Tactical Fitness Report with Stew Smith Podcast · Stew Smith

Summer Training Habits and CSS Critiques + LIVE QA with Stew Smith

·52 min·3 clips

Stu Smith says heat training needs water, electrolytes, and a banana before workouts.

1. Tactical Fitness Report with Stew Smith focuses on summer training habits, CSS swim critiques, and live QA with Stu Smith. 2. Stu Smith is the host, and he uses live questions and screen-shared swim footage to coach tactical-athlete preparation. 3. The episode asks what training habits matter most in oppressive heat and how to handle swim, run, and selection prep. 4. Stu Smith starts with heat management, saying workouts in sweaty shirts and squishing shoes mean more water and electrolytes are needed. 5. He recommends pre-workout hydration, a banana, extra water bottles, electrolyte pouches, fruit, and a spare shirt. 6. He says he keeps chicken noodle soup on hand and adds salt or electrolytes when he feels lethargic after training. 7. During workouts, he uses cold water, shade, sunscreen, and the Cool Mitt, which he describes as expensive but useful. 8. After training, he says to rehydrate, eat normally, weigh before and after, and watch for losses near 2% of body weight. 9. He says each pound lost may require about 20 ounces of water, and he notes that dehydration can lead to cramping and injury. 10. He connects poor hydration to calf cramps, Achilles pulls, and the risk of heat stroke. 11. In the Air Force Academy question, Stu Smith says recruits need to absorb a lot of information, manage stress, and adjust to altitude. 12. He says teamwork matters because helping squadmates reduces homesickness and keeps attention off personal frustration. 13. For BUD/S-style prep without beach access, he suggests hills, parking garages, stairs, and a stair-stepper with a weight vest. 14. He cites a quarter-mile hill, soft-sand alternatives like a dry riverbed and a plowed field, and an article he wrote on weighted stair steps. 15. On Navy PST programming, he tells Patrick to start with Calisthenics and Cardio before Navy PST Phase One if the athlete is still a beginner. 16. He says the advanced section already covers squats, lunges, running, swimming, mobility, pull-ups, pushups, dips, and sit-ups. 17. He also explains that crushing the PST can lead to better standing and, for some candidates, a $25,000 signing bonus. 18. The swim coaching segment is direct and technical, with Stu Smith counting strokes, calling out over-gliding, and correcting hand position and timing. 19. People interested in tactical fitness, Navy and Air Force prep, and swim mechanics will get the most from this episode. 20. People wanting light conversation or a narrative story arc will probably skip it.

As heard by us

Practical summer heat training advice that stays grounded and useful.

The episode reads like a practical check-in on training through summer heat, with sweat-soaked shirts, pacing, and the small habits that keep a day from going off the rails.

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Why you'd press play

Use this when the summer heat is turning your training into mush.

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