You probably never knew (or even wanted to know) this, but the family SUV you drive to Safeway was first blasted around a hidden test-track at 200 mph. Engineers push cars to the edge so the rest of us get safer brakes, grippier tires, and seats that don’t rattle our fillings out.
Training works the same way.
Pro athletes stress-test the human body so everyday folks—like you and me—can borrow the same blueprint, just dialed down to “real-life” speed.
We might not be preparing for a professional season of performance and pressure, but if you’re anything like me, you savor every single season here in Sandpoint for a different reason, and every single one is important to prepare for and savor as though it could be your last.
Heck maybe you’re in the middle of grandkid season and your body is getting weary from the bumps and bruises that come with trying to keep up with wily youth on summer break.
Or maybe you’re already eagerly eyeing ski season this winter.
Either way, it doesn’t matter. The sport can change, but the practice remains.
So what does treating yourself like an athlete mean in a practical sense?
Here’s what athletes do:
- They aren’t in peak physical condition year round. The peak is just too razor thin to stay on top of very long.
- They peak for their season, but they keep working out in season.
- They recover post season. They slow it down and rebuild movement patterns.
- They get strong in the offseason.
- They get faster and more specific in the preseason
- They take care of their bodies. Inevitably, they end up with aches and pains, sometimes even needing surgery, but that rarely means they give it all up.
- The utilize professionals to help them train, recover and perform at their best.
That probably looks different for you. You might not be able to spend a million dollars a year on your body like Lebron James allegedly does.
But if you want to be playing long after most retire, you should be thinking along the same lines.
If you’re not sure what that means
P.S. The same science that builds champions will keep you hiking, paddling, and playing for decades—just at a saner speed. Let’s hit the gas.
