Life’s Metaphor

January 24, 2023 | By

I hold few things to be absolutely true in this life and one of them is the belief that competitive sports are the single greatest metaphor for life. From dealing with adversity to managing your time and priorities to building mental resilience and managing persistent failures. Everything that playing a sport at a high level demands from you is consistent with everything a well lived life will require.

What few understand about this metaphor, however, is that the adversity and pressure created by an athletic environment are the very factors that lead to success in that sport. Not only are they sought after but they are ultimately required in order to improve as an athlete.

There is always a feeling of not only improving your ability but also seeking situations that will test your ability. And you guessed it, that means inviting failure into the mix. The big “F” word. Because you see:

“Excellence withers without an adversary.”

Anyone who has reached the pinnacle in their field understands that it is kind of boring at the top unless you are faced with new challenges. Successful people need adversity in order to drive them to be better. They need to fall in love with the process of improving in all areas of their life. However, improvement is a habit and it’s not one that is easily formed. As people who are biologically designed to seek comfort, we must look for discomfort instead if we are to stand a chance in this life.

What better place to start seeking discomfort than sports. An encapsulating experience of learning and improving in a safe environment that will undoubtedly teach you something about yourself. And it’s never too late! If you’re in your 40’s and never really played sports growing up, start now. Whether it is pickle ball or basketball or lawn bowling, play something and try hard. Seek excellence in something challenging and watch the skills you learn transfer into your life.

Play on.

1/24/23 WOD

DEUCE ATHLETICS GPP

3-3-3-3
Weighted Neutral Grip Pull Up

Complete 3 rounds for quality of:

8 Wide Grip Pull Ups
10 1-Arm DB Sliding Reverse Lunges (ea)

Then, complete the following for time:

1 Bull Run
50 DB Deadlifts
1 6th Street Hill Run
50 Push Ups
1 Bull Run

DEUCE GARAGE GPP

Make 3 attempts at the following for reps:

:60 Max Keg Loads (48”/40”)

Then, complete 3 rounds for quality of:

10 DB Split Squats – Left
10 DB Split Squats – Right
16 Alt Jumping Lunges

Then, complete 2 rounds for time of:

15 Shoulder-to-Overhead (155/105)
30 DB Box Step Overs (50/30)
400m Run

Colton was born and raised in Newbury Park, Ca, where his love for sports and movement started at a young age. It was apparent from a young age that baseball would be the vehicle that would lead him to playing collegiately for the University of San Diego and later professionally when he was drafted by the Minnesota Twins. After numerous injuries and surgeries, he had to medically retire from baseball but luckily he found a community and home at DEUCE Gym as a student. Not long after he received a challenge from Logan and encouragement from other coaches to join coach’s prep and begin his new journey in fitness. Now hungry as ever, Colton continues to grow as a young coach. Utilizing his experience as a high level athlete and his understanding of primal and functional movements, he strives to make training in the gym as transferable to an individual’s life as possible. Leading from a place of love and connection, Colton understands that training isn’t always about the fitness but it is always about the person.