CrossFit Endurance: Programming for Military Athletes

In this video, CrossFit Endurance coach John McBrien shares endurance programming tips for military athletes—athletes already in the military, athletes in a military school or athletes training to enter service.

McBrien says CrossFit Endurance training for the military begins with CrossFit five to six times per week, with more volume to mimic the increased volume of military training. In addition to CrossFit, McBrien adds CrossFit Endurance to the programming two to three times per week using two different approaches.

One approach is to use military programming as sports-specific running with weight. For the first week, you would add weight to one or two intervals, and for the second week you would rotate and add weight to the longer runs.

Another approach is to use military programming as multi-sport training, with running, carrying heavy weight and swimming as separate “sports.” Each would have a frequency of twice a week.

“You’re basically taking the single-sport prescription/multi-sport prescription and you’re twisting it based on the needs of that military athlete,” McBrien says.

4min 33sec

Additional reading: A Theoretical Template for CrossFit Endurance Programming by John McBrien, published Sept. 15, 2010.

January Jones Christina DaRe Malin Akerman Melissa Joan Hart Bianca Kajlich