- As long as you’re eating enough, you don’t have to choose between strength and endurance training, said Nick Baer.
- Bare is a former Army ranger turned fitness pro who ran marathons in under three hours.
- Baer’s military experience has given him the resilience to reach his fitness goals, he told an insider.
It’s a popular belief that you have to choose between endurance and strength, but it’s a myth, according to US Army ranger turned personal trainer Nick Baer.
Having run sub-3 hour marathons, completed Ironman and ultramarathons, and also competed as a bodybuilder and powerlifter, Baer believes it’s entirely possible to build muscle while running long distances. He calls it “hybrid training.”
Bare studied nutrition in college, during which time he founded a supplement company, Bare Performance Nutrition, before enlisting in the U.S. Army for four years.
It was Baer’s time in the military that taught him a mindset that he says has led to his success in physical fitness and sports, and his motto, “Go again.”
Bare has a workout app with a variety of training programs including running, strength and mobility, and encourages the community to test their limits.
“You never know where your potential is until you test it,” says Bare. “And doing something really hard is a great way to fully test your physical and mental potential.”
You don’t have to sacrifice power to run
In his youth, Baer’s main focus was muscle building.
“I used to have this mindset of wanting to gain size and strength. I was afraid of cardio because I thought it would burn my muscles,” he said. I thought it would be restricted.”
Bear wanted to build endurance, but was worried about becoming a “little skinny runner.”
But through self-experimentation, research, and research, Bear has learned that he can do both.
The trick, he said, is to eat enough and not overdo it too quickly.
“We recognize that cardio training is only useful for our ability to build muscle and strength and vitality in life,” he said.
To be a good runner, you don’t have to run more than 70 miles a week to build your endurance. And if you want to maintain strength and muscle, it’s important not to overdo it, Baer says. 20 miles or less is fine.
“Can you be the best bodybuilder, the best strength athlete while running? Maybe not,” says Bare. “If you want to maintain your size and strength, can you be the fastest runner in the world? Maybe not. , there is a way to do it.”
Gradually increasing the amount of training is important. Instead of simply adding cardio to your regular strength training (or vice versa), cut back on strength training by 20-25% and use that time and energy for running. This should prevent overtraining and allow your body to recover.
Auto-tuning, which means listening to your body and using common sense, is also important, he said.
Diet also plays a big role in training hybrid athletes. Not eating enough is one of the biggest mistakes he makes when trying to build muscle and endurance at the same time, says Bare.
The military helped Bear build mental resilience
Baer has always been interested in fitness, but his time spent in the military showed his potential, he said.
To become an Army Ranger, Bear had to complete an intensive 61-day tactical and leadership course. It took him 145 days, he said, because two of his phases failed.
“They are evaluating you based on your leadership potential when you are tired and hungry, leading other people when you are very tired and hungry.” says Bare. “I spent four and a half months in ranger school. I lost over 30 pounds, which means I lost almost every muscle because I don’t exercise, I’m just doing missions all the time.”
Nick Bear in the US Army.
Nick Bear
But the experience has taught him that there is nothing “incredible” and that he can push his body beyond what he thinks it can do, Baer said.
When it came to being physically active in extreme sports, this “competitive mental advantage” was far more important than physical strength.
That mindset now influences Bear’s training program.
“All these things I do go back to the military mindset of ‘Where is my full potential in terms of physical ability?'” he said.
