7 (unconventional) FITNESS TIPS

I’ve spent the last 4 years being skinny. Running Ironmans and ultramarathons. The events keep me focused day to day and raise my overall fitness level. My body weight went all the way down to 172 (possibly lighter but I couldn’t even look at the scale at this time!) Was it worth it? I love the mental challenge of endurance events. So for me, yes!

Tip 1: Have a date on the calendar.

The real reason I stopped Powerlifting? I got board! Quickly I transitioned into Strongman. It might seem like the same sport from the outside looking in but the training is much different. In strongman you lift a lot of different objects and carry objects. Powerlifting sticks to the big 3. Squat/ Bench/ Deadlift. My max body weight was 215 lbs. I squatted and deadlift over 700lbs! Benched 465lbs!

Tip 2: Do quit. Just PIVOT

Strongman was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it. I went on to trap bar deadlift 800 lbs. I slipped a disc in my back which started to hinder my training. I managed to come back in a few short months to win NY Strongest Man in January 2020. Shortly after we entered the covid pandemic. Around this time I also sprained my ankle. I was beat up! Years of heavy lifting and nagging aches and pains. I decided to take time away from all things gym. I would still train now and then, but most of my exercising looked like: walking, jogging, rucks, bodyweight training and occasional gym lifts. I got really into (and still am) the holistic side of things: breath work, ice baths, sauna, time in nature. Other training/ exercises I enjoy: Kayaking, paddle boarding, mountain biking, road biking and slack lining. All great for my soul.

Tip 3: When it’s time to move on. LET GO QUICK!

I didn’t spend much time thinking about all the muscle and weight I was losing. I stopped force feeding and started fasting. I love to fast. If you’ve been following along you know I practiced OMAD (one meal a day) for some time. Regularly doing single and multiple day fast. The mental and spiritual clarity I receive from fasting feels like a gift. Or a cheat code. There’s a reason fasting is practiced in major religions. However, not eating food negatively affects training and performance. (Obviously)

I began to lose a lot of weight and started to ruck a whole bunch more. Which made me hungry all the time. Oh well! DO HARD THINGS. Even though my training was not aligning with my ability to perform at my highest level it didn’t matter. My goal wasn’t (and isn’t) to be a world record holder (again) in any sport. I am doing things simply for the love of the challenge.

Here’s my last race. I finished 19/135. Ran 71 miles. That was very good for me! In other ultras I finish in the back 30%. The Ironmans I come in at the middle to back of the pack-ish.

Tip 5: You don’t have to be the best to compete! Get in the arena for the CHALLENGE!

I’ve completed a few 50k rucks and a 100k ruck. Ran two half Ironmans and a Full Ironman. Ran two 50ks and a 71 miler. I really love these running events. But, Ironically… I don’t do a lot of running. Running is OK. Not my favorite or least favorite. But I really love to ruck! Rucking is basically put 20-30lb backpack on and walk. It’s hiking! But a lot of my rucking is while on calls for my work. Or carrying my kid around! It’s very practical for the current season of life I am in. In spring, summer and fall I’m taking my family on +4 mile walks everyday. Sometimes it’s broken up into a few neighborhood walks. Other times it’s a hike. There’s lots of times we walk 8-10+ miles a day! We love it! Best conversations happen on walks and in nature

Tip # 6 - Find you fitness FOR THIS SEASON OF LIFE

Recently, things have been getting stale for me. I do enjoy the rucking. I’ll keep doing that! I love the Ultra endurance events. I’ll keep running those! My plan is to keep the ruck volume up (which fits my lifestyle perfectly) and use that as a bulk of my training for the endurance events. I’ll probably do some running now and then to keep the movement fresh(ish)… but not a ton! Not nearly the amount of running that a conventional endurance runner would. (Which is why I probably wont be winning these things.. however, we’ll see. =)

Of recent, I said to myself. How about a new challenge?

I’ve been fasting a ton. Only doing body weight training. Some running. And rucking

What if I flip it upside down?

Thats exactly what I did 3 weeks ago! I decided to start strength training again. Not just body weight and sandbag training. But to get back into the gym and start moving some weight. Hitting the machines. “Getting back to my roots” if you will... But this time I want it to be different. I’m 33 years of age and my priorities are different at 33 than when I was 23 setting records. I want to continue to be able to move well (like I do now!) I love having the endurance to take my family on all these adventures and never get tired! I can carry everything and everyone. Even the dog as you saw in the previous picture haha. Alright then, this time around lets get stronger, while staying athletic and being able to move well (and far)

So thats my new digs. My new goals! I’m putting on some size again. I’m back up to 190.8 lbs today. Up from the mid 170s the past few weeks. I’m eating big. But healthy! Around 4000 quality calories a day. I know how to bulk… I’ve done it effectively on many occasions. But, it’s a different challenge and a different discipline. I’m enjoying that challenge. I’m still rucking. I will be doing even more of it this year then last year as I have a goal to beat my distance of 71 miles! I plan to weigh more (20+lbs) going into this event in 2025 than I did in 2024. Carrying more muscle and size will pose its own challenges while trying to run+71 miles. I’m up for it! I have big goals to take my family on awesome adventures and lots of camping trips (we go out for a week almost bi weekly for +6 months! In this time I wont have (or want) access to a gym. So on those weeks I’ll ruck and do body weight training. On the other weeks I’ll be hitting the gym. That’s the vibe for me all 2025 when it comes to fitness. Lift heavy and hard. (Maybe gain some lbs along the way!) Ruck far. Then show up and try to set a run distance PR! Opposite ends of the spectrum for goals. But thats whats got me excited right now. I’ve been lifting weights and been around the gym since before age 12 (step dad owned a gym) over 20 years! Dang. Feels old to say that but I don’t feel old at all. I learn new things all the time in fitness and about my body. I’ve chosen to be a life long learner and that makes life interesting if you ask me. I’m interested to see how this year goes and how my body adjusts. I’ll be keeping you in the loop with training and nutrition every couple weeks via email. If you have any questions feel free to email me!

TIP 7: Stay a life long learner. TRY NEW THINGS!

DoHardThings

-Zach