Obstacle training is one of the most fun and unique ways of working out. It completely takes the monotony out of the everyday gym visit and adds that element of excitement and variety. This is the ultimate motivator, right? If you actually look forward to training and getting exercise, then you will obviously be much more inclined to include it in the daily routine. Pretty simple!
Another season of American Ninja Warrior is winding down and it's popularity is bigger than ever. It's easy to see why, right? You have people of all ages, each with an interesting backstory, competing on the same course. Where else can you see a 20 year-old female, former gymnast compete against a 50 year old male chef who survived a major head injury? It really is TV gold. While the stories of these competitors are intriguing, the athleticism shown is far more fascinating in my opinion.
For many people, the first thing they say to themselves when they decide it's time to get in shape is, "I need to start jogging.".
Over time, when it comes to our athletic training, we all tend to develop the mindset of, "this has always worked for me, so there's no reason to change it." Or, "I'm comfortable with what I'm doing and it seems to be getting the job done."
We all tell ourselves at some point that we are going to get in the habit of doing something consistently that is beneficial to our health, sport, fitness, career or life. It's the same story for many people. We start our new habit with excitement and motivation and then slowly we start to fade, make a few excuses, prioritize other things and all of a sudden, your new habit has vanished.
Outside of what I do with American Gymnast, I work in one of the most challenging industries when it comes to trying to stay in shape - the airline industry. I am a pilot, and like most pilots, my schedule can be rough at times. In a typical summer month I may spend 4 days on the road, come home for a few days and then repeat. While on the road, you can have up to 14 hour workdays, spending 8 of it in the cockpit and the rest hanging around small airports trying to avoid the most unhealthy food you can imagine. Once you finish with the day, you wind up at a LaQuinta Inn (free continental breakfast!) so exhausted that the last thing on your mind is trying to squeeze in a workout.
If you are involved in some form of athletics, whether it be gymnastics, crossfit, triathlons or even just working out, it's quite possible you love the competition or results aspect (if we are speaking of just working out in the gym) of your sport and maybe have a love/hate relationship with the training aspect.
After many tireless months of practice, strength training and routine after routine, it's time to get up on the big stage and and see what you're made of. It's meet season and everyone is making the final preparations to ensure they are able to put up their best performance each weekend.
If you are in the sport of gymnastics, I’m going to assume you are sticking to it quite simply because you love it. Let’s face it, gymnastics is not for the faint of heart. Typically, those starting out find out pretty quickly if it’s the right sport for them. It takes a very dedicated athlete to tolerate having hands like a lumber jack, constantly bathing in chalk, doing massive amounts of strength training, and spending 3 to 4 hours a day in a gym.
There are a number of factors that determine how on top of your game you will be while at practice or in competition. Some days you will notice you feel pretty awesome - you’re sharp, quick, strong and you feel almost invincible. Others, you are the complete opposite - sluggish, mentally slow, and no drive whatsoever.
