Adults need to play too….
I love HIIT workouts. I usually start with very few “bouncy” exercises and as my athletes become more fit I begin to bring in some “Tigger” (remember Winnie the Poo?) workouts that are bouncy bouncy fun fun fun! As we become adults most of us stop bouncing around like we did as children. Did you play with jump ropes, hopscotch, jump off swings at the playground, chase each other, skip and bounce for no reason? I know I did! Somewhere along the way I stopped and maybe you did too.
Fortunately I found mountain biking in my late teens. I enjoyed learning how to navigate technical trails because I grew up in Connecticut and the riding there is not easy! I crashed a lot, I laughed a lot and I jumped my bike off of anything I could. Mountain biking was my play time, my competitive time, my social time, my me time. Part of it was about being fit but most of it was having fun!
I think starting out with the mindset of fun was the key to my lifelong quest for fitness. Some of my friends pick on me for always saying everything is fun, but, what if it is! Being competitive was just the result of spending time with professional level athletes when I began mountain biking. They took me under their wings and taught me how to train hard, race even harder but still have fun. A few years ago when we started to winter in Arizona I reconnected with some of my original mountain biking friends who were the ones who pushed my limits while reminding me to have fun! When we hit the trails together it can be an easy spin or a 30 mile sufferfest full of laughs and PR’s! We may be retired competitive athletes but I don’t think you ever lose the spirit of competition within yourself.
For me, running, hiking, strength training and biking are my ways to play. I love to see where my body can take me. Seeing amazing views from up high or flying down some crazy flow trail after a long challenging descent absolutely light me up! My biggest fear in life isn’t dying, it is not having the fitness or health to do the things I love. I love the feeling of lifting heavy weights and seeing how strong I can be (lifting also helps prevent chronic pain from muscle sarcopenia or bone loss). Fitness is my play and that is what motivates me to eat healthy, get plenty of sleep (Yes, I go to bed before 8pm, but wake up around 4:30am), and put in the effort to stay fit.
I love to share my passion for play through fitness with others. There are so many ways to play as an adult! I have athletes who ballroom dance, line dance, pack raft, paddle board, walk, and of course bike, swim and run! Find something that is fun and you will have an easier time staying motivated! Adulting is way more fun when you are fit and healthy enough to play!
Goals are awesome but goals also end. I can remember climbing Denali. For 5 years that was all I thought about. I hired a coach and nutritionist to help me achieve that goal. I had zero plans for myself after that trip. I can remember feeling so strong and excited to be there. I loved every single moment of carrying more than my body weight, setting up camps, sitting out storms and being completely disconnected from society. I can remember standing on top of the mountain, so psyched and dizzy from the altitude. I had just gone through a rather peaceful breakup on the trip and looked out at the snow covered peaks wondering what I was going to do with my life. I had done so much ice climbing, rock climbing, lifting weights and hiking to prepare for the trip. I felt like I had no purpose anymore.
When I returned from the glacier after having been there for almost a month I was depressed. I can remember turning on my phone and having a million emails waiting for me. The sound of cars, cash registers and background music drove me mad. The worst part was that I had nothing to look forward to. This was a huge lesson for me. Bucket listing was not for me. I needed something more to motivate me to stay fit and healthy. I needed to play.
Having retired from being a competitive athlete I am happy to have fun routes to train for. This summer, biking and running in the high alpine environments to see the wildflowers here in Colorado was amazing.! I am finding so many cool routes that I want to attempt for fun and that is my motivation to exercise. We typically start early in the morning and I love the way the light hits the mountains and the way the cool air feels. I love to watch the landscape change with the seasons, and, on the weekends look forward to a bigger adventure! One route that is absolutely intriguing me is the La Plata Enchilada. I have to get back into rock climbing/scrambling to be comfortable for that one though..maybe it is a 2-3 year from now goal but it looks amazing! We have done some sections of it and that terrain is some of the toughest I have ever been on!
I am currently rehabbing an injury from a bike crash this winter and am happy that even though I can’t run my usual pace, I can hike pain free which allows me to still go up high! Alpine mountain biking is a thing out here too and because I have no pain cycling I really look forward to it! When you view your workouts as play everything changes. I am working on learning how to make racing playful again and feel that it is going well. I don’t want to race often but, a few times a year is a great way to push myself and experience new trails and routes.
I have seen many people have a bucket list event, hate every second of training, finish and never work out again. This breaks my heart and as a coach I want each of my athletes to have fun. I want them to have fun in their training and have fun in their life outside of their sport. When I work with an athlete I encourage them to play and also to understand what happens to their bodies on a biological level when they exercise and eat healthy. I present speed work as a game instead of a rigid workout. Some of my workouts that I provide are the “impossible” ones. It is something to strive for, a game to play with yourself. How much of the workout can you complete? That is the game! By doing this you take out the frustration from struggling during speed work and instead loving the challenge of trying to do your best!
One of the most rewarding moments for me as a coach is when an athlete has fun during training, their goals and ultimately continue to do something playful in their lives that involves movement and lifelong fitness. I love to help people enjoy lifting weights, trying new sports and finding creative ways to involve their families in a healthy activity. Most of all I love to help people find joy in their sport but more importantly, joy within themselves. There is nothing greater than accepting who you are today and loving every little bit of it. We are all a work in progress…one step at a time.
You are allowed to change sports or activities and I highly encourage you to try as many as you can! Here are some fun things to try:
White Water Kayaking or Pack Rafting
Running
Biking
Swimming
Triathalon
Hiking
Rock Climbing
Ice Climbing
HIIT Workouts
Dancing
Strength Training
Fitness Classes
Brisk Walks
Paddle Boarding
Skate/Classic/Backcountry Skiing
CrossFit
Functional Fitness Classes
Mountaineering
This is just a short list of other activities to try! If you are struggling with motivation, find something that is playful and fun. Be kind to yourself and try to avoid labeling yourself. You “insert your sport here”, but that does not define you. You “insert your career here” but that does not define you. You are simply doing what you love, doing what pays your bills, being who you need to be in a certain moment (such as parent, partner, friend), but you are not any of these things. These things are all a part of who you are and remember, you get to write your own story, even if others have a different story for you. Always choose joy. Always choose health. Always choose to love who you are. Adventure on my friends!!!
If you need help finding a sport that brings you joy and enjoy training for your goals, reach out. I would love to help you. <3