Yomping Your Way to Endurance: A 12-Week Training Plan

Yomping is a British military term for marching quickly over rough terrain while carrying a heavy load. It's a great way to build endurance, strength, and mental toughness. Whether you're training for a military challenge or just looking to get in shape, Yomping can be an effective way to push your limits.

 

Here's a 12-week training plan to get you started:

Week 1-2: Foundation Building During the first two weeks of training, focus on building a strong foundation of cardiovascular endurance and lower body strength. Start with three days of low-impact cardio such as walking, cycling, or swimming. On the other two days, perform bodyweight exercises such as squats, lunges, and step-ups to strengthen your lower body. Start with three sets of 10-12 reps at 60-75% of your 1-rep max for each exercise.

Week 3-4: Load Carrying During the next two weeks, start to introduce load carrying into your training. This can be as simple as carrying a YOMP Co Y-Co- 1 Backpack with some weight in on your walks or hikes. Start with around 10% extra of your bodyweight. Aim to gradually increase the weight of your backpack each week, but don't overdo it. Remember to maintain good posture and take breaks when needed.

Week 5-6: Hill Training During weeks five and six, focus on hill training to improve your lower body strength and cardiovascular endurance. Find a hill that takes about 10-15 minutes to climb and descend. Start with one ascent and descent, and gradually increase to three. Focus on maintaining a steady pace and good posture while carrying your load.

Week 7-8: Interval Training During weeks seven and eight, incorporate interval training into your routine. This can be done on a treadmill or outside. Warm up for five minutes, then perform intervals of one minute at a high intensity followed by one minute of rest. Aim for five to seven intervals, and finish with a five-minute cool down.

Week 9-10: Long Yomps During weeks nine and ten, start to increase the duration of your yomps. Aim to walk for at least 90 minutes at a steady pace while carrying your load. This will help to build your endurance and mental toughness.

Week 11-12: Tapering During the final two weeks of training, start to taper your workouts to give your body time to recover and prepare for your challenge. Reduce the intensity and duration of your workouts, but continue to maintain your cardiovascular fitness and lower body strength.
Remember to always warm up and cool down properly, and listen to your body. If you feel any pain or discomfort, take a break and rest.

Yomping can be a tough and challenging activity, but with the right training plan, you can build the endurance, strength, and mental toughness you need to succeed. Good luck!