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In this conversation, Rob Shaul, Brian Reed, and Dan Stuewe discuss various aspects of fitness and the identity of being an athlete, particularly in the context of military service and coaching. They explore the evolution of fitness training, motivations, and how personal experiences shape their definitions of athleticism. The discussion also touches on the importance of leadership in promoting fitness culture and the intrinsic versus extrinsic motivations that drive individuals to maintain their health and fitness. The speakers discuss the intersection of military duties and personal athletic goals, emphasizing the importance of maintaining fitness and skill development as they age. They explore how their training has evolved over the years, the significance of discipline and resilience in their athletic pursuits, and the need to adapt their training methods to accommodate physical limitations. The conversation highlights the value of outdoor adventures and the continuous pursuit of personal fitness objectives, even in the face of aging. Still in the Game: Being an Athlete at 55+ Mountain Tactical Institute Home Check out the MTI Athlete Team Apply to be a Paid MTI Athlete MTI's Daily Programming Streams
In this conversation, Rob Shaul and Brian Reed discuss the evolution of fitness and training for military personnel, particularly focusing on the importance of endurance, mobility, and nutrition as they age. They explore the H2F program, the significance of qualifications like the Ranger tab, and the transition from military to civilian life. Brian shares insights on crisis leadership from his experiences in combat and emphasizes the mindset of an athlete, regardless of age. The discussion also touches on the role of AI in enhancing decision-making and the importance of having a purpose in training. ----more---- Mountain Tactical Institute Home Check out the MTI Athlete Team Apply to be a Paid MTI Athlete MTI's Daily Programming Streams
In this episode, Rob Shaul speaks with Command Sgt. Maj. Brandon Riley, currently serving as the senior enlisted leader for 3-66 Armor Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. Riley discusses the real work of a battalion CSM—managing standards and discipline, mentoring company-level leaders, and maintaining unit readiness. He explains the dynamic between officers and NCOs, the balance between garrison and field responsibilities, and the internal pressures of holding a formation together. Riley also reflects on his combat deployments, leadership mistakes, and what two decades in the Army have taught him about accountability, influence, and the role of the senior enlisted. ----more---- Mountain Tactical Institute Home Check out the MTI Athlete Team Apply to be a Paid MTI Athlete MTI's Daily Programming Streams
Rob Shaul and MTI Athlete Derrick, an active duty Air Force Officer based in Santiago, Chile, discuss Derrick's recent experiences with fitness assessments, particularly the Alpinist fitness assessment and the V-SUM for rock climbing. They explore Derrick's training progress, the outdoor culture in Chile, and the impact of military service on outdoor activities. The discussion also touches on leadership lessons learned from outdoor experiences and Derrick's future aspirations in outdoor sports. Takeaways Derrick recently took the Alpinist fitness assessment and found it challenging. He has been focusing on endurance training to improve his aerobic base. Derrick enjoys the new training program and has seen improvements in his performance. The V-SUM has helped Derrick enhance his rock climbing skills significantly. Outdoor culture in Chile is vibrant, with many opportunities for mountain sports. Derrick has had mostly positive military assignments that allowed him to pursue outdoor activities. He reflects on the importance of location in shaping outdoor experiences during his military career. Leadership lessons from outdoor adventures, such as those from Shackleton, are valuable. Derrick is considering future opportunities in outdoor sports after his military career. He appreciates the balance between military service and personal passions. ----more---- Mountain Tactical Institute Home Check out the MTI Athlete Team Apply to be a Paid MTI Athlete MTI's Daily Programming Streams If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and subscribe for more conversations with leaders in strength, conditioning, and mountain sports!
Guest: MTI Athlete Jonathan Edwards (@jedsoutside) Host: Rob Shaul Episode Summary: In this episode, Rob Shaul sits down with MTI Athlete Jonathan Edwards, an endurance athlete who transitioned from road marathons to ultra mountain running and backcountry bowhunting. Jonathan shares his late start in endurance sports, the lessons he learned from his first ultra race in the mountains, and how he balances running, strength training, and hunting. He also discusses his training philosophy, race preparation, and the mistakes that shaped his growth as an athlete. Key Topics Covered: Moving from Florida to Utah to pursue mountain sports and hunting Transitioning from road marathons to high-elevation ultra running The importance of strength training for endurance athletes Training volume and structuring weekly mileage for ultra races Lessons learned from his toughest races, including heat management and downhill running Balancing hunting and ultra racing His approach to fueling and hydration in long races Gear selection for ultra running and backcountry hunting His upcoming race at UTMB and how he's preparing for the biggest challenge of his career Notable Quotes: "I disrespected the mountains and the distance on my first mountain ultra—and I paid for it." "The best runners aren't always the fastest; they're the ones who slow down the least." "Backcountry hunting and ultra running both demand patience, endurance, and mental resilience." "I don't come cheap—I'd rather sponsor myself and pick my own gear." Jonathan's Favorite Gear: Running Watch: Garmin Fenix 7 Running Vest: Salomon ADV Skin 12L Shoes: Solomon S-Lab Genesis & Nike Agama Strength Training Tool: Sandbag for loaded lunges Headlamp: Fenix rechargeable headlamp Hunting Pack: Stone Glacier Sky Talus 6900 Bow: Hoyt RX-9 Ultra Upcoming Races and Hunts: March 1, 2025: Belgian Waffle Ride AZ (103-mile gravel bike race) August 2025: UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, 176 km) September 2025: Idaho elk hunt 2026: Alaska/Yukon moose hunt Connect with Jonathan: Instagram: @jedsoutside
In this episode, Rob Shaul discusses the significant changes in US policy under President Trump's administration, focusing on NATO's defense spending, military involvement in immigration, border security, and the recent dismissal of Coast Guard leadership. He also explores the implications of Trump's environmental and energy policies, the potential reduction of federal agencies, and the overall impact on tactical athletes and the military community. This Week's Arete Mountain Tactical Institute Home
Rob Shaul is the Founder and President of the Mountain Tactical Institute (MTI), where he serves as a self-educated strength and conditioning coach specializing in tactical and mountain athletes. His clientele includes professional mountain guides, alpine climbers, freeskiers, kayakers, backcountry hunters, as well as military, law enforcement, and firefighter personnel from various countries.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Join Dr. Carl Seger and Nate Barry as they discuss innovative fitness training with Rob Shaul, Founder of Mountain Tactical Institute. Explore Rob's holistic approach, combining base fitness with event-specific regimens for military and mountain athletes. Learn about the effectiveness of sled dragging for building leg strength and how ideal body weights are tailored to the demands of mountain sports. This episode is a deep dive into optimizing athletic performance through science-driven training strategies. Tune in to elevate your understanding of tactical and mountain athletics.
Jim talks with Rob Shaul about the perils of mule deer and mule deer hunting in Wyoming in part 2 of the mule deer series.
Matt Talks with Rob Shaul, founder of Mountain Pursuit. Mountain Pursuit is devoted to combating all the b.s. in hunting. It's Matt's favorite non-profit.
5th generation Wyomingite and ‘Mountain Pursuit' executive director Rob Shaul joins Robbie for a rip-roaring conversation. Its so hard-hitting that we don't want to give too much away, so listen to the end! Podcast is brought to you by: Dog And Gun Coffee: www.dogandguncoffee.com Wren & Ivy: https://www.wrenandivy.com/ Minus33: https://www.minus33.com/ Rugged X Expeditions: https://jalainsmith.com See more from Blood Origins: https://bit.ly/BloodOrigins_Subscribe Music: Migration by Ian Post (Winter Solstice), licensed through artlist.io Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Our latest podcast episode, The Tactical Athlete and Quiet Professional with Rob Shaul from Mountain Tactical Athlete, is now available. In this episode, Marcus Sprague sits down with Rob Shaul, founder and president of the Mountain Tactical Institute, to discuss how Rob and his team design mission-directed fitness programs to assist tactical athletes. We talk about common pitfalls in today's law enforcement fitness programs and some strategies you can employ today to fix them and improve your mission readiness. We also delve into the keys to becoming a quiet professional, legal challenges to high jeopardy fitness assessments in law enforcement, and how physical fitness has proven to raise your performance level in a variety of other areas Check out his site: https://mtntactical.com/ Robs article on becoming a Quiet Professional: https://mtntactical.com/knowledge/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-quiet-professional/
On today's show, we're talking a bit more about fitness (with some firearms discussion mixed in of course)! We're thrilled to have Rob Shaul, lifelong gym rat and founder of Mountain Tactical Institute, on the show to discuss his business and his insights on the world of fitness. Rob is self-educated strength and conditioning coach who is certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. A 1990 graduate of the US Coast Guard Academy, he went on to found a number of fitness organizations starting with Mountain Athlete in Jackson (2007), Military Athlete (2009), and finally MTI in 2015. When it comes to fitness, you'll be hard pressed to find someone with more knowledge and experience! For more information and to view the show notes, visit: https://www.tacticalpay.com/podcast/
In this episode I'm talking with Rob Shaul. Rob is the Founder & President of the Mountain Tactical Institute based in Jackson, WY. Rob's a graduate of the Coast Guard Academy, entrepreneur and a lifelong gym rat turned strength and conditioning coach. He originally founded Mountain Athlete in 2007, to train climbing and ski mountaineering athletes. And today the Mountain Tactical Institute, situated near some of the best natural training grounds for elite athletes any in North America, specializes in training programs for mountain, military and first responders, but also offers general fitness training, all based from Rob's decades of research and first-hand experience working with individuals who's way of life is elite performance, and pushing the limits.
Episode 028 of Beyond the Call Rob Shaul, the Founder and President of Mountain Tactical Institute, shares details on his unique training programs for law enforcement as well as other first responders. He also shares tips on how to stay fit for your specific job. Learn more about Rob and Mountain Tactical Institute at www.mtntactical.com.
This podcast is about trekking poles. Trekking poles are a surprisingly contentious piece of gear in the UL world. Their utility and usefulness is endlessly debated, and the science that backs up manufacturer claims is all over the map. It’s a murky world, but Andrew and Ryan jump in with both feet (and two poles each) to help you make some sense of it. The guys kick things off by interviewing Rob Shaul, founder and owner of the Mountain Tactical Institute. Rob makes a living training mountain athletes and military service members deployed in mountains regions, so he knows his stuff. MTI has conducted a few studies that measure the effectiveness of trekking poles on athletes under load. The interview covers those studies: how they were constructed and what they ultimately prove (or don’t prove). In the second interview, Ryan and Andrew chat with James Marco, a longtime Backpacking Light member and experienced UL backpacker. James provides some context to some of the most well trod trekking pole questions and shares his tips for MYOG poles. After the interviews, Ryan shares several scientific studies in an attempt to shed light on the big trekking pole questions: do poles make you faster? Improve your balance? Save energy? Reduce strain and impact? Next, the guys chat about the most contentious trekking pole statements the internet has to offer. If you’ve ever been in a forum fight about trekking poles, chances are you’ve heard a few of the things they cover in this section. This episode’s Gear section is a brief overview of BPL’s recent Trekking Pole Gear Guide. Ryan shares a few of his favorite poles, including a few that surprised him! In the Hiker Hack’s segment Ryan talks trekking pole field repair, and Andrew has a question for listeners concerning a common thru-hiker trekking pole breakdown. Click here for show notes This podcast is brought to you ad-free by the subscribing members of backpackinglight.com. Please leave us a review and rating, it helps other people find our show!
We live in a time of hype and self-aggrandizement. But my guest today argues that what the world needs more of are quiet professionals -- people who’s only focus is to get the job done well. His name is Rob Shaul and he’s the founder and president of Mountain Tactical Institute. We had Rob on the podcast last year to discuss his physical fitness philosophy. Today on the show, I talk to Rob about his philosophy towards work and life that he’s laid out in a series of essays on his site about what it means to be a quiet professional. We begin by unpacking the foundational definition of a quiet professional, and then Rob walks us through the traits and attributes he thinks one must develop to embody this ideal. Rob’s ideas are refreshingly understated in a culture that puts a premium on bombast. Get the full show notes at aom.is/quietprofessional.com
Rob Shaul is the founder of Mountain Tactical Institute. Rob trains first responders, military athletes, and tier 1 operators.He got his start in Wyoming, training mountain athletes. When members of the military got wind of his success, they started seeking him out to help them climb the mountains of Afghanistan. When first responders learned about […]
On this episode Adam is joined by Rob Shaul, founder and head strength coach at the Mountain Tactical Institute in Jackson, Wyoming. Rob and his team have been exclusively training mountain and tactical athletes longer than virtually anyone else in the industry and know what works and what doesn’t where it matters most—in the field. More importantly Rob and his team have a near fanatical dedication to testing and proving that their systems, programs and training produce the results they’re looking for whether they’re training a hunter, free-skier, solider or LE officer. These guys are always questioning and always looking to improve upon everything they produce and recommend. MTI is without a doubt one of the best training resources for the mountain athlete available today. If you’re not sure how to train for backcountry pursuits this episode will set the record straight! Web: www.mtntactical .com Chassis Integrity Article: Evolution of our Chassis Integrity Theory Instagram: @mountain_tactical
We don't normally think of soldiers and first responders as "professional athletes," but that's exactly how my guest today argues they should see themselves. His name is Rob Shaul, and he's the founder and president of the Mountain Tactical Institute -- a research organization dedicated to creating fitness programming that takes workouts outside the gym and gives them a mission-centered focus. Rob believes that soldiers, police officers, and fire fighters, as well as folks who participate in strenuous mountain activities like rock climbing and backcountry skiing, should view themselves as tactical athletes and train not just to train, but for a purpose outside the gym. Today on the show, Rob and I discuss what makes the Mountain Tactical Institute’s mission-focused approach to fitness different from other organizations, why it is that soldiers and first responders should think of themselves as professional athletes, why soldiers in Afghanistan started following his fitness programming for mountain climbers, why there are so many out-of-shape first responders on active duty, and how to train to become a "tactical athlete," even if you're a civilian.
It isn't about looking good. It isn't about impressing someone in the gym. Rob Shaul's experience-backed training philosophy is about forging mountain athletes that can perform when it matters, where it matters (in the mountains), and for what really matters (the outdoor pursuit of their choice, and often, profession). Rob's clientele is comprised of a diverse array of individuals from an equally diverse array of professions: rock climbers, special forces soldiers, skiers, wildland firefighters, and more. But for us, for you, and for Rob — the passion is backcountry big game hunting. Rob first joined us to discuss his training philosophy and programs waaaayyy back in Episode 5. He returns in this episode to discuss fitness, sure, but we also dissect Rob's 2016 hunting season; his first as a bowhunter, after many years of meat hunting with firearms. We hear about the lessons that Rob learned this year, such as the distractions of chasing the "latest and greatest" gear. As we usually say, and strive to make true: there's something for everyone in this episode. Be sure to check out the show notes at http://ExoMountainGear.com/62!
We all know that hunting the backcountry effectively requires a certain level of physical fitness. But how, specifically, should backcountry hunters train? What are the unique challenges that hunters face? How can hunters train effectively without spending hours and hours in the gym? Rob Shaul, founder of Mountain Athlete, helps us answer these questions and many more. Be sure to check out the Mountain Athlete website at: http://StrongSwiftDurable.com. As always, we appreciate your feedback — consider leaving us a review in iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to this show.