It’s Up to Us

I didn’t know what to write this week. Sometimes it’s hard to think and talk about “fitness.” The weight of these days seems to build with a new story that points us in a chaotic direction. I’m not sure we were designed to deal with so much, all of the time.

I’m fine admitting to all of you that there have been days when I have struggled with motivation. My post-marathon injury meant that I had to adjust everything and work on recovery. I have been missing running and higher-intensity work and the high that it brings. The good news is that my recovery protocol is working and the ankle is getting stronger every day.

But of course, the struggle to “run again” seems insignificant when compared to what’s going on in the world right now. I’ve had friends “replaced” by AI, war dominates our feed, and the darkest parts of humanity are being revealed in “that case.” As a father, it’s impossible not to worry about what the future looks like and what this all means. The evils of the world have always been present, but never in greater doses. It’s a 24/7 reel of disturbing “reality” — even though we can no longer be sure what is real and what is not.

How do we manage this? How do we deal? How do we gather? I go back to the prescription of “In Strength.” No matter the uncertainty or scale of the challenges ahead, we are best prepared if we chase strength, ability, and resilience. If I can offer you anything, I can offer you a space to find that. The gym will not fix everything, but it will build something — something that’s in your control and something that will be crucial in the times ahead.

We may not be in control of “The Story of 2026,” but we are still in control of our story — how we treat others, how we stand up, how we display courage and fortitude. We can still find the best parts of ourselves in the gym. We can still find the great spirit of humanity. We can still feel community and passion and thrill and energy and hope. No matter what else, we can take care of ourselves and our neighbors as best we can so that we do not crumble under the weight of it all. We owe that to ourselves, and we owe that to each other.

So if you wake up feeling that you can’t, I would suggest reminding yourself that you are in control of your next move. There’s a friend waiting, there’s a smile waiting, there’s a theater of sweat and iron waiting for you to gather and crush. We aren’t defined by what we do in the easy times; we are defined by what we do in the hard times. We have the power to save someone else’s day. We have the strength to build an environment of positivity against the tide.

It’s up to us.

See you in the gym,

PV