June 22, 2024
Reading Time: 8 minutes
What I Discuss with James Pieratt
-How James Pieratt, the founder of Wild Hunt Conditioning, draws inspiration from historical warriors and ancient fitness practices to craft engaging, rigorous workout routines…05:32
-The concept of a hybrid athlete, a person skilled in both strength and endurance sports, and the way James embodies this through combining heavy lifting with ultra-endurance running…07:52
-James’s physical and mental tactics during a challenging run along Folsom Lake and the American River Trail…11:05
-Nutrition strategies James used during his ultramarathon through the Sonora desert, focusing on his hydration techniques and choices for maintaining energy levels under extreme conditions…14:33
-Supplements James recommends for mitigating the effects of sleep deprivation during long endurance events and his personalized approach to managing unusually high salt loss through sweat…18:36
-Spartans’ unique training regimes, their societal structure revolving around warfare, and what modern fitness enthusiasts can learn from them…21:40
-The intense physical demands placed on English longbowmen, including the incredible strength required to wield their iconic longbows effectively…34:48
-James’s upcoming book, which will provide an in-depth look at various warrior cultures through history and their distinct training methodologies…38:26
-James’s widely acclaimed functional fitness programs, which are designed to enhance physical capabilities through historically inspired exercises and modern fitness techniques…39:45
-The historical practice of Aztec warriors running with weights to prepare for battle and the cultural importance of physical skills in Aztec society…44:15
-Dietary habits of ancient Spartans, including their reliance on game meat and the infamous black soup, which played a crucial role in their nutritional regimen…46:16
-Unexpected athletic backgrounds of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, highlighting Lincoln’s wrestling expertise and Washington’s physical vigor…50:15
-The life and achievements of Donald Denny, one of the most versatile athletes ever, proficient in a range of sports from weightlifting to traditional Scottish games…56:07
-How Walt Whitman, known primarily as a poet, was featured in James’s book for his robust physical routine and his philosophical views on the benefits of fitness…58:22
-James’s daily routine and his innovative kettlebell training program inspired by Soviet athletic practices…1:01:48
-The guerrilla warfare techniques of ancient Israeli warriors, their strategic prowess in battle, and how their challenging environment shaped their military tactics…1:06:16
-And much more…
Imagine having the ability to explore the secret training halls of ancient Sparta, the Arctic strength-building methods of the Inuit, and the magical underwater world of a tribe of aquatic superhumans in the South Pacific…
Today's guest, James Pieratt, one of the longest-ranged runners on the planet, has made it his mission to take you on a journey through history that provides valuable insights into how you can improve your own life through physical fitness and mental fortitude.
In this episode, you'll gain insights from James, a record-breaking wilderness ultramarathon runner, into the training tactics of ancient warriors (which he teaches at Wild Hunt Conditioning), receive an in-depth look at the Spartan warrior diet, uncover the incomparable strength and wrestling abilities of historical U.S. presidents like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and get a sneak peek at his new book, A History of Physical Fitness, which analyzes the evolution of physical fitness trends, training techniques, diets, and mentalities.
Get ready to uncover the strategies that have unlocked James's superhuman potential to run 500 miles in ultramarathons—all without the aid of a gym membership—so you can equip yourself with both ancient wisdom and modern methods for optimizing your life!
Please Scroll Down for the Sponsors, Resources, and Transcript
Episode Sponsors:
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Resources from this episode:
– James Pieratt:
– Podcasts and Articles:
- Ben’s interview with Allen Lim of Team Timex
- My Favorite Dirt-Cheap, Portable Workout Modality For Building Muscle, Increasing Endurance, Burning Fat, Enhancing Recovery & Much More.
- The Resurgence Of The Kettlebell: How An Old-School Tool For Strongmen Became A Must-Have Piece Of Equipment For Athletes And The Average Person.
– Books:
- The Feed Zone Cookbook by Biju Thomas & Allen Lim
- The Encyclopedia of Underground Strength and Conditioning by Zach Even-Esh
- The Bible
– Other Resources:
- Keto Brick
- Skratch Labs Recovery Drink
- Ketones
- Creatine
- Colostrum
- NAD
- Dr. Pepper
- Gatorade Patches
- Electrolytes
- RKC Certification
- Great Lakes Girya
- Pavel Tsatsouline
- Mark Bell Gym
- Highland Games
- IRONMAN Israel
Upcoming Events:
- Biohacking Retreat with Ben Greenfield — Costa Rica: Oct 28–31, 2024
Connect with the essence of biohacking amidst Costa Rica's natural beauty. Secure your spot here to ensure you don't miss out!
- Ben Greenfield Retreat — Portugal: Nov. 12–16, 2024
Experience the ultimate wellness retreat this fall in Portugal with four nights of luxury accommodation, gourmet meals, rejuvenating spa treatments, daily calisthenics workouts, and workshops on alchemy and Kokedama. Secure your spot here.
- Wim Hof Method Travel — Seminarzentrum Riederalp, Germany: December 11–15, 2024
Join the attendees who come from all over the world, seeking to push themselves to new heights, process hardships or trauma, and simply enrich their lives with new experiences and friendships. You can discover more and book your spot here!
- Keep up on Ben's LIVE appearances by following bengreenfieldfitness.com/calendar!
Click here for the full written transcript of this podcast episode.
Do you have questions, thoughts, or feedback for James Pieratt or me? Leave your comments below and one of us will reply!
The FIRST ingredient in the Scratch Labs ‘recovery’ drink is…sugar! Dextrose appears later. 22g added sugar and Ben Greenfield has no problem selling it.
Says a lot.
it’s designed for exercise. Do you realize how little 22g of sugar is during an endurance training session?
Ha! Too funny. Just like most of the energy “shots” out there. 200 calories in a single serving packet.
I recall the touted benefits of the maltodextrin products (complex carb), which made sense to stay away from the simple sugars for better osmotic pressure for gastric emptying. This “cluster Dextrin” sounds very intriguing.
I’d like to know how this compares to Vitargo?
Speaking of World’s greatest athletes: while not being an “athlete” could you imagine the athleticism of Sampson? Being able to take on 1,000 men single-handedly? Of course he was gifted by God, but aren’t we all?
Peace,
Tom