In 2021, I couldn’t run a mile.

I was slow. My diet was a mess. My body was weak. In 2025, I completed a climbing expedition on a remote 22,000 ft peak in the Andes, including surviving an extreme windstorm at 19,000 ft that nearly ended the climb (blog link in comments).

Between those two experiences:

▪️ I lost 35lbs to optimize for climbing

▪️ I’m nearing a bodyweight bench press

▪️ I ran over 100 miles with 21,000 ft of vertical the week before Christmas, mostly above 10,000 ft

▪️ I train twice a day most days: long endurance sessions plus gym or yoga. I also travel 150 days a year

No transformation narrative. No overnight switch. Just years of consistency.

If you’re starting or restarting a fitness journey this year, I genuinely see you. So many people never share the before. But that’s where everything meaningful begins.

Along the way, I’ve developed a few habits that keep me moving forward. These aren’t trendy. They’re durable.

1. Cumulative Discipline

No gear, outfit, or gym will do the work for you. I started with a one-month Nike app challenge in March 2021. Discipline compounds when you show up, even imperfectly. Start small and stack.

2. Joy-Driven Effort

If you dread the activity, it’s the wrong one. I tried plenty that weren’t for me. Golf? No. Swimming? Also no. Treadmills? Absolutely not. Mountains, trails, climbing? That’s where discipline became sustainable.

3. Arena Focus

People laughed when I started. Others discouraged me. When I decided to climb in the Andes, I’d never been above 14,000 ft. None of that mattered. Progress happens in the arena, not the stands.

4. Decision Elimination

I eat the same breakfast. I keep the same rituals. Reducing micro-decisions preserves energy for the work that moves the needle.

5. Clock Independence

There is no right time. When I stopped negotiating with the clock and treated the full 24 hours as usable, everything shifted. Yes, I’ll wake up at 3am. Yes, I’ll go for four hours. No, I don’t care if that looks extreme.

6. Physiology First

Training doesn’t override bad inputs. Earlier this year, bloodwork showed I was underhydrated with low sodium. Fixing that unlocked immediate gains. When physiology is wrong, effort doesn’t matter. I use the Yuka app and Lose It to track/review nutrition every day.

7. Auditory Control

Music is a performance tool. I build playlists by purpose: get happy, get motivated, run fast, high altitude, high risk. Sound shapes output on days I need extra push.

8. Rewarded Recovery

Recovery isn’t passive. Find what you love and make it a reward.

9. Borrowed Belief

I watch stories about humans doing hard things. I remind myself: if they can endure, adapt, and persist, so can I. So can you.

If you’re looking for inspiring programs to stream over the holidays; these stay with me:

Meru, The Alpinist, Nothing to Lose (Leadville), The Finisher (Barkley).

If any of this helps you take the first step, or recommit to the next one, awesome! See you out there in 2026!