Getting physically ready for elk/ hunting season thread

[txdukklr]

I'm at 211 and want to be 185 by my mid september hunt

i guess i shouldn't have eaten that burger just now. I wish mine was sympathy weight it's I'm a lazy ;slkjfd;lsjfd weight.

just realized it's time to get it on.

[Shane]

I am sure everyones efforts will end up being enough to get the job done when the hunt comes but for myself I would want to be in the best shape possible before going into it. Heaven forbid I shoot an elk 4 miles from the closest road and have to pack the thing out.

Give me the same 2 exact out of shape 40yr old men 2 months out from an elk hunt and put one of them through 2 months of Crossfit and the other through 2 months of hiking,running, and stairs and I will put every cent that I have to my name that the guy that did Crossfit for 2 months is going to look like a mountain goat up on the side of the mountains compared to the guy that hiked,ran, and did stairs for 2 months. Again, hiking,running, and stairs WILL get the job done but to get into the BEST shape possible I would choose Crossfit myself (and that is because I have done both types of excercise and there has been (at any time) NO comparison between the two as far as results goes) - I hope you kill another monster! Good luck

I wouldn't disagree at all, but the one weakness of CrossFit for a serious backpack mountain hunt is that it doesn't do a lot to get your feet in shape for the torture of that type of hunt. It doesn't matter how strong and fit you are if your feet are so torn up that you can hardly walk on them. There's just no way you can toughen up your feet in 10-40 minute workouts. If you go barefoot most of the time, you'd be OK. But if you wear comfortable shoes/boots all day when you're not working out in the box, you're going to need to do something else to get your feet ready for what they're gonna be put through on that type of hunt. Going up and down hills with a load on your back for several hours a day is BRUTAL on your feet.

[Pernell]

I have been archery elk hunting for 25 years and the most important part about archery elk hunting is being in shape. No matter how you do it, get in shape. You may want to look at an Elevation Training Mask, they are incredible. Be able to shoot 60 yds and be able to shoot out of breath.

[Kevin]

I wouldn't disagree at all, but the one weakness of CrossFit for a serious backpack mountain hunt is that it doesn't do a lot to get your feet in shape for the torture of that type of hunt. It doesn't matter how strong and fit you are if your feet are so torn up that you can hardly walk on them. There's just no way you can toughen up your feet in 10-40 minute workouts. If you go barefoot most of the time, you'd be OK. But if you wear comfortable shoes/boots all day when you're not working out in the box, you're going to need to do something else to get your feet ready for what they're gonna be put through on that type of hunt. Going up and down hills with a load on your back for several hours a day is BRUTAL on your feet.

Not to mention the higher rate for injury. Take two 40 year old guys that aren't in shape and put one in a high intensity crossfit program right away, and put the other in a solid basics program that gradually gains momentum, and you will likely have one broken 40 year old and one guy in decent
shape.

You can find as many articles against crossfit as for it. I have nothing against it personally, but you just have to decide if the risk of injury is worth it. I am also not entirely sure how sustainable it will be for people that do this for 20-30 years.

Good read...

http://breakingmuscle.com/crossfit/where-crossfit-fails-training-vs-testing

[Kevin]

Pernell, can you recommend an elevation training mask? 14000 ft kicked my ***.

[Shane]

A 40 year old out of shape guy isn't going to be able to jump right in to a full high intensity CrossFit workout program. I sure wasn't able to. I had to start slow and work my way up to higher intensity, just like every other kind of workout. 2 months isn't enough time for most 40 year olds to go from out of shape to CrossFit pro. It's definitely enough time to see some great gains, but it would take at least a year to get fully up to speed (up to potential, maybe is better).

I've had minor injuries from every type of workout I've ever tried, now that I think about it. I don't really think CrossFit is any more dangerous than anything else. It's a great workout/lifestyle. I will probably get back into it at a local gym sometime in the near future. I was doing it on my own before, but joining a gym would be much better. The last few months I've been doing a combination of CrossFit, regular weight lifting, and running. But none of that prepared my feet for hiking with a 50# pack on my back. There's just no other way to get the feet ready other than hiking with a heavy pack, as best I can tell.

I'm thankful that my sheep hunt will be in Texas, so I won't have to deal with thin air. That's a butt kicker too.

[Split Arrow]

Not to mention the higher rate for injury. Take two 40 year old guys that aren't in shape and put one in a high intensity crossfit program right away, and put the other in a solid basics program that gradually gains momentum, and you will likely have one broken 40 year old and one guy in decent
shape.

You can find as many articles against crossfit as for it. I have nothing against it personally, but you just have to decide if the risk of injury is worth it. I am also not entirely sure how sustainable it will be for people that do this for 20-30 years.

Good read...
http://breakingmuscle.com/crossfit/w...ing-vs-testing

I did not find this article to be particularly insightful or useful. He assumes that "for time" or "as many reps as possible" means absolute maximum effort for the duration of the workout. He doesn't even mention that the workout is scalable, which it is. Of course people record their times and weights and try to be the best they can be- this is no different than people recording their weight, reps, and sets at a normal gym.

His dehydration analogy is terrible and not applicable, which even the author of this article admits.

Health decline in crossfit is imminent? Based on what?

The author is a clown.

[texas bound]

Not to mention the higher rate for injury. Take two 40 year old guys that aren't in shape and put one in a high intensity crossfit program right away, and put the other in a solid basics program that gradually gains momentum, and you will likely have one broken 40 year old and one guy in decent
shape.

You can find as many articles against crossfit as for it. I have nothing against it personally, but you just have to decide if the risk of injury is worth it. I am also not entirely sure how sustainable it will be for people that do this for 20-30 years.

Good read...
http://breakingmuscle.com/crossfit/w...ing-vs-testing

From the outside looking in I can see where you and the guy who wrote the article are coming from but if you have good coaches and are going to a good box and you listen and leave your pride at the door then the risk of injury is the same or less then someone hiking all over the place with a 45-60 pound pack on there back. I have seen far more injuries doing long hikes with a good bit of weight on someones back then I have yet to see in CrossFit.

As far as an out of shape 40 year old man just jumping into CF and it being to much for them I say you are wrong on that sir. I have seen numerous 250 plus guys come into CF that you can tell hasnt done a bit of training in god knows how long do just fine and never had a problem with injury. It all depends on your coaches and yourself. If you try to go to hard all the time, or you dont listen to what your body is telling you or what your coaches are telling you then yes you can get hurt but you can get hurt doing any kind of sport or training.

[Chadroe]

I climb 32 flights of stairs everyday. Sometimes with added weight on my back. Stretching is very important as well.

[Kevin]

Of the guys that are posting, how many of you have been doing crossfit religiously for 5 years? I am not against crossfit, but I also dont think its the best workout for everyone in every situation, and that is the general mindset I see of most people in crossfit (read most of the above posts).

Of the 3 people in my office that are doing crossfit, 2 of them had to stop due to injuries. Maybe I am biased because of that.

[bowhunter2989]

I can see both sides. I did crossfit for a year and it had amazing results. But i also ran an additional 3 miles a day ,either a long slow run, or interval sprints ect... A lot of people that start crossfit see the WADS and think they have to do what everyone else is doing. Thats not the case. I scaled back the weights to what i could do. I always did the smae number of reps as everyone else but i had to start with lower weight. Trust me, even if you are doing the workouts with little to no weight you will see improvements and be able to move up with weight pretty quickly. Likewise though, its not for everyone and i understand that. I never saw an injury at the gym i was at because we always took our time to stretch and if we couldnt do something then we wouldnt do it. Plain and simple. The main thing is that your preparing. I say do what you feel works best for you. I know this thread wasnt started as a debate for the best workout but its kinda morphed into that. I commend you for starting early and sticking with it. Keep us updated on the results and what you find best for you!

[ShockValue]

Maybe some should start a cross fit thread instead of hijacking this one.

[Blood Trail]

I wish I weighed 220 again. You can do it.

You and me both.

[Kevin]

Maybe some should start a cross fit thread instead of hijacking this one.

Russ can take a little thread hijacking, but you are right!


Back to the topic... I just did this 11.5 mi hike/run through low elevation mountains and it was grueling. It basically goes over the peaks with very little side-hilling. I HATED it when I was up there, but will do it again on my visit a couple weeks from now. Basically, the only way I can motivate myself to keep working out and eating right is to have goals. My goal is to be in mountain shape, and its still an ongoing process. Right now I am focusing on building muscle mass, which for me is very difficult.

Distance: 11.5 mi
Elevation: + 3000 ft gained and -3500 ft lost over total distance
Duration: 5 hrs




If you look close, you can see the trail heads toward the taller ridge closer to the lake and then hits almost every peak from there. Ouch!

[Russ]

Maybe some should start a cross fit thread instead of hijacking this one.

Ah heck...its cool. I like to see what people think of crossfit. I do it from time to time.

I just don't see how 30 minutes can prepare your body and feet for 5-10 mile hikes that take hours. I do like the workouts though and think it improves strength, muscle memory, and aestetics of the body.

I wish I had big hills round here but for now 15% incline on the tread mill and stair steppin is all I got. It worked fine with my weight training in the past.

Gonna take measurements and post soon. Anyone else interested in keeping their challenge going please do the same. We can all motivate each other!