Stop Running from Your Problems (Unless You’re Actually Running!)
Spring is here, and yes, we’ve all laced up our running shoes. But let’s get real—don’t avoid something just because it’s hard or uncomfortable. I see it all the time: runners dodging strength training, lifters avoiding cardio, and everyone finding excuses to skip what challenges them most.
But running is just the obvious one. Let’s talk about other areas where people love to take the easy way out.
Mobility & Range of Motion: Do the Work
Stop cutting corners. Partial reps and poor mechanics aren’t just ineffective—they set you up for injury. A quick mobility session every couple of weeks or the occasional massage won’t fix the problem. Consistency will.
You don’t need weekly massages (though that’d be nice). But 10 minutes of daily, focused mobility work? That will actually make a difference. Pre-workout, post-workout, or even before bed—just make it a priority. If you do, you’ll see the change.
GOWOD QR CODE BELOW!
The Open Comes, the Excuses Follow
Every year, the same thing happens: a tough movement comes up, and suddenly, you swear, “Next year, I’m going to get this!” Then three weeks pass, and you’ve practiced it once—maybe. Improvement doesn’t happen by magic. If you want to get better, put in the work now, not just when you’re forced to face the challenge again.
Food: The Thing No One Wants to Talk About
You train for an hour a day. You sleep for maybe six to eight. That leaves 15+ hours where food choices can make or break your progress.
Do you think better nutrition would give you more energy, better recovery, and improved body composition? It’s not a guess—it’s a fact. Everyone in our Intramural Open who made consistent, long-term changes in their nutrition crushed it on the leaderboard. That’s not luck—it’s cause and effect.
Eating clean is the hardest thing on this list, but it’s also the most impactful. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be better.
Struggle Means Growth—Lean Into It
Discomfort is a signal. It’s your body and mind telling you, “This is something to improve.”
If you stand at the base of a mountain and focus only on the peak, it feels impossible. Instead, lock in on the first step. Then the next. And the next. Keep going, and before you know it, you’ll be at the summit.
So, pick something. And just start.
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Nick Carignan
CrossFit 8 Mile
