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Active Recovery Days: The Most Underrated Tool in Your Training Arsenal
Everywhere you look, the fitness industry glorifies going harder. Grind. Hustle. No days off. While that mindset might fuel short-term...
darkhorseathlete36
5 days ago5 min read


Strength Training for Tactical Athletes: Maximal vs. Functional Strength
Strength training is a non-negotiable for military personnel, law enforcement officers, and firefighters. Yet, there’s a massive...
darkhorseathlete36
Mar 148 min read


How to Build Elite-Level Rucking Strength and Endurance: A Beginner’s Guide
Rucking—walking or marching with a weighted backpack—has long been a cornerstone of military training, but it has recently gained...
darkhorseathlete36
Mar 77 min read


Turning Setbacks into Strength: How Athletes Can Rebuild After Physical Adversity
Setbacks are inevitable in an athlete’s journey. Injuries, poor performance, or unexpected obstacles can derail progress and shake...
darkhorseathlete36
Feb 78 min read


Enhance Your Performance with the RAMP Warm-Up Protocol
One of the biggest mistakes athletes make is neglecting a proper warm-up. Whether you're lifting heavy, running, or preparing for combat...
darkhorseathlete36
Jan 245 min read

Dark Horse Athlete Training Team: Your Path to Elite General Physical Preparedness.
Welcome to Dark Horse Athlete "Ready for Anything." This isn’t just a motto—it’s the foundation of everything we do at Dark Horse...
darkhorseathlete36
Jan 175 min read

GOAL SETTING IN 2025
Setting goals is the backbone of success in fitness, tactical performance, and life. But let’s be real: most people suck at it. They...
darkhorseathlete36
Jan 36 min read


Recovery Modalities for Athletes: Boost Performance and Prevent Injuries
Athletes across disciplines—whether grappling on the mats, pushing through grueling endurance events, or moving heavy loads in the...
darkhorseathlete36
Nov 15, 20248 min read

Athlete Classification: Dark Horse Athlete’s Guide to Long-Term Progress
At Dark Horse Athlete, our approach to training starts with understanding where each athlete currently stands. When new athletes join our...
darkhorseathlete36
Nov 1, 20247 min read


Understanding RPE: The Why and How Behind Your Effort
The Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) is a self-assessment tool that allows athletes to gauge their intensity level during training, using...
darkhorseathlete36
Oct 18, 202410 min read


Breaking Through Training Plateaus
Every athlete, regardless of experience, hits a training plateau at some point. Progress stalls, and frustration sets in. Whether your...
darkhorseathlete36
Oct 11, 20247 min read


Maximizing Female Performance: Understanding Volume and Recovery Differences
When it comes to program design and it's individualization, one often overlooked aspect is the difference in how men and women respond to...
darkhorseathlete36
Oct 4, 20245 min read

How Upper Body Strength Training Improves Running Mechanics and Endurance
Many endurance athletes, particularly runners, hesitate to incorporate upper body strength training into their routines. They fear that...
darkhorseathlete36
Sep 27, 20245 min read


Unilateral vs. Bilateral Strength Training: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters
In the world of strength training, exercises can be categorized as either unilateral or bilateral. If you're training with the Dark Horse...
darkhorseathlete36
Sep 13, 20244 min read


Functional Overreaching Weeks in Strength and Conditioning Programs
Functional overreaching is a powerful tool in the arsenal of any strength and conditioning coach. It’s a deliberate and strategic...
darkhorseathlete36
Sep 6, 20245 min read

Deload Weeks: Essential Recovery in Strength and Conditioning Programs
What is a Deload Week? A deload week is a planned reduction in training intensity, volume, or both, typically occurring every few weeks...
darkhorseathlete36
Aug 30, 20244 min read

Understanding Rates of Decay in Strength and Conditioning.
As athletes, maintaining peak performance across a wide range of fitness qualities is no small feat. Whether it's max speed, strength...
darkhorseathlete36
Aug 23, 20245 min read


Zone 2 Conditioning: Why It’s Essential for Every Athlete.
In the world of fitness, there’s a common misconception that you can either train for strength or endurance, but not both. This couldn’t...
darkhorseathlete36
Aug 16, 20247 min read

Athlete Analysis: The Importance in Designing Individualized Training Programs
After the Task/Needs Analysis, the individual Athlete Analysis is conducted. If you are unsure what a Task/Needs Analysis is, please...
darkhorseathlete36
Aug 1, 20246 min read


Part 7: Psychological Considerations in Training.
In this final installment of this series, we will explore the psychological aspects of training, focusing on how an athlete's mental...
darkhorseathlete36
Jul 24, 20247 min read
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