I’m often asked how I keep doing what I do.  5 a.m. mornings, endless miles on the trainer, in the pool.  Worn out running shoes… worn out dog.  Folks think I have some secret knowledge, or extra gear that keeps me uninjured, motivated, strong and healthy.  The truth is, there is no secret gear.  No magic pill, no religious practice, no expensive bike part that will bring you the results you want.  There is simply, moving your body, more than zero, every day.

It helps, if love your sport.  I love to swim, bike, and run with my friends. I’ve been doing it since I was a kid, and it’s still super fun today.   But there are still those days, when I’m feeling particularly unmotivated to move and I have to decide, is this injury or laziness?  A sign of overtraining, or a workout I need to push through?    I can’t answer this question until I start to move.  So I start; knowing full well, that I don’t have to complete the workout exactly as written.   I don’t have to run 6 miles if walking 3 feels like enough, or chase my friends on the bike if a yoga class sounds like a better idea. I do, however, have to do more than nothing.  So, I’ll strap the running shoes on, and start moving.  If I still feel rough after 10 – 15 mins, I’ll turn around and head back home, knowing that 20 minutes is ”more than zero” and my body is trying to tell me something. Nine times out of ten, however, I start to perk up once I start moving and I’m able to complete the workout as planned.

That’s it.  That’s how I keep doing what I do.  Every day, just enough.  Not more than I plan, not harder than I need.   Steady, consistent, training knowing that I’ll be doing more than zero tomorrow, and the next day, and the next.