The Apache

Of the many Native American tribes in United States and Mexico, the various bands of Apache carry a reputation of fierceness, resourcefulness, and an almost superhuman stamina. The name “Apache” is perhaps a misnomer as it refers to several different tribes that are loosely connected. In fact, “Apache” is actually a variant of the Zuni word “Apachu” which roughly translates to “enemy”. This is quite telling and shines a light on the warrior nature of these tribes.

Legendary Warriors

Among the various Apache tribes you will find the Kiowa, Mescalero, Jicarilla, Chiricahua (or “Cherry-Cows” as early Texas settlers called them), and the Lipan. These bands sustained themselves by conducting raids on the various settled Pueblo tribes, Mexican villages, and the encroaching American settlers.

These American settlers were often immigrants of all nationalities with a strong contingent of Germans, Poles, and quite a smattering of the French. Tales of Apache fierceness so captured the collective French mind that Parisian gangsters back in France were nicknamed “Apache”.

Many of the legendary Native American warriors of these early days such as Cochise, Nana, Victorio, Juh, and Geronimo were members of the various Apache bands, and what further separated the Apache from many other Indian tribes was the fact that women were often warriors as well. There are countless tales of their distaff exploits, particularly those of the fierce Lozen, sister of Victorio.

A Bloody History

Now, admittedly, the history of guerrilla warfare waged by the Apaches and the long fight by the US Government to stamp out these raids is indeed violent (almost shockingly so), but we must not forget the context surrounding them. Even the men charged with capturing and defeating the Apache—esteemed warriors in their own right—such as Generals Nelson Miles and George Crook had more than a begrudging respect for the tactics of the Apache and were more sympathetic to the causes of their aggression than history usually reports.

If we leave behind the causes of the violence on both sides (real or surmised) and move on to how the Apache forged their warriors—both male and female—from an early age, we may find more than a few intriguing ideas to add to our own training.

A Warrior Culture

Today let’s focus on one facet of Apache ruggedness, their astounding stamina– in particular, their ability to run long distances in harsh terrain, blistering heat, without water, and without “scientifically engineered” footwear. The Apache were noted for their use of many unusual tactics to build endurance, including an odd motivation involving cold water swims – but we’ll save that for another day.

The Apaches, like other warrior cultures (the Spartans come to mind), started warrior training early. Even a cursory look at Apache “games” for the young reveals that most of these games seem to be no more than preparation for ruggedness, stalking, concealment practice, and ambush-oriented skills. Running was a huge part of this training and there are numerous “games” or motivational tactics used to keep this push for stamina fresh.

Apache Games

First, when we say long distance running, we are not talking 10ks and the occasional marathon. The Apache, like the present-day Tarahumara tribe profiled in Christopher McDougall’s book Born to Run, were a running culture. The difference between the tribes is that the Apache were using running to build warriors who could do what a horse was not able to do on rugged terrain and in a punishing climate.

There are several military reports from various forts and outposts in the territory which record Apache scouts and/or “hostiles” traveling as many as 70 miles in a single day. Keep in mind, these reports of distance are not outliers, but commonly reported occurrences.

Apache children—boys and girls—were conditioned to run hard and run long, not so much by increasing distances but by increasing the hardship of a given distance. Hill scrambles for bragging rights were often used, and by “hill” we mean rocky, scree-ridden escarpments that call for lots of quadrupedal scrambles to make it to the top and then make it back down with all the speed one dares.

Let’s focus on an unusual method of increasing hardship that has both a combat-utilitarian purpose, an anaerobic training aspect, and more than a little “F with your head” component.

The Mouthful of Water Run

The Apache tribes primarily resided in harsh terrain where access to water was scarce, and one might travel miles and miles with no access to water. To train children to running with intent and to treat water as a scarcity, only to be consumed when it was really needed and not merely sipped for convenience or whim’s sake (take this to heart Camel-Backers), the Apache women would give each child one sip of water which they were not to swallow.

They were then sent on their run (long-distance, hill scramble, stalking run, or whatever the focus of the day was), but the child was instructed “Do Not Swallow the Water.” At the end of that day’s drill the child was to spit the water out in front of the “trainer” and woe to those who failed. In my experiments with this tactic I find the following:

• Mucous production goes into over-drive as a superheated pharynx seeks to clear mucous somewhere, that somewhere is the face.
• The urge to swallow hits way earlier than I expected.
• Pace becomes affected about 20%, as the ability to smoothly mouth-breathe oxygen is no longer an option. You’ve got to learn to moderate pace in relation to this reduced oxygen intake (nose-breathing only and a nose that is partially filled with mucous.)
• In flat or mere distance running one can become acclimatized to this with work.
• Hill scrambles, sprint work, and working under-load suffer the most.

Train Like An Apache Warrior

With that said, I offer the following drills that allow us to apply this fascinating conditioning tactic without ever really approaching the hardcore cultural immersion that gave birth to it. In each of these versions of “Apache Running” it is understood that you will take one big mouthful of water and hold it until the given task is complete.

• The Miler – I suggest using the standard mile run as the starter for your use of this technique to get your mind wrapped around how you will respond to the restricted nature of breathing. Hit your fastest mile and if at any point you feel the urge to swallow or spit drop the pace back until you can re-gain control.
• The 5K – The same as above but with a 5K or straight 3 mile distance run.
• Intervals – Hit a series of 10 50 yard sprints with your rest being your walk back. Keep the water held in the mouth until after all 10 sprints are completed.
• The Four-Wheeler – Optimally you will find a steep hill, one that requires a bit of climbing or at least hands-on-terrain portions. Scramble up and down that hill as quickly as possible.
• Under Load – Grab a sandbag 20-30#’s will do, and hit a 2 mile run.
• The Circuit – Run a standard box-style circuit with the Apache Mouthful protocol.

For the circuit, try the following:

• Power Clean (135/115/95)
• Pull-Ups (15/12/9/6/3)

See For Yourself

Once you have one or two experiences with Apache Running you’ll discover for yourself whether or not you gain any aerobic/anaerobic benefits from using a training mask. The empirical efficacy results of that piece of equipment are all over the place, but with a mouthful of water there is no expense.

At the very least you’ll build discipline from the uncomfortable nature of the training while simultaneously forging a cross-historical bond with a recreation of what was used by some the most resolute warriors on the planet.

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