Put “Vascular” into Your Cardiovascular Training for Greater Endurance and Fat Loss

In intense full body exercise our hearts can supply only 1/3-1/2 of the muscles. To deal with this limitation, blood vessels in muscles and organs that are not too busy constrict while those in the working muscles dilate. This redistributes the blood flow, delivers more oxygen where it is needed most, and eases the work […]

All-Around Training for the Tactical Athlete

In the movie “Remember the Titans,” Coach Boone is the new head football coach of the first integrated school in Virginia. The school staff and parents immediately begin criticizing him. As they are preparing to leave for pre-season camp, Boone is carrying his playbook—a very thin portfolio of plays. Assistant Coach: “Awful skinny playbook in’t it?” […]

Acid, the Enemy of the Quick—An Excerpt from The Quick and the Dead

Over 200 years ago, Swedish scientist Jöns Berzelius discovered lactic acid in the muscles of an exhausted stag that had just been hunted down. Acid is the enemy of both tension and relaxation, drawing one into the stiff no-man’s land in between. It muffles the brain’s commands to the muscles, inhibits all three energy systems, […]

Podcast Episode #20: Carmen Bott

 StrongFirst Podcast Episode #20 Summary Professor Carmen Bott is a strength and conditioning coach from Vancouver, British Columbia who specializes in physical preparation for combative and collision sports athletes. Show Notes 00:56 – Coach Bott talks about her history and how she got into the sports science space. 02:41 – Coach Bott’s thesis on […]

Podcast Episode #14: Al Ciampa

StrongFirst Podcast Episode #14 Summary Al Ciampa, U.S. Army Veteran and Trainer for U.S. Air Force, talks about anti-glycolytic training and conditioning for the military with your host Craig Marker. Show Notes 01:36 – Al talks about his history and background. 07:10 – Al discusses why bodybuilding is not possible for some people. 09:00 – […]

The Snatch Walking Protocol for Ultra-Athletes

A growing population of endurance/ultra-athletes and coaches are moving towards StrongFirst programming. These athletes and coaches bring questions on program design utilizing Strong EnduranceTM protocols. In this article, I will share the snatch walking plan I’ve designed using one of these protocols. Most of my students use this plan at the end of many months […]

Quarantine Fitness

I grew up hiking, skiing, mountain biking, and hunting in the mountains of southwestern Montana. Following college, I joined the military and served in the US Special Operations Command for sixteen years before transitioning to a corporate job in the private sector. When I was much younger and fitter, I experienced some of the most […]

Running Without Running: Training For A Half-Marathon When You Have A Full Schedule

Smart runners know a little strength training goes a long way to helping improve performance and reduce risk of injury. Smart coaches know sport-specific training should be built on a foundation of good movement. Anyone who has tackled the StrongFirst snatch test knows you can improve cardio endurance with resistance training. Could a program combining […]

Research Breakdown: Why Does Exercise Make us Healthier?

Why does exercise make us healthier? One of the most important linkages may be due to improving our mitochondrial functioning. Healthier mitochondria may be the route to living better, healthier lives, while also being better in our sport or work. This article is the first in a series breaking down current research and how you […]

Podcast Episode #13: Dr. Kelly Starrett

 StrongFirst Podcast Episode #13 Summary Dr. Kelly Starrett talks with Craig Marker about strength, conditioning, and moving well. Dr. Starrett is a coach, physical therapist, author, speaker, and blogger, as well as the owner of San Francisco Crossfit and MobilityWOD.com. Show Notes 01:15 – Dr. Starrett talks about his early work and his relationship […]