Ready to Respond: Strength and Conditioning for First Responders
This program was built by a First Responder, for First Responders.
We know the unique demands of the job: the long shifts, unpredictable calls, and the mental and physical stress that comes with serving on the front lines. That's why we designed a program to help you build the strength, endurance, and resilience you need to always be Ready to Respond.
Every element of this training has been tested and proven by active-duty first responders. It's built to carry over directly into the real world:
🚑 Strength you can rely on when you're lifting, carrying, or moving under pressure
🚒 Endurance and work capacity that lets you keep going when the situation doesn't allow you to stop
🚓 Confidence under stress so you feel prepared and capable in the most uncomfortable situations
🚨 Built for those with experience: A basic foundation in compound lifts is recommended so you can make the most of the program and safely push your limits. (If you have no prior lifting or exercise history, we recommend spending some time with an in-person personal trainer to learn the fundamentals before joining us.)
This program isn't just about getting stronger in the gym, it's about being ready for whatever comes your way. Shift after shift, call after call, you'll know your body can handle the demands of the job.
If you run into any issues or have questions, reach out anytime on Instagram or right here on TrainHeroic, we're here to support you.
Prep
A
Lower Body Warm Up Circuit
Warm-Up Protocol Cardio Primer (2–3 Minutes): 0:00–1:00: Easy effort (2/10). 1:00–2:00: Moderate effort (4/10). 2:00–3:00: Increased intensity (6/10). Dynamic Circuit (3 Rounds): 10 Bodyweight Good Mornings: Focus on a slow, controlled hip hinge; feel the tension in your hamstrings. 10 Bootstrappers: Sink into a deep squat, grab your toes, and drive your hips high to stretch your hamstrings before returning to the squat. 10 Cossack Squats Body Weight (per side): Maintain an upright chest and drive your working knee over your toe. 10 Air Squats: Utilize a 3-second eccentric (downward phase) and a 2-second pause at the bottom to build control and stability.
B
Zercher Squat
5 x 70
C
B Stance Landmine Romanian Deadlift
D1
Farmers Lunge
D2
Dumbbell Single Leg Calf Raise
E1
Cable Crunch
E2
DB Side Bend
E3
Farmers carry
Recovery
F
Lower Body Cool Down
Perform 2 rounds of the following circuit. Perform each movements for 30s/side - Couch Stretch - Knight To hamstring Flow - Standing Calf Stretch
Prep
A
Upper Body Warm Up
Upper Body Warm-Up Cardio Primer (3 Minutes): 0:00–1:00: Easy effort (2/10 intensity). 1:00–2:00: Moderate effort (4/10 intensity). 2:00–3:00: Increased intensity (6/10 effort). Dynamic Circuit (3 Rounds): 10 Banded Pass-Throughs: Keep your arms straight; focus on moving through a controlled range of motion to open the chest and shoulders. 5 Inchworms to Standing: Walk your hands out to a high plank, then walk them back toward your feet, finishing with a tall, upright standing position. 10 Ring Rows (or Low Bar Pulls): Maintain a rigid body position; focus on retracting your shoulder blades to initiate the pull. 5 Push-up to Down Dog: Perform one quality push-up, then push your hips back and upward into a downward dog to stretch the lats and hamstrings.
B
Dips
5 x 70
C
Lat Pulldown
D1
Incline DB Bench Press
D2
1-Arm DB Row
E1
Rope Curl
E2
Tricep Extension
E3
Lateral Raise
Conditioning
F
Upper Body Cool Down
Upper Body Cool Down: Recovery Protocol Perform 2 rounds of the following circuit. Hold each movement for 30 seconds per side: Dead Hang: Focus on decompression of the spine and shoulder girdle. Rainbow Stretch: Focus on thoracic rotation and lat mobility. Chest Stretch Flow: Focus on opening the pectorals and anterior shoulder.
Prep
A
Full Body Warm Up
Full Body Warm-Up Cardio Primer (3 Minutes) 0:00–1:00: Easy effort (2/10 intensity). 1:00–2:00: Moderate effort (4/10 intensity). 2:00–3:00: Increased intensity (6/10 intensity). Dynamic Circuit (3 Rounds) 10 Ring Rows (or Low Bar Pulls): Maintain a rigid body position throughout. Initiate the movement by retracting your shoulder blades before pulling yourself toward the anchor point. 8 Body Weight Kang Squats: Start with a hinge, maintaining a neutral spine until you feel a significant stretch in the hamstrings, then drop your hips into a full squat. Keep your chest up throughout the transition. 6 Push-up to Down Dog: Perform one quality push-up, then drive your hips back and upward into a downward dog position, focusing on stretching the lats and hamstrings. 20ft Bodyweight Walking Lunge: Keep your chest proud. Ensure your back knee touches the ground gently before standing up and bringing your feet together.
B
Sumo Deadlift
5 x 70
C
Landmine Meadows Row
D1
Half Kneeling Landmine SA Press
D2
Cossack Squat
Circuit
E
Mayday — AMRAP 14 As Many Rounds As Possible in 14 Minutes 200m Run (or 15 Calorie Row/Bike) 15 Kettlebell Swings (53/35 lbs) 10 Box Jump Overs (24/20") 5 Devil Press (35/25 lbs DBs) Coach’s Notes This is a longer-duration sprint. The goal is to keep the intensity "rolling" by managing your transitions. Since this is an AMRAP, do not treat the first 5 minutes as a warm-up—get moving, stay moving, and hold a pace you can maintain for the full 14 minutes. Strategy: Use the run/machine to find your breath, but keep the transition to the kettlebell as short as possible. Movement Standards: On the Devil Press, focus on a controlled descent and a powerful, explosive lockout. Scaling Guidelines Kettlebell Swings: Reduce weight to a level where you can keep the movement explosive. Box Jump Overs: Switch to Step-Overs to lower the heart rate and improve sustainability. Devil Press: Reduce dumbbell weight; ensure you are not compromising spinal alignment to get the weights off the floor. Post your total rounds and any scaling notes in the group Discord!
Recovery
F
Full Body Cool Down
Perform 2 rounds of the following circuit. Hold each movement for at least 30 seconds per side: Chest Wall Stretch: Focus on opening the pectorals and anterior shoulder. Butcher Block Stretch: Focus on thoracic extension and lat release. Frog Stretch: Focus on hip internal rotation and groin mobility. Figure 4 Stretch: Focus on hip external rotation and glute release.
A
Cardio
Recovery
B
Full Body Cool Down
Perform 2 rounds of the following circuit. Hold each movement for at least 30 seconds per side: Chest Wall Stretch: Focus on opening the pectorals and anterior shoulder. Butcher Block Stretch: Focus on thoracic extension and lat release. Frog Stretch: Focus on hip internal rotation and groin mobility. Figure 4 Stretch: Focus on hip external rotation and glute release.
Joey Sherman
Head Coach & Active paramedic My goal is to get you into the best shape and comfortable enough to endure anything, while making the process as enjoyable as possible.
When you join a team you’re getting more than programming, you’re joining an online community.
Ready to Respond Baseline
Ready to Respond Baseline
Ready to Respond Baseline