Miscellaneous

Seasons Change, Do People?

By Coach Justin

This morning’s crisp air felt very different than last month’s AM breeze.  Change is coming.  Closets are going to be reloaded, car racks are going to change focus, and mountain trips are going to take on a whole different load of gear.  But, though the never-resting calendar provides new opportunities, do we parallel that change? Or, are we just the same?

Coaching fitness offers a clear look into the behavioral patterns of gym-goers.  Sometimes we see well-planned intentions turn into ways of life. Unfortunately, too often we see great plans lead to fizzled-out woulda’s.  Last week we launched out the blanket statement: “Seasons change weather, seasons don’t change people.”

A recurring theme in this unfortunate trend lies in our reliance on a system to do our heavy lifting.  It’s much easier to trust a proven set of steps that leads to change than it is to develop our own path.  Is that okay?  YES!  Here’s a bullet-proof system to not only look forward to new opportunities provided by seasonal change, but a path to execution!

How to Capitalize on Seasonal Fitness

  1. Identify what got you thinking about this new activity.  Was it something you saw on TV or social media?  Is it something a friend/peer/role model does?  Is it something you used to do as a kid?
  2. Research! Who do you know that does this? Where is it done? What is needed (equipment, location, training)?
  3. Find the right starting point.  If you are interested in mountaineering, maybe try a short incline in Evergreen before tackling the Bell Cord Couloir at the Maroon Bells.  If its snowshoeing you want to try, give Wash Park a go before a multi-day hut trip.
  4. Recruit a co-pilot.  While this exercise may be for our own fulfillment, having a trusty second hand makes the planning, execution, and (most importantly) the reality of it actually happening much less burdensome.
  5. Get Excited!  You are trying something new!  Don’t fret on the unknowns.  At this point you have researched it, planned for it, and have some help.  Get excited!  Start visualizing yourself out there (a hiker, a cyclist, a backcountry adventurer)!
  6. Prep the night before.  The simple act of setting out your gear, outfit, or nutrition for your new adventure is a simple, but absolutely crucial, step in being sure you are completely prepared.  I do this before every single event and it has paid dividends several times over.
  7. Allow yourself some grace, and have a blast!  I have turned away from summits, sidestepped away on skis from a cliff jump, and pedaled away from a fork in the road many times when the timing wasn’t quite right.  Heck, this is your first time!  There are no expectations or failures.  Getting out there, trying something new, and opening yourself up for change already makes this a success.