Why I’m Rethinking Fitness: A New Start for My Health & Cycling | Ep. 1
As a lifelong fitness enthusiast, I've always thought I knew what it meant to be fit - until recently. My definition of fitness was all about short-term goals: getting lean for a vacation, lifting heavier weights, or racing my bike. But something happened that changed my perspective entirely.
Earlier this year, while out in the desert, I met a group of people who turned my ideas about fitness upside down. They weren’t elite athletes. In fact, they were older—like, really old. The youngest in the group was 76, but they were having the time of their lives, riding eMTBs and enjoying the outdoors. Seeing them thrive made me realize that I wanted to be like them in the long run.
That moment triggered a shift in my mindset. I began questioning what I had been working toward for so many years. I had spent all this time chasing temporary goals—whether it was getting in shape for a particular event or just trying to look good. But those older cyclists made me think about something deeper: what about long-term fitness?
Why I’m Changing My Approach
We can’t control everything in life, but we can control how we take care of ourselves right now. For me, that means moving away from quick-fix fitness goals and instead focusing on long-term, sustainable health. Over the next year, I’m changing how I approach fitness, with a focus on mobility, strength, and overall health—because it's not just about looking good anymore. I want to feel good, move well, and be able to ride my bike for as long as I can.
This is going to be a journey of re-learning what it means to be fit. And I want to invite you to come along with me. My goal isn’t short-term gains or quick results. It’s about building the kind of fitness that will keep me moving strong and pain-free when I’m in my 70s or 80s. Whether it’s improving my endurance, my strength, or my mobility, I want to make sure I can keep doing what I love for the long haul.
Rethinking What Fitness Means
Like many people, I grew up idolizing bodybuilders. To me, lifting heavy and looking lean meant success. But when it came to practical, everyday movement or cycling without pain, I was struggling. At 44, I jumped into bike racing—cross-country and ultra-endurance MTB races—and while I loved the competition and pushing myself, my body started sending warning signals. My back hurt all the time. My workouts were no longer about getting stronger—they were about getting through the pain.
That’s when I knew it was time for a reset. I realized that while I was training hard, I wasn’t training smart. I had gained 10 pounds, neglected my diet, and was dealing with a herniated disc and pinched nerve. Moving forward, I’m focusing on usable strength and endurance—things that will support my long-term health, not just how I look in the mirror.
What Matters Most
True fitness is about more than muscle size or how much weight you can lift. It’s about things like VO2 max, grip strength, leg power, and balance—the qualities that help you live better, ride longer, and move pain-free. That’s my new focus: building the kind of strength and endurance that will carry me through the years, and enable me to do what I love—ride my bike and stay active—for as long as possible.
This isn’t a mid-life crisis—it’s more of a mid-life realization. If I don’t make these changes now, I might not be able to later. I want to be able to tie my shoes without back pain, ride my bike for hours, and truly enjoy life as I get older. And if you’re ready to make some changes too, I’d love for you to join me on this journey.
It’s Time for a Reset
The best time to invest in your health was five years ago, but the second-best time is today. This is about planting the seeds for a better tomorrow—creating habits and a mindset that will improve my quality of life in the future. And I'm here to share that journey with you.
So if you’re ready to rethink fitness, to focus on long-term health instead of short-term gains, come along for the ride. Let’s make some changes together—and let’s make sure we’re still out there, riding our bikes, and living our best lives in the years to come.