By Joey Adduci, Level 3 CrossFit Trainer, TRS Movement & Mobility Specialist
WHAT
IS A LIFESTYLE ATHLETE?
Being a Lifestyle Athlete is about longevity, freedom, and quality of life.
The training of a Lifestyle Athlete isn’t for a specific sport or event, it’s
about building a physically capable body. This starts with developing
well-rounded fitness through proper training, nutrition, and lifestyle. The
training of a Lifestyle Athlete should consist mostly of General Physical
Preparation (GPP). This non-specialized training will develop a wide range of
fitness skills and promote all-around physical development. Lifestyle Athletes
can become Sports Athletes and vice versa. In fact, part of the freedom of being
a Lifestyle Athlete is having the physical foundation developed to jump into
training for a specific goal or sport without needing to start from scratch.
WHAT
IS A SPORT ATHLETE?
Being a Sport Athlete is about training and preparing for a specific goal,
sport, and/or event. The training of a Sport Athlete is dependent upon the level
of the individual. For example, Lifestyle Athletes and young Sports Athletes should
keep the majority of their training to GPP, while implementing more specific
training as their season or event approaches. On the contrary, the elite Sports
athletes will need the majority of their training to be more specific, based on
the timeline of their sport or event. For example, an Olympic Athlete cannot
train on the same cycle of development as a professional football player. The
olympian develops over a 4-year cycle, while the football player follows a
1-year cycle. All Sport Athletes should take time after a season/event to
rebuild GPP (their fitness foundation), in order to promote longevity, improve
weaknesses and fix any imbalances that inherently come with sport-specific
training.
THE
ATHLETE FRAMEWORK
Being an athlete is a mindset that requires a commitment to 6 lifestyle
factors:
1. Training – Build the body
2. Practice – Develop skills
3. Sleep – Refresh, rebuild and recover
4. Nutrition & Hydration – Fuel performance, nourish the body and promote recovery
Maintenance – Prevent injuries and promote recovery
Stress Management – Promote health and recovery
ABILITY IS IRRELEVANT
Being an athlete is a mindset and has nothing to do with your ability
level. An individual can choose to be an athlete simply by committing and living
by the Athlete Framework. The common objection is “but I’m not athletic.” We
believe there is a big difference between being an athlete and being athletic
(more on that in another article). Seeking progress from where you are is what
makes you an athlete. If you’re just going through the motions for the sake of
moving (exercising), you are not an athlete. This “participation award” mindset
is stifling. The intention is everything and ability should not determine who gets
to be an athlete. Abilities can be developed with intentional effort, learning, and persistence.
To learn more on this topic, read “Growth Mindset” by Carol Dweck.
TEST & RETEST
“If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.” – Peter Drucker
3-rep-max Back Squat,
Shoulder Press and Deadlift
5k Run
Max Strict Pull-ups and Push-ups
1-mile Run
500m Row
SUMMARY
Whether you’re a Lifestyle or Sports Athlete, the ultimate goal is progress.
Ability is not what determines whether someone is an athlete, or not.
Intentionally living the lifestyle of an athlete (Athlete Framework) and
regularly measuring your progress in either sport/competition or fitness
standards is what determines if an individual is an athlete.