Operator and Firefighting

[RescueStrong4205]

Hello Everyone,

Hope you are all doing great and training hard. Just wanted to start a discussion on how firefighters are going about doing their Operator sessions while on a 24/48 schedule. I'm trying to find a way to fit in my STR, HIC, and E while managing fatigue from busy shifts.

The red blocks are the days I'm at the station in my rotation. I part time a bit as well but have been cutting back because of how tired I have been. Any tips are welcome.

[Aelian]

Are you training on red days or white? You might want to look into Operator I/A and read the newer articles on the site; Operator Options and Fobbit Intervals in particular.

[RescueStrong4205]

Red days i'm at the station and the most I can do is Mobility, Core, and light spinning. We are fairly busy so I try to train around my shifts.

[J-Madd]

Hello Everyone,

Hope you are all doing great and training hard. Just wanted to start a discussion on how firefighters are going about doing their Operator sessions while on a 24/48 schedule. I'm trying to find a way to fit in my STR, HIC, and E while managing fatigue from busy shifts.

The red blocks are the days I'm at the station in my rotation. I part time a bit as well but have been cutting back because of how tired I have been. Any tips are welcome.

Have you seen the version of OP I/A in TB 3rd Ed.? I think you're the poster person for that template!

[RescueStrong4205]

Hey J-Madd thanks for replying (Side note* I'm looking forward to your book. I'm 26 but appreciate your knowledge and I am sure ill learn something from the book!)

I have read all the TB's and have come up with this based on the OP IA but I'm not entirely sure where to place the HIC or E or if the placement of my strength days are correct. In the example below I try to place my Strength days the day before a shift and not the day after so that I am fresh for them. But when I try to place my E's or HIC i'm not sure if they will cut into my strength. Another question I wonder about is if STR is tougher on the body or if HIC is. If that is the case then maybe having STR after a Shift is the better option. A couple of guys on my shift are interested in running OP as well but we are all trying to figure out the best way to do so.

[Aelian]

Red days i'm at the station and the most I can do is Mobility, Core, and light spinning. We are fairly busy so I try to train around my shifts.

I'm not sure if I understand when you can and when you can't train. If I have it right you aren't planning on running operator/training on red days. If so my suggestion still stands to run Op I/A, it's a perfect fit.

Edit: disregard, just saw you posted a more detailed schedule

[RescueStrong4205]

Aelian. Exactly. On my shifts(red days) I dont train. I just do light active recovery work if anything. Thanks for the reply!

[Maxrip13]

Fire fighters whinging about not being able to train on shift.... some of us don't get to sleep if there are no jobs on and actually have it hard

On a serious note OP I/A is the way to go with this sort of shift work. I just had a very successful couple of months doing I/A to get around all the crazy shifts I have been having. Another tip is to set up a certain amount of sessions you want to hit until your next retest/progression and just tick them off as you go.
e.g
Max strength x9
HIC x9
Endurance x5

I just did the above and had great results. I moved away from the weekly schedule and just trained when I knew I could achieve the session and it allowed me to take days off when work interfered. Some weeks I only trained twice a week and others as much as 5 days a week. You miss out on the frequency aspect, but my body absolutely loved the extra recovery when nit was needed.