The Evolution of Fitness: the lifelong journey

Fitness has changed for me quite a bit over my life.

As a kid, it was pure fun. Football, soccer, skiing, water sports — you name it. Early on, fitness was about playing with friends, dreaming of becoming a pro football player, or trying backflips on skis and wakeboards. Crashing? No big deal. You’d just bounce right back up.

But time has a funny way of shifting things. Our priorities, our bodies, our minds — they all evolve. For me, fitness morphed into a personal challenge: what could I accomplish?

In my mid-20s to mid-30s, I fell head over heels for running. It started with 5Ks, then grew to 10Ks, half-marathons, marathons, and even smaller ultramarathons. There was something magical about throwing on an audiobook and getting lost in a four-hour Zen-like run. It was therapeutic. It was mine.

Then — life happened. Injuries are inevitable if you’re in the game long enough. A catastrophic knee injury forced me to pivot away from running. That’s when CrossFit entered my life (well, technically, my wife dragged me into it — thanks, babe).

It wasn’t easy. Change is hard. Being a beginner again, getting crushed by workouts, feeling like you suck — it’s a real ego check. But it’s also one of the best things that’s ever happened to me.

CrossFit has challenged me mentally, physically, and emotionally. It’s pushed me to tackle things I never thought I could. It’s gifted me an incredible community of badass, inspiring friends. It’s been a massive chapter in my fitness evolution.

Now that I’m older, my focus has shifted again — from injury recovery to injury prevention. No more slamming beers the night before a long run (trust me, it doesn’t work anymore). Now it’s about stretching, nutrition, and listening to my body.

You’ve probably seen me at Train Denver rolling out my shin, doing “old man stretches,” or carefully planning my meals. That’s not vanity — that’s survival. Because when your hamstring whispers, “Hey, dummy,” you’d better listen.

I used to think, “I’ll never be that guy complaining about his back or knees.” Guess what? I’m that guy. And honestly? It’s fucking great. I’d rather be “that guy” putting in the work at 44 than sitting on a couch, wondering “what if.”

My fitness evolution isn’t over. Hopefully, it’s just getting started. Life will throw its punches — challenges, limitations, heartaches — but with those come new opportunities to grow, to learn, to LIVE.

I don’t know exactly what the next phase will look like, but I’m ready for it.

Because fitness — like life — isn’t about staying the same.

It’s about evolving.

• Tim Thwaites