Month 10 of training with Force Fitness owner Rich

If you’ve been following this series over the last 10 months, you’ll know that Force Fitness owner Rich was training with Building The Elite, who specialise in training special ops forces for selection. BTE training usually culminates with a test based on the entry standards for the special forces, so Rich has been training running, rucking, and swimming, rowing, compound lifts, and bodyweight exercises like push-ups and pull ups.

In this final instalment in the series, Rich explains why he’s shelved his BTE plans without testing himself against those standards - and why he’s absolutely fine with his decision.

Force Fitness – training inspired by the elite forces fitness

The reason Rich signed up with BTE all those months ago was because Force Fitness is so heavily inspired by military training. Our rucking gear and weighted vests allow anyone to load up and tackle rucks, runs, and loaded marches – which are the foundation of military training the world over.

Month 10 – a big decision

Rich has been travelling on and off with his family for a few months now (they’re getting as many adventures under their belts as possible before his son starts school). Naturally, this meant he wasn’t always able to stick to the exact training plan BTE had given him. 
 
So he found himself gravitating more towards running and bodyweight training – stuff you can do anywhere, regardless of access to gyms and weights.
 
Rich has decided to end his BTE training a couple of months early, and it’s taught him some interesting lessons.
 
“Managing my training whilst we’ve been travelling so much has shown me that you don’t always have to be regimented with training to be fit and athletic,” he said. “A few years ago, I would have struggled with not finishing a plan and probably would have pushed myself too hard just to stick with it. But the decision to step away and do my own thing is a sign of maturity as someone who trains.”
 
We agree. How many of us have been a bit too type-A about training or sports events in the past? Pushing through just because we’ve said we’ll do it, often leaving us injured, exhausted, or falling out of love with training?
 
As Rich rightly says, the ability to know when to push, and when to back off, is the sign of a mature athlete who can look at the bigger picture – a lifetime of training.
 
“It’s easy to get caught up in the moment and feel fired up by mantras like “never fail”, said Rich. “But there must be some balance with training and life. If you’re not a pro athlete, you need to know when to back off.”
 
Rich shared the mindset hack that helps him make good decisions about training and taking part in events. “Would this make the 80-year-old me proud?” 

Highlights of month 10

Rich might have stepped back from his BTE training but he’s still got plenty of highlights to share. This month, he decided to shift his training from endurance work to power and speed work. It’s a great way to leverage time, and it’s tackling a weak area.
 
In Sri Lanka, Rich used the beaches for his run workouts, running one mile fast out, doing some explosive bodyweight work, and running the mile back. 
 
And in Dubai, Rich ran with a running club a couple of times and fell in love with sprint work, tempo training, and intervals.

Training to be fit for life

“My goal continues to be a well-rounded human who is fit for life,” said Rich. “I want to be fast, strong, and have endurance so I can do sports events when I fancy it, but more importantly so I can carry my son on my shoulders for ages.”
 
Rich turns 40 this year and will be focused on staying athletic and fit at 40 and beyond – regardless of where his family’s travels take him.
 
He shares his training on his personal Instagram so drop him a follow here if you want to keep in touch.