Doing hard things means something different to everyone.
But at the core, we all feel it—that pull toward something more.
It’s why we’re drawn to stories of people doing the unimaginable.
Climbing Everest.
Crossing oceans.
Exploring the unknown.
Names like Ernest Shackleton and Amelia Earhart still stick with us—not because their lives were easy, but because they weren’t.
They chose hard.
And something about that lights a fire in us.
Your Version of Hard
For most people, it doesn’t look like Everest.
It looks like:
- Running your first 5K
- Signing up for a half marathon
- Hiking a mountain
- Losing 20 pounds
- Getting strong again after years off
Things that once felt out of reach… but now feel possible—if you’re willing to push.
Where It Started (For Me)
Years ago, my buddy Nate and I used to train in his garage.
We called it caveman training.
We’d flip a tire we dragged out of the mud from his parents’ land.
Throw a 100-pound log back and forth.
Carry winter tires down the driveway.
Hang from a ladder while the other guy worked.
It was raw.
It was simple.
And it was hard—for us at the time.
Looking back now, those workouts would feel easy.
But that’s the point.
That was my version of hard back then.
The Evolution of Hard
Over the next 15 years, that “hard” evolved.
I got into powerlifting.
Then early CrossFit.
Then strongman—Atlas stones, truck pulls.
Then obstacle course races.
Eventually, it all blended together.
But something interesting happened along the way…
My training got simpler.
Not easier—simpler.
Less variety.
More focus.
More volume.
500 kettlebell swings.
500 burpees.
Dragging a sled for miles.
Hiking the Manitou Incline in the dark, in the snow.
Recently, I finished my first 25K trail race.
Next up: a 50K in Aspen.
Each one just a little outside my comfort zone.
The Common Thread
Here’s what I’ve noticed about every “hard thing” I’ve done:
- It scares me a little.
- I’m not 100% sure how it’s going to go.
- I don’t do it alone.
That last one matters more than most people think.
The Problem With Adult Life
As adults, life gets… controlled.
Schedules.
Finances.
Calendars.
Plans for everything.
Even a one-hour car ride turns into packing snacks, drinks, backup snacks.
Everything is predictable.
And while that’s necessary…
It’s also why something feels missing.
The Missing Piece
You can:
- Lift weights
- Clean up your diet
- Work on mobility
- Follow a structured program
And still feel… bored.
Because what’s missing isn’t just fitness.
It’s adversity.
It’s the thing that:
- Makes you nervous before you start
- Makes you question if you can finish
- Forces you to override the urge to quit
That’s what changes you.
What Hard Looks Like Now
These days, I don’t always have hours to train.
This morning, I had 20 minutes.
So I did:
- 100 unbroken kettlebell swings
- 50 unbroken push-ups
Then worked my way down:
80/40
60/30
40/20
20/10
Done in 12 minutes.
Simple.
Efficient.
Hard enough to matter.
That’s the goal now.
Not random workouts.
Not wasting time.
Just creating enough intensity to demand something from myself.
The Feeling Never Changes
Hard is relative.
But the feeling?
It’s the same across the board.
I still remember:
- My first 3-mile run
- My first 500-pound deadlift (three days after I started dating my wife—she was there to watch it)
Different moments. Same feeling.
That sense of:
“I didn’t know if I could… but I did.”
You Have This In You Too
I’m not telling you this to talk about my training.
I’m telling you because whatever drives me to seek hard things—
You’ve got it too.
It might be buried.
It might be quiet right now.
But it’s there.
Why It Matters
When you do hard things:
You get stronger physically, yes.
But more importantly—
You get stronger mentally.
Emotionally.
As a person.
Every time you face something difficult and come out the other side…
You change.
A little tougher.
A little more resilient.
A little more confident in what you’re capable of.
Don’t Do It Alone
And here’s the truth most people overlook:
Hard things are better with people.
A crew.
A group that pushes you when you want to back off.
That shared struggle?
That’s something most adults don’t experience anymore.
And it matters.
Final Thought
The world calls it “doing hard things.”
We call it Grit.
Because it’s not just about the workout.
It’s about who you become because of it.
If You’re Ready
If something in this hit home…
If you know you’ve been missing that edge…
If you’re ready to push again—
You don’t have to do it alone.
Come train with us.
Or find your own crew.
But don’t ignore that pull.
Because it’s normal.
And it’s needed.
Get stronger. For real.
