Skip this email if you live in the jungle as a hunter-gatherer.
Nearly 20 years ago my husband was training to compete in what many considered the sport that produced the world’s pinnacle athletes: endurance triathlon.
He wanted a well-developed body that could excel at anything, and it seemed obvious that nothing could be more well-rounded and highly capable than an athlete who can swim, bike, AND run for elite distances.
He – and the rest of the fitness world drinking that Ironman Kool-Aid – were wrong. Yes, there’s a place for endurance training, but the well-rounded-athlete facade crumbled when he watched a video of his ultra marathon hero, Dean Karnazes, pathetically trying to jump and grab a pull-up bar only a few inches above his reach.
Though Dean could run a marathon per day for a year, he couldn’t muster the explosive power to jump a few measly inches. (And his “pull-ups” looked awfully sad too.)
Digging a little deeper, my husband discovered that this wasn’t uncommon among the world’s elite endurance athletes. All slow-twitch, no fast-twitch. All lines, no curves.
Fitness isn’t one flavour. It’s a full palette.
Our bodies are finely tuned, unique in the animal kingdom, to survive and thrive as a hunter-gatherer in harsh, unpredictable environments.
Strength. Stamina. Speed. Power. Agility. Balance. Coordination. Flexibility. Accuracy. Endurance.
They’re all different. And if you live the convenient life of a modern Westerner, they don’t develop by accident.
The sport of CrossFit first introduced me to the principles of general preparedness, and opened my eyes to my many blind spots.
You can’t be “ready for anything” if you only ever train one thing.
- You can’t hike steep terrain with confidence if your leg strength and power stay neglected.
- You can’t twist, reach, or get down to the floor comfortably if your mobility is locked up.
- You can’t catch yourself during a slip on winter ice if balance never gets any attention.
- You can’t quickly step up onto a high ledge or big stair if you never train the ability to produce force fast.
- You can’t rely on your body in unexpected moments if you never train the qualities that make you adaptable.
Turning on each dimension of fitness takes practice. It takes intentionality. It takes programming that doesn’t just keep you comfortable in your favourite zone, but stretches the rest of the palette too.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but our biology hasn’t made this optional. Neglect any dimension long enough and it always shows up to haunt you: stalled progress, nagging injuries, or that devastating moment when your body simply can’t do what your mind wants.
But here’s the good news: I hope you’re ready to unlock massive transformation. The areas we avoid are often the places where the most growth (and the most confidence) lives.
When you train the full palette, something shifts. You feel prepared. Adaptable. Able to say yes to more because your fitness isn’t a single skill, it’s a foundation.
Secret bonus: we’re also wired to love it. You might not love your weaknesses at first, but as you expose your palette to new flavours it refines, evolves, and develops sophisticated tastes.
If you’re a lifter, get ready to experience “runners high” and bounding effortlessly up your stairs. If you’re a runner, get ready for the thrill of dynamic, explosive force.
A well-rounded body is a ready body. It builds an aesthetic with universal appeal.
And that’s what true fitness is meant to give you.
With you in it,
Amanda
If you’re in the Edmonton area and want a coach in your corner, you can reach out to work with me here.
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