I posted this here. Have some time to kill for sure now!
Yeah Robb, I just couldn’t give it up. Hard to explain why.
Had a great preseason getting in shape and logged 36 hours of seat time up until a few weeks ago. Was shooting great as well.
Unfortunately, it took just a split second to get cross rutted in the middle of a rhythm section. I hit the eject button and tattooed myself into the next jump face.
Hoping to be ready for next year. That might be pushing it when it comes to bad tib/fib pilon fractures though. Wrists will hopefully heal in short order. So I can start shooting again.
The ironic part is I drive by an elk farm on the way to the track and think about hunting before and after each ride.
Hope ya’ll are getting in shape and ready to hit the mtns and provide the bench warmers with some good post-hunt write-ups!!
i JUST DROVE BY THERE going up to Perry to see a buddy that had a terrible back injury and is in a 1/2 body cast.
Those bulls in velvet are looking really good.
Stay off that damn motorbike man!! haha
Good luck, Robb
Shot TAC last weekend with my new bow, building confidence in the set up every day. Really cleaned up my diet since I got back. Even giving up beer until my favorite race of the year in mid-August.
Ran a hard 6.25 mile trail loop on Wednesday, an easy 4 miles on Thursday, then 5x .3 mile hill repeats with 3 miles of warm up and cool down yesterday. Today, I'll do some strength training and Sunday will be an easy 12 mile road run.
Retiring on Sept. 6 and should be in prime form heading to Wyoming for a cow elk hunt.
Keep after it everyone! Your diet will make or break your progress!
“I use 2 liter Mnt. Dew bottles filled with water to add to my training backpack for more weight as I train.”
Just don’t drink that crap!! LOL….
I’ve been rotating between #10 of Rice, #16 charcoal and #20 cat litter, and usually carry 5L of H2O, because A) I stay hydrated and 2) I can drop weight easily without “littering” in any way, if I decide I’ve bitten off more than I can chew on a given day….
Typical Hike days lately have been 6-8 miles and 1500-2500 ft of elevation gain, usually twice a week…
If I could only find a way to reduce the % O2 I’m breathing to approximate Altitude….
I'm feeling pretty much healed up with that dang broken #6 rib back in mid-February.
I'm at max training ( 35 lbs ) backpack weight, 2.5 ~~ 3.5 miles a day hikes, and I'm lifting weights @ 10 reps/2-sets each one.
My main gym finally opened back up after 15 months of renovations, although I haven't swam yet, nor done my Steam room workout. It's HOT enough outside so I'll hold off on that for a while.
174.8 weight this early AM. to dang low but sweating doing projects outside certainly drops my daily scale weight in.
I'm off for 1 last elk scouting/hiking trip to Wyoming next week.
Good luck, Robb
I am doing 60 minutes of elliptical on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It is high intensity for me. Tuesday and Thursday I do 60 minutes of elliptical at a slightly less intense clip and add in 30-35 minutes of yoga. Saturdays are weighted hikes. 40 lbs for 3-5 miles with good elevation change. The weather is miserable to hike here in Kentucky but at least I can mimic gaining and losing elevation.
Shooting the bow every day. I have been shooting great and have no excuses if a shot presents itself.
Yesterday was a fun one… 2 laps on a hill that’s 1 mile & 975 feet of vertical. Lap One carrying low #40s and Lap 2 I cut the ballast by #10; we’re all Old Dudes (I’m The Kid @ 59) and we were reasonably happy with our pace… then each of us hit the gym later in the day…. LOL. Gluttons for Punishment…
Running 3 days a week and drinking bourbon the other 7. I'm ready.
lol....Beast Mode Brotsky!
I will leave for Alaska on Friday, till labor day. Will also visit my bear guide who I will hunt with in 3 years. Should be a fun trip.
Staying in shape for me is year round like eating breakfast, but I follow a pararescue water regime, that at 75, keeps me in great shape, and avoids injury.
In 2017, felt a pain in right arm pit. Went right in. Needed heart surgery, saved my own life. Head surgeon said, I heard your a swimmer.How many minutes a week. I said about 250.... he said good dont ever stop. Swimming saved your life. He said Swimmers live, Runners dont
Worst shape in my life due to heart failure, two torn Achilles, etc. and getting old 65. Good thing I drew a solid grampa unit!
I am cutting back on my beer consumption........
I’m hiking 2 miles a day with a 30lb pack @ 3.7mph
I like the way you train Brotsky!
Still scouted and fishing a couple times a week with a light pack. Humped my blind into my pronghorn setup today. Not in the best condition but I won’t be sitting on the sidelines watching.
Lost a couple weeks due to a pretty severe TIA, but now back in business. Hiking 3 miles with a 15-20 pound pack every other day, working out or biking the odd days.
I feel pretty good considering I had a little stroke. The lung issue is here to stay. Manageable, but not great. Getting old isn't for pussies.
Man, you guys are killing it. Been training pretty hard. AZ elk hunt starts 9-13. I'm about 6-8lbs above my target weight for the start of the hunt but feeling real good.
"He said Swimmers live, Runners dont"
lol....okay.
My favorite event of the year is this weekend. Mines of Spain Half Marathon Trail Race in the bluffs along the Mississippi River near Dubuque, Iowa. I put lifting on the back burner the last several weeks while I focused on my running. Lots of speedwork and running in the hottest part of the day has my cardio and legs in great shape. Diet has been very clean and no alcohol since late June. Weight is at 172 and I'm feeling great! Hope to crush it this weekend. Then have a beer. :-)
Congrats to everyone getting after it!
Good luck Nick. You are a beast buddy!
Good luck Nick, you got this buddy!
Sounds super muggy.....kill it Nick!
Lou, you are turning into Big Finn with these health issues but still getting it out despite them. I'm not worthy.....
Did a mini vacation to Missoula and hiked up to the M on the hill the other morning with my wife. Felt good to be out here 5 weeks before elk season.
Putting the finishing touches on my prep… down to 11% body fat and 215. Ran 5.5 miles on the mountain Monday and hit the stairway to hell with 60# pack three times a week.
About ready!!
I've been taking day 7 off and also still Fasting on day 7 too.
Seems to be a good combo,
Robb
Jordan, when the neurologist cleared me to resume pack training and said ok to hunt moose and elk in a month, I was the happiest since that day five years ago when the beautiful younger woman pulled up beside me on the road introduced herself, and said we need to get together for a beer and talk about hunting.
I never expected something like that to happen. I never expected a TIA either, and fully expected the neurologist to say "nope" about hunting this fall. Same with the pulmonology team. Like Randy, I accept what happens and make the best of it. Sometimes bad stuff happens, and sometimes blessings happen.
You're going to have a killer fall, Lou. Best of luck, buddy!
Two months out here, down 50#, inflammation issues sorted out, walking every day. Feeling good about at least one more bow season. Right shoulder surgery scheduled for after season.
Hiking and eating smoke on a wildfire in California. Lungs should be great by September
How did the race go Nick?
I'm heading out to get a good hike in this morning and then final cooler pack and off to Wyoming for the rest of the week. I went back and forth with myself on going to Iowa this week or back up to Wyo., With all the bad weather across our nation, I'm staying close to home and Viva Wyoming.
Too much rain and wind to leave yesterday, so today it is.
A pinch over 15 days before the bow opener, so I'll be hiking/scouting and Digi-scoping when I can, on this trip.
It's always nice to get away from daily life, internet, phone, ect. and enjoy a few days enjoying!
Good luck, Robb
Still smiling….it’s early.
Still smiling….it’s early.
The squad.
The squad.
Bling
Bling
Results
Results
Race went great, Robb! Couldn’t ask for better weather and we had a good sized group of friends there this year. Won my division (Masters, 50 and up).
These trails are killer. Some long climbs, quad pounding descents, rocks, tree roots, creek crossings, and stairs….LOTS of stairs, either rock or RR ties. Love this course.
Lord willing, I'll be in AZ a month from today chasing elk. On track with my training program!
It's been a heck of a spring following along with this thread and others like it. In late January work had a weight loss challenge that I decided to try. It lasted 11 weeks and I lost 31 lbs. mainly just counting calories. during this time a coworker asked if I wanted to run a 5k, I said sure why not. I signed up and completed my 1st 5k a month ago. It went well except for someone stealing the turn around sign so, I ended up running 4 miles instead of the 3.1 miles. When I started I set a goal weight of 180, I started at 234. Currently today I am at 183. I was running a lot up until the race. Now I've been walking 4-5 miles every other day with weighted pack on. Each week I'm adding 10 more pounds to the pack. This week I'm right at 50lb pack. Currently I'm a month out from heading to Colorado for OTC archery elk.
Congrats on the weight loss and first 5K, Scott!
Down 40 plus pounds since March 11, walk a minimum of 10,000 steps a day and lift 5 days a week... I have abs again LOL... I am as ready as I have ever been
Someone stole the turn-around sign? I've ran thousands of races and never once had that happen. Lol, that's kind of funny but I would have been ticked too. Congrats!
Damn, Nick — you’re lookin’ good, but NOT AT ALL like any kind of distance runner…
So hats off to you and to anyone who has succeeded in dropping lots of weight; I don’t know why, but I’m almost 60 and I’m only about #5 heavier than when I got out of college. Frankly, more interested in packing on a few pounds before I hit the trail just so I’ll have something to spare if I can’t keep up on what I can carry up the hill.
So I may have my health challenges, but weight’s not one of ‘em…. though fortunately, that alone keeps a lot of other things off the list as well… Lucky and I know it.
4 weeks till MT archery elk. Feeling very good so far. Hiking 2.5 miles with 45lbs in my pack 3 x’s a week. Lots of up and down. Tapering down the heavier lifting and just going for speed now. Still shooting 3D courses. I’ll slow it all down the week before I leave to recover. Good luck to those getting out for elk earlier than the second week of September ->>———>
“Man cannot remake himself without suffering, for he is both the marble and the sculptor."
Congrats to everyone on striving to reach their fitness goals. Keep at it and good luck this season!
Been hitting the gym pretty hard and hiking with the dogs with a weighted pack as often as I can. When a hike isn’t in the schedule for the day it’s substituted with a weight vest and a stair climber at the gym. Feeling dam good for this year. Taking a new line of vitamins and supplements too which have been awesome.
Drenched from an early morning downpour! I stripped down to the last almost dry clothes and put on some fishing fingerless gloves to warm my hands.
Drenched from an early morning downpour! I stripped down to the last almost dry clothes and put on some fishing fingerless gloves to warm my hands.
Congrats Nick.
I had a fun and very WET trip last week in Wyoming, scouting.
Congrats all you guys and your workout/weight loss accomplishments.
Good luck, Robb
72 yoa and my first elk hunt is thanksgiving week of this year. Ive been walking up to 2.5 miles a day with approximately 22 lb weight vest. A few weeks ago had a flare up of patellar tendinitis from mtn biking. Bought an e mtn bike so I can keep biking. Have 2 prosthetic hips so unable to run. Was in Maine ealier this month to raft a couple rivers with friends and just tested positive for COVID’ this past Sunday ( first time I’ve had it). Feeling ok and will start back up with hiking biking and some weight training Need to get serious on eating better cut out the snacks at night.
Back in the gym for more strength training after laying off in prep for my last race. This is my favorite kind of training...2 or 3 days lifting per week, 3 or 4 days running. I like to do lots of pullups, lots of shoulder work to keep them healthy for pulling a bow, and lots of core work. No screwing around....get in and out in 45 minutes. The bad part about laying off the lifting is I'm sore as heck right now!
Will substitute pack training for some run days before I head west in a couple weeks. Good luck to those heading out for their super bowl hunt soon!
182.1 this early AM.
I was just too skinny in the 170's, hell my ribs and ab's looked the same, to gant for me.
True that Nick, changing things up and then trying to get back on normal schedule takes a few days.
After my week in Wyoming, I'm finally back on track as today is day 7 so it's off day for working out and it's my 1 day a week, Fast day.
Good luck, Robb
198 this morning 1 week out. Will be on the mountain 28out of 30 days in September. Hopefully in the 180s when i come down. I wrestled 189# my senior year of high-school
Dam Forest, I’m surprised that sheep hunt didn’t take more out of you. I’m sure your glad to get in a break before guiding season starts.
I've been eating everything i see man. Lol
Forrest, you need to add a couple words to your vocabulary, "I'm full". You're doing awesome brother, keep it up.
I started March 11 at 219 lbs... started working out and changed my diet... I hope I am ready!!!!
And this segues nicely into the annual manscaping thread.........lol
Sorry Dan.....I'm Prez of the the local sasquatch club myself....couldn't help myself. Unfortunately I've not been 172 since I was a Jr. in HS
GREAT job on the weight loss!!!!!!
Keep it up Forest, you might have to carry me at some point...
Great work again, Danny! Inspiring my friend!
Ata boy Danny. Looking good buddy!
Hell of a journey for ya Fulldraw.
Congrats man,
Robb
Outstanding Fulldraw!!
Double post but worth repeating! :-)
thanks for the congrats and all the PM's... it has been a journey. One I hope to stay on for a bit. Good luck to all of you on your upcoming hunts, and again FORREST, congrats on a great ram...
As a follow up… I ended up not getting to elk hunt. All the time I thought I was getting in shape for the elk hunt of my life, God had a different outcome.
I ended up in a fight for my life, and although I thought an elk hunt was in the future, it turns out that the fitness journey I was on was to give me strength for something much more Important.
I ended up going in the hospital on August 30th, and spent the next 12 days in a fight. I had three surgeries and lost an additional 16 pounds, now on the mend, I am hopeful I get to elk hunt somewhere next year…amazing how priorities and perspectives can change.
Congratulations to all that met your fitness goals and those that had the amazing hunts.
Tuff break but you sound like you’ve got a handle on your health. Best of luck and thanks for the update. One day at a time.
Damn Dan.....that sucks. Sorry to hear this. Get well soon!!!
My sept ended with me down 12 lbs so now to see if it creeps back on or not.
Jordan, I'm sorry you didn't fill that tag but keep after taking care of your body. The next time you draw a tag you will be able things in the woods you never thought your body could do. I'm down 70 lbs from 3 years ago and it really paid off on my hunt this year.
Nobody ever regretted being in good health, eh Dan?? Glad you had what you needed when you needed it!
I lost a couple pounds on the hill this year; had to eat non-stop…. My watch says I was acclimated to 9350 at one point, but after a couple weeks of chores at 8600 and only a few sorties at higher elevation I’m down to 8850. Thinking about a farewell tour before I head East again and maybe I’ll kill a grouse yet. Probably get trampled by bull Elk in the process… LOL
Maybe consider it scouting for next year’s early rifle season in case I don’t draw for archery…
Only 12 months to go.. Woop Woop
Sorry to hear you missed the elk season this year but great to hear your in good health now and winning your battle. Stay at it. September 2025 will be here before you know it.
That is sad to read man.
But now you have a whole new set of goals and accomplishments to start on, slowly and steadily.
Good luck, Robb
So I am in shape but to put things in perspective for guys that don’t know what to expect or what you actually need to do to be ready for the mtns, I started hiking hills/ canyons here at home in Nebraska in late may June I can find steep hills but obviously not elevation or long grades, living at 2468’ is always an adjustment, I purchased a ruck vest and carried 30 lbs of plates my route was 1/2 mile up 1/2 mile down gaining 300’ I would do 4-5 miles on my workout working in some strength training with 50 pushups every 1/2 mile so if I did a 5 mile hike I did 500 pushups while wearing the vest as well, I hunted with guys from Colorado that were coming off of a sheep hunt and in damn good shape and could certainly hold my own on a 14 day hunt at 41 years old I definitely know where I’m at and what I need to be ready for next fall just my 2 ¢.. I used to run a lot but I find way more fat burning and real life conditions benefits from hiking with weight
