The REAL reason to train...

Every December, as has became tradition I did a lengthy goal-setting session for myself on all the things I wanted to achieve for 2025.

The last few years goal-setting sessions have been dominated with business goals, particularly relating to the new site we moved into in April last year.

However this year there was a real focus on relationships (which I'll discuss more in a future email) and my own health and fitness.

I have set some PUNCHY fitness goals this year.

Ultra-marathons, PBs on multiple lifts and potentially a second endurance event for the back half of the year are all very Type A, performance driven goals.

While I still have these, I also have a new found appreciation.

At the start of the year I got a full health MOT done.

Whilst 90% of the results were great, a couple of my markers flagged.

Now whilst these are fairly easily mitigated and controlled (some are genetic and some are lifestyle based) it definitely changed my outlook on training.

I still have all those 'cool' health goals but ultimately it grounded me in the true purpose of training for ALL of us:

To live longer AND better.

Ultimately, I won't care whether I can run an ultra-marathon or how I look by the beach when I'm 70, I'll care that I can still function without too much assistance from others, play with the younger generations and mitigate risk from falls and broken bones as much as why I can.

Have the here and now goals, they help, but just remember what the long game is...