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Apache Running

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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132 thoughts on “Apache Running”

  11. Thanks.. I’m of Apache desent.. running long distance with water in my mouth and swallowing later must be instinctive for me.. it’s in my nature and do it with out thought

    Reply

  12. This is a well written article. I grew up in Arizona and had the privilege of meeting an Apache Chief, at that time I was the smallest person in my grade at school. He called me Little Red Hawk I was enraged until he explained that Red Hawks are one of the small birds of prey and have been known to steal food right out of another birds claws. I also know a trick for when u are thirsty and water is sparse, hard to find or gone. Pick up a small rock or pebble and put in your mouth and suck on it or just keep it in your mouth. You produce saliva and you trick your mind u have water. It works I used it when I was in the military.

    Reply

  13. Awesome training methods. As a Lipan Apache, I remember my Great Grandmother teaching us these methods as a challenge to see who could endure the game.

    Reply

  19. Thanks for this info, Very intrasting I am Aztec and Mayan and in my early years did long distant but no where in the condition you speak of . Much love to all

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  20. Thank you for the informative article. I was completely unaware of this training and look forward to attempting it for me as well as my children. Thank you again

    Reply

  22. Awesome stuff, fine read. Thanks for your contribution! I love the Natives and dearly wish they would be/were treated better. They had living figured out and euro-trash came and ruined it all, typical. Seems all Europe can do is be greedy, self absorbed and detrimental to the rest of the world. Just look at world history, all natives of lands were called savages and purged and that is unacceptable.

    Reply

  28. In about 1985 I was with a friend from Switzerland checking a prospective job at the edge of the Empty Quarter. Jebel Hafite drops a thousand feet or whatever at 60 degrees plus angle down to level sand. The scree slope is 80% covered with loose rock. My friend had done his national service a couple of years before and was in good shape. We didn’t go to the top, just enough to know how to bid the job and whilst I was going down facing the hill my “infantryman” friend was running down at about a 5 minute mile pace, perhaps better. He made it just like a mountain goat but had quite a wait for me.

    So look for Swiss to show you how to descend scree slopes. No comment on the water idea.

    Reply

  31. Very interesting. Will try it some day but first I have to get up to running a mile. I’m in my sixties but all of the new training and info I have been receiving has given me a new frame of mind.

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  35. Never heard of Mark Hatmaker, and after doing a little web searching there’s a good reason why. Most seem to feel his writing is highly contradictive. That said, I live in the Arizona desert and mountains, and am friends with several members of the various Apache tribes. Unfortunately, modern practice’s have sadly put an end to these ancient rituals long ago. And while some have heard stories of these rituals, none could say just how accurate Mr Hatmaker’s conceptualizations were.

    I can say this after surviving the high desert for the last 40 year’s. The discipline you would need to accomplish these feat’s would take many years to acquire. And even in my Spec-Ops youth I would be a long way from achieving any of the things he describes.

    And while stamina is a good thing to have, it’s not something you necessarily want to put first into training. You don’t want a fight to go a second longer than it needs to. You want to put your opponent down just as quick as possible. Let him (or her) bear the scars of defeat, suffer through the trips to the doctor, or be visited in the morgue. Train first to end the fight, or avoid it altogether. Train second to stay healthy.

    I’ve seen a scrawny 90 pound woman take out 3 men way more than twice her size with her hands and an improvised weapon (magazine). Took about 15 seconds. When you have to, strike first, strike hard and strike to end the conflict.

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  37. Thank you for this information. I am so stoked to complete this challenging goal. leaning into what is completely new to me. Beautiful. I’m hoping to master the technique and experience it fully. Thanks 🙏🏼

    Reply

  47. This is awesome I have Indian in me but never knew how to pull this out of myself. Because my heart always said climb or run but my body has a weakness to it that can’t explain. But my weakness was caused by family members girls don’t climb girls don’t run cause there dress may ride up. Don’t do that you look like a monkey. But that natural tendency to climb or run is innate, I inherited it from somewhere.would love to see more.

    Reply

  48. Excellent article. The Apache exploits make me wonder what their feet looked like. I would think infection would be a constant problem.

    I am curious as to the current Apache decendants ability to compete in marathons and collegiate cross-country events. I cant remember an Apache winning the Boston or New York Marathon.

    Reply

  49. My uncle was Native American and he taught me the same principle many years ago. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
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