Stew Smith Fitness News

Running, Swimming, Lifting Athlete Defined (more clearly?) I received this question the other day. I realize I use a variety of terms that I thought go without explanation but let me give a few details when I use the terms "running athlete", "swimming athlete" or "strength/power athlete." All of these athlete types have inherent strengths and weaknesses. An undeveloped weaknesses will be exposed on the first day of spec ops training, basic training, police/fire academies too. In fact, your weakness will be your toughest event when going through any tactical fitness program. Ignore training your weakness at your own peril......

The Steps to Making It To and Through Selection: What You NEED to Know I can usually see the answer to this question when I ask a few questions of recruits / candidates who tell me they want to become a ________ special operator. If any of these issues below are you, you have more work ahead of you than you realize and may put yourself on a timeline that will not work for you: - When I ask you your fitness test scores and you do not know the test events or competitive standards. - When you do not know...

4-6 More Weeks of Winter Lift Cycle or Start Spring Training? It Depends... You know the story of Groundhog Day. The groundhog comes out to assess the weather situation to determine if it will be an early Spring or 4-6 more weeks of Winter. That is what we are doing as well. Depending on the scores of various lifts, calisthenics, and cardio events, you may need to do a few more weeks of lifting or be ready to shift focus and get into more calisthenics/cardio-based training.  Depending on your goals, if you worked hard all winter to get stronger and more durable and put on...

The Rule of Thirds and How it Applies to Your Training and the Makeup of Your Future BUD/S Class...  You may have heard about the Rule of Thirds if you have trained hard for an athletic or tactical fitness goal. I first heard it in my teens/early 20s when training hard for sports and pre-military service. It goes like this: - 1/3 of your training days will be great! Top Notch - PR Level Performance even. - 1/3 of your training days will be good but not bad. Not 100% but not bottom 50%.  - 1/3 of your training days will...

You Will Be Older Longer Than You Are Younger  Seems like a blink that I was on this field doing my first workouts as a Plebe at USNA. (now almost 40 yrs ago) Hey, OGs, who needs to get back on the fitness wagon? It's time to face the truth: you will be older longer than you were younger. But don't let that discourage you! It should motivate you to take control of your health and wellness NOW as you navigate this new phase of your life, or soon-to-be life - if you are lucky. I made this realization in my 40s and developed...