Training builds the foundation, sport expresses it. 

I still remember my mom trying to put me in T-ball, I was probably 7 or 8. And I refused. Like… showed up to the first session and refused. (Sorry mom 😬)

I dug my heels in. Absolutely not happening. I knew I wasn’t good at it, I’d never done it before, and I didn’t want people watching me try and fail. I didn’t want to look awkward. I also think I was not impressed that I didn’t have a choice in the matter (thanks for trying mom.)

So my younger sister stepped in and took my spot, and I remember I had to sit there and watch each week. She got better. She had fun. She became more athletic.

And I just… didn’t.

It took me a long time to realize – avoiding being a beginner was also limiting how capable I could become. I don’t think I saw it then, but that pattern followed me for a long time.

I liked doing things I was already decent at. Things that felt controlled, predictable, and where I knew what I was doing.

To be fair, I did teach myself fitness. In my teens and 20s, I got into bodybuilding and cardio. Eventually I found CrossFit, which pushed me even further, but even then, it took me two years to actually walk into a class with other people instead of just hiding out training by myself.

I was fit, but looking back… I wasn’t as capable as I could have been. Because there’s a difference. You can be strong, in good shape, and still be missing critical pieces, like:

Coordination. Timing. Balance. Reaction. Body awareness.

A lot of traditional training is predictable … sport isn’t.

But here’s where “sports people” sometimes get it wrong—

Playing sports is not a complete fitness plan. 

It might feel like it is. You’re moving, you’re sweating, you’re competing.

But if that’s all you do, you’re repeating the same patterns over and over again. You’re leaving gaps—strength gaps, mobility gaps, control gaps—that eventually catch up.

Sport is powerful, but it’s not enough on its own.

In the last number of years, I’ve tried a lot of new things… mountain biking, climbing, skate skiing… and others where I had no idea what I was doing. And every single one of them exposed something.

Mountain biking, for example. There have been many moments (pretty much on the regular) where I’ve followed my boys down a trail, looked over the edge, and thought… why am I here?

And then I go anyway, because I’m still stubborn and it tortures me to not finish what I start. But the whole way down there’s a pretty loud soundtrack in my head. A mix of “oh my god” and a few other… powerful words. Trying to shift my weight properly. Trust the bike. React fast enough. That’s not something I learned in the gym.

Climbing is a different kind of uncomfortable. You take turns … which means everyone is standing there… watching… while it’s your turn. But they’re not judging; they’re cheering for you. Helping you figure it out. Giving tips. Telling you where to put your foot, how to move your body. It developed grip strength, positioning, problem solving, and staying calm when you’re stuck halfway up.

And cross-country skiing… The first few times (or honestly, the first couple years), I felt like Bambi on ice. Except Bambi didn’t have the added thought of, “If one leg goes that way and the other one goes that way on this downhill… this might not end well.” There’s a level of coordination, balance, and control there that you just can’t fake.

The strength I built in the gym mattered, it’s what gave me the base to even try these things. Without that, a lot of these experiences would have been frustrating at best… or not even accessible at all.

Training builds the foundation, sport expresses it.

These sports couldn’t replace my training, but they showed me what it was missing, and then they helped fill those gaps.

Also: a new sport makes you a beginner again. That’s good for your body… and your ego.

When you’re learning something new, your brain is working in a different way to add white matter. You’re building new patterns. Figuring things out on the fly. Becoming more adaptable.

And physically, you’re becoming more complete:

Better coordination. Better control. Better awareness.

Less of those blind spots that show up when you only move in one way.

The key takeaway? 

Train broadly, and play often.

This isn’t about becoming “a sports person,” it’s about becoming someone who is willing to try and continually developing new skills.

Someone who can step into something new, be a beginner, look a little awkward, and keep improving anyway. Because that’s where a different kind of fitness shows up, one that actually carries over into real life.

One that makes you more capable, more adaptable… …and a lot more fun to be around.

Homework: Get out of your rut. Next time you are invited to try a new sport with someone, the answer is YES! No one is asking you? It’s your turn to invite a friend to try something new.