This week, Military Muscle columnist Bob Thomas writes about one of his favorite pieces of workout gear -- the TRX. He writes:
The trainers at our gym in Pensacola, Fla., are unapologetic disciples of the TRX suspension training apparatus. Some, including clients, call themselves "TRXies" (pronounced "trexies"). We use it in almost every program for our clients, young or old. In short, it allows you to:
• Train anywhere you can anchor the strap that will support your weight, for example a cross bar, tree limb, door jamb or tank barrel.
• Adjust intensity to suit your fitness level, simply by changing your body angle, sometimes in conjunction with changing the length of the strap or your base of support.
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• Train in a multijoint — even multiplane — integrated environment, just like real life. (Did someone say "functional fitness"?)
• And finally — and in my opinion, this is the Holy Grail — engage and strengthen the core at all levels all the time. Remember, the core is more than just the abs.
In other words, all of the things that assist in injury prevention (increase mission readiness), injury rehab (get back in the fight faster) and as Ken Taylor of the TRX company says, "It works for senior leaders with senior bodies."
(Video and photos by Mike Morones/Staff)
The model for this workout is retired Army Maj. Tim Hardy, an Army territory manager for TRX Force — the company's military division. Last year he finished the winter 135-mile Arrowhead Ultramarathon in Minnesota and summer 135-mile Badwater Ultramarathon in Death Valley, Calif. He's also the one responsible for my TRX addiction.
Tim told us a little about why he love TRX. He writes:
In my experience TRX is the best stand-alone, total body fitness system any ultramarathoner, endurance athlete, or tactical athlete can cross train on.
TRX builds strength, mobility, a highly resilient core and durability. You can extend every single exercise to an intensity level and duration that builds your anaerobic endurance and toughness. I used TRX extensively and exclusively last year in cross training for the Arrowhead 135, and augmented my TRX with TRX's Rip Trainer ramping up for the Badwater 135.
I consider myself to be an average runner, certainly a very average ultrarunner. A win for me at an event like either Arrowhead or Badwater is simply crossing that finish line and TRX -- coupled now with the Rip Trainer -- is the secret weapon in my training package that really increases my chances to be successful at any ultra-distance event.
For the record, Tim isn't average -- he's just humble. He's got big plans for 2013, we'll keep you posted ...
