Success leaves clues.
If you’ve spent any time around the SEALgrinderPT tribe, you’ve probably heard the name Glenn Bland. Glenn is one of those athletes who refuses to quit. Whether it’s crushing the SEALFIT Kokoro, finishing 100-mile endurance events, or standing on top of some of the most challenging mountains in America, he continues to prove that grit beats talent when talent refuses to work.
Mount Whitney is the tallest peak in the lower 48 states, rising to 14,505 feet above sea level. Reaching the summit is no small task. The climb demands physical fitness, mental toughness, proper preparation, and the ability to keep moving when the body wants to stop.
In this interview, Glenn shares lessons learned from training, altitude, gear selection, mindset, nutrition, and what it takes to successfully reach the summit of Mount Whitney. If you have dreams of climbing a mountain, completing a GORUCK, tackling a SEALFIT event, or simply becoming tougher than yesterday, you’ll find valuable takeaways from Glenn’s journey.
Can I get a big Hooyah for Glenn Bland? Let’s dive into the interview.
SGPT: It was great to see you out at the Death Valley bike ride for Honor Flight San Diego. Tell us about what you have been up to lately?
Photo: Death Valley Bike Ride for Veterans Honor Flight San Diego with Glenn Bland.
GB: Currently I’m training for the Wildcat 100 in Pensacola in September. I’m rolling the Ouray 100 until July 2027 due to a tarsal coalition flare up. Ouray is 43,000 feet of cumulative elevation gain, entering less than 100% is almost guaranteed DNF.
SGPT: Tell us about your ascent of Mount Whitney with your daughter?
GB: Climbing Whitney with my daughter Erika in 2022 was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. She had recently lost 160 lbs of body weight. The following month she completed the Goruck Recon Raider Basic at Pendleton.
SGPT: Then you completed an ascent of Mount Whitney by yourself recently? Tell us about that climb. Recently I went up to visit my dear friend’s ashes/presence
SGPT: You also climbed the “Mountaineers route” with your mother?
GB:I went up in 99 with my Mom (mountaineers route) she was 57 at the time.
First thing to mind when things get difficult: Self talk voice says “This is not the hardest thing you’ve ever done, be grateful you’re here” Center yourself/intentional breathing
Thinking about turning around:
I did on one trip when the snow at the base of the switchbacks was waist deep. The danger ⚠️ level was just too high.
What lessons did i pull from Kokoro?
Life is a sequence of climbs between plateaus. Just make it to the next plateaus/evolution.
Tired, cold and hungry at altitude, what’s your self talk?
breathe and center, think about harder things you have accomplished. Think about firing up the espresso burner at the top. Think about how lucky i am to be alive here and now!
How do you break up Whitney into bites.
*base camp mile 4
*trail camp mile 6
*trail crest mile 8
*summit/espresso mile 11
Training prep questions
1. 3 days of strength training, 3 days of vertical and descending.
mobility every day.
2.Lots of box step ups, stairs, and leg blasters. 15% incline treadmill.Hike with poles outdoors
3.leg blasters
4.All of the above
5.Not doing specificity training. Underestimating the importance of eccentric training.
Endurance and nutrition:
1. A week out start drinking more water and increase your carbohydrates by about 10-20%
2. plan for 16hrs. x 300 calories per hour. Bring three quarts of water and a filter. 2-3 pacs of liquid IV or similar
3.This is very much climber specific. When you hit 12,000 ft you’ll know 😅
4.fatigue is a factor from start to finish , probably mostly the last 1.5 miles before the summit and the lat two miles
Leadership and teamwork:
1.extremely important, will make or break the trip.
2.Folks that have trained specifically for this kind of work.
3.Helicopter rescue, will elaborate.
4.overcoming adversity in mostly controlled situations. Courage/wisdom.
Lessons learned:
1. Stay with your buddies. Downhill is just as slow and tough as uphill
2.Backup power for your nav and phone
3.Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
4.The first time i reached the summit it gave me the confidence to build on for another challenge.
SGPT specific questions:
1. Any of your workouts that include step ups, and weighted rucks.
2. Man’s search for meaning
3.Damn you’re lucky 🍀 you get to do this.
4. At 50 years old i still felt that i hadn’t peaked in endurance. Completing my toughest challenges were after 50
5.Make sure you do an adequate amount of training with the gear you’re using on the climb/hike. Rucksack, shoes, poles, layers, food, electrolytes, etc. Don’t try anything new on the event itself.
SGPT: You have quite an endurance athlete career dating back to 2001. I was checking out your profile on Ultra Running and all of the endurance events you have finished.
You finished the2026 SoCal Ultra Trail – Tejon Ranch (62 miles):
2025 Arizona Monster 300 (300 miles):
2024 Orcas Island 100 (100 miles)
2023 Canyonlands Ultra (50 miles)
Avalon Benefit 50
Key West Ultra
SGPT: You have completed SEALFIT Kokoro after numerous tries, you finished the Orca 100. You have attempted the Ouray 100 and set to knock that out this summer. Talk about each one of those endurance events and how they are different.
GB:
SGPT: Tell us about your next big project in finishing the Ouray 100. That looks like a very tough race.
GB: Regarding Ouray, I’ll continue training for the next year with the following:
Strength training three days/week
Hill repeats Tuesday and Thursday 3-4k ft each day.
Saturday or Sunday
5-7k ft
mobility every day!
SGPT: Thanks for the interview Glenn and thanks for being a big part of the Death Valley bike ride for Honor Flight San Diego.
GB:
About the Author:
Brad McLeod is the founder of SEALgrinderPT.com, a former U.S. Navy SEAL, endurance athlete, and coach dedicated to helping athletes develop physical fitness, mental toughness, and a warrior mindset.
Brad served as a coach and cadre member at SEALFIT Kokoro, where he first met Glenn Bland during Glenn’s successful completion of the grueling 50-hour crucible. Over the years, Brad has followed Glenn’s journey through endurance events, mountain challenges, and personal development pursuits that embody the spirit of continuous growth.
Beyond coaching, Brad has shared the trail and road with Glenn during challenging endurance events, including the annual Death Valley ride supporting veterans through Honor Flight San Diego. Their shared experiences in extreme environments have reinforced many of the lessons discussed throughout this interview: resilience, teamwork, adaptability, and the willingness to keep moving forward when conditions become difficult. Through SEALgrinderPT, Brad continues to inspire athletes to embrace challenges, seek adventure, and discover what they are truly capable of achieving.
RELATED ARTICLES:
SGPT Interviews Unbeatable Warrior Finisher Eduardo Garrido Rios