Should I run more, or Cross Train more?

I shouldn’t be surprised, I shouldn’t act surprised, I should contain my excitement and act like I knew what I was doing. But isn’t still so exciting and invigorating when what you intended to happen, actually happens?!

Get this: My client was getting ready for his 3^rd Ironman Triathlon. That’s a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and a 26.2 mile run… no small feat and this was his 3^rd time doing it. I have also completed an Ironman Triathlon and have an understanding of what his needs were and knew exactly what to do with him. Cross Train. Cross Train. Cross Train.

He did 2 things different for this Ironman:

A) Cross Train/Strength Train

B) Not a single 100 mile bike ride. (In his past races he had done 4-6 in preparation)

The Results: A Personal Best by TWO HOURS!

The Testimonial: “Personal Best Fitness was instrumental during the training process for Ironman Switzerland! Being my third Ironman I wanted and needed help with the long road that is Ironman training.

I was able to PR by over 2 hours! and that was because of the core and leg strength that we development in our personal training sessions. I want to thank Christopher, Meg, and Jennifer for all of their help in helping me achieve this goal.”-Will S.

Now don’t get me wrong… there is no substitute for practicing the actual exercise that you are preparing to compete with. Runner’s need to run. Bikers need to bike. Our client was very dedicated to his swimming, biking and running and showed great discipline in that.

However, strengthening the stabilizer muscles and the secondary muscles that support the primary muscles for your exercise movement, will keep the primary muscles from exhaustion and fatigue. Strengthening the muscles fast twitch muscles through cross training (when all you work with your running is your slow twitch muscles) will give you more overall speed and a stronger kick at the finish.

So the easy answer to the question: Should I run more or Cross Train more?

If your running is consistent and disciplined, you will see greater results in your running from a good Cross Training program. Here’s to reaching your Personal Best!

Take your health and fitness to the next level, and take advantage of your FREE Fitness Consultation (a $65 value). During this consult, you'll receive detailed information on how to get fit and trim that's tailored to YOUR body.

There's no obligation and it's totally and completely free. CLICK HERE.

The Resilient Life

I joke with my clients quite a bit, that the personal training they receive from me three days per week is actually FREE! The fee they pay is for the mental and emotional counseling that goes on for an hour each session.

There is a side of fitness that can’t be documented or even really quantified in hard numbers or data. In our fitness life we want to build muscle and lose body fat and make our heart healthier and become more flexible. Those improvements make life-tasks easier and our bodies healthy. What I’ve also seen is resilience in your life that you will build through practicing consistency and the ability to endure. Pushing your body to go a little further, pressing a little more weight than you did last time, setting your goal a little higher and then meeting it makes your mind strong and confidant.

Listening to people’s stories of struggle and victory every day, strangely I find comfort in knowing that everyone is going through something. I have seen people go through so many life events, both joyous and devastating and things that blew my mind while realizing everyone is always dealing with something very personal and all consuming. They recognize that they are able to deal with these events with a clear head due to the resiliency they have developed through exercise. Exercise develops the ability to be broken down and then both mentally and physically recover. Exercise develops the ability to have a positive outlet or coping skill. Exercise develops the ability to be able to focus or compartmentalize events and feelings.

I have been teaching fitness for over a decade, and the one thing they don’t teach you in school, is that fitness (and achieving any goal) is more about the mindset and less about the body. I meet people who CAN’T meet their fitness goals, and I meet people who WON’T meet their fitness goals. The people who CAN’T; I can teach, educate, motivate, inspire and show them how to meet their goals. Those that WON’T meet their fitness goals are those who will not change adapt or take responsibility for what they have learned.

Fitness teaches adaptability, and the wherewithal to assess the situation and make the appropriate changes to achieve the goal. If in a triathlon, you hit a bump in the road and your tire goes flat… you have two choices. You can quit and wait for someone to come by and pick you up, or you can change your tire and modify your goal for the day and feel the greater satisfaction of completing a task through an adversity.

Of course we want each person to build muscle, lose fat and improve physically to their personal best. However, the further reaching effects of exercise on mental health and the ability to remain resilient is a life skill that can help carry you through any life event and situation.

Here’s to reaching your Personal Best.

Amazing Results! Making a Difference

What would you do with your life if you were guaranteed success? What if you couldn't lose and time was on your side? What if your body didn't hinder you? Are you dreaming yet?

Would you travel the world? Would you make a million dollars and then give it all away? Would you make an impact in children's lives by doing something extraordinary? That's exactly what Bill Evans did with his opportunity. See Bill's Testimonial Here.

Bill (owner of Evan's Glass) walked into Personal Best one day and had a gleam in his eye (which is actually pretty normal for him). But that day he said, "I've got an idea.... a BHAG. a Big Harry Audacious Goal."
He told me about the charity Salama Institute here in Nashville and what it meant to him. He wanted to use his health and fitness to make an impact for the charity. He was going to raise awareness and capture media attention, and raise a lot of money by announcing he was going to run 56 miles on his 56th birthday!

Without hesitation we were on it! Personal Best partnered with him to reach his BHAG first through the following:

1) Putting down on paper an 11 month Training Plan.
2) Scheduling consistent Strength and Core Training.
3) Meeting regularly with Personal Best's Nutritionist to get his eating plan and eating for endurance.
4) Then he kept his body healthy through regular appointments with Personal Best's Massage Therapist.

Guess what.... He did it!!
Read all about that great day at www.56at56.com

And by the way ... if you're serious about taking your overall health and fitness to the next level, why not take advantage of your FREE Fitness Consultation? (a $65 value)

During this consult, you'll receive detailed information on how to get fit and trim that's tailored to YOUR body.

There's no obligation and it's totally and completely free. To sign up, click here

Amazing Ironman PR!

“Personal Best Fitness was instrumental during the training process for Ironman Switzerland! Being my third Ironman I wanted and needed help with the long road that is Ironman training.

I was able to PR by over 2 hours! and that was because of the core and leg strength that we development in our personal training sessions. I want to thank Christopher, Meg, and Jennifer for all of their help in helping me achieve this goal.”



It was a pleasure to work with Will on his endurance aspirations and goals. Our whole gym was pulling for him and following him on race day as he achieved his Personal Best on the Ironman course.

Working with Endurance athletes is one area we excel in our personal approach to each endurance goal. We will work with an athlete on his or her form including running, biking, swimming, sprinting, etc. We teach efficiency, nutrition, sport specific strength training and over all ability to recover and be resilient.

Whether racing Ultra Distances like Will, or you'd like to complete your first 5K, Personal Best has the knowledge, experience, accountability and will motivate you to healthy habits that lead to more healthy habits.

Take your health and fitness to the next level, and take advantage of your FREE Fitness Consultation? (a $65 value)

During this consult, you'll receive detailed information on how to get fit and trim that's tailored to YOUR body.

There's no obligation and it's totally and completely free. To sign up, click here