Built to Adapt: Strength for the Unexpected
Last Monday, I was riding my bike with my family around Stanley Park when an unexpected detour turned an ordinary family outing into a little physical adventure.
A section of the road was closed, and we had to make our way up a steep, unpaved hill to reach the main road. The terrain was rough, the incline was demanding, and with several bikes and other people trying to make their way up, getting into a rhythm was almost impossible.
So I decided to embrace the challenge.
I started pushing my bike uphill, then my kids’ bikes, and finally my wife’s. At one point, I was carrying one of the kids’ bikes in front of me while pushing another up the hill.
And you know what? I felt great.
I wasn’t struggling to catch my breath, and I barely broke a sweat. Instead of seeing an inconvenience, I saw an opportunity to put my training to the test.
It reminded me of another experience from a couple of years ago, when I participated in a 12-hour boot camp imparted by Navy SEALs. One of our challenges involved carrying a weighted canoe with five other brave men up a hill near Jericho Beach. Afterward, we tackled the famous Murph workout, which includes a 1.5-kilometer run, 300 squats, 200 push-ups, and 100 pull-ups, with the running completed around the mountain.
It was a demanding day, but looking back, I realize that experiences like these teach us something important: we don’t train just for the workouts. We train for life.
We train so that when the unexpected happens, we have the strength, endurance, and confidence to deal with it.
This brings me back to my recent reading about the Blue Zones, the regions known for the longevity of their populations. One common theme is that movement is woven into daily life. People walk, work, garden, carry things, and remain physically active as part of their everyday routines.
Movement isn’t simply something they schedule into their calendars. It’s part of how they live.
And that makes sense when we consider how the human body works. We are built to move, adapt, and respond to our environment. Our bodies become stronger when we challenge them with appropriate resistance and give them the opportunity to recover and grow.
Muscles need resistance to develop. Our cardiovascular system benefits from regular activity. Our coordination and balance improve when we practice moving in different ways.
And our confidence grows when we discover that we can handle more than we once thought possible.
Of course, we cannot prepare for every situation life throws at us. But we can prepare ourselves to meet those situations with greater capability.
That is what I want for myself, my family, and everyone I have the privilege of coaching.
I want us to be strong enough to carry the extra load, resilient enough to keep going when things get difficult, and adaptable enough to find a way forward when the road changes.
Because sometimes the road really does change.
Sometimes the hill is steeper than expected. Sometimes the conditions aren’t ideal. And sometimes we simply have to get off the bike, pick up the load, and keep moving.
Keep moving. Keep training. Keep adapting.
Some days will be better than others, but the important thing is to keep showing up. Every session is an investment in the person you are becoming, and in your ability to meet life’s unexpected challenges.
Train for the life you want to live, not just the workout you want to complete.
That is the Inner Force way.
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AMRAP Challenge: One Round at a Time, One Level at a Time
As we approach the finish line of our AMRAP challenge, I have to say that one of the most rewarding aspects of this journey has been witnessing the determination of our kettlebellers.
The ability to keep moving forward, push beyond familiar limits, and reach heights we may never have imagined is something truly special. Week after week, I see our members embrace the challenge, overcome obstacles, and prove to themselves that they are capable of more than they thought.
And the best part? We’re tracking our progress through a fun point system that adds a little friendly competition to the mix. Every point tells a story: an effort made, a challenge completed, a personal best achieved, or simply another week of showing up and doing the work.
That’s what training is all about. It’s not about being the strongest person in the room or getting everything right on the first attempt. It’s about building momentum, learning to adapt, and becoming a little stronger with every round.
Below, you’ll find one of the challenging AMRAP workouts our group has been tackling. Steadily, consistently, and with plenty of determination.
One round at a time. One week at a time. One stronger version of ourselves at a time.
Let’s keep climbing!
