As an Ironman, CrossFit athlete, and avid trail runner and mountain biker, Eric Hinman never stops moving. But with most of his passions found outdoors, winter poses a unique challenge. As we get into the peak of the winter months, when nature seems to pull us away from routine, we were wondering how he stays motivated. Read on to find out.
Tip #1: Create a big yearly calendar
It may seem obvious, but designing a calendar with a yearly view is one of the most powerful ways to stay inspired. By outlining the key moments in your year—events like Ragnar Relays or XPT Expeditions, competitions like the CrossFit Open or the Leadville 100, and other adventures—you can backtrack your training to properly prepare. Eric pins a massive calendar on his wall that he can see every day, helping him stay disciplined in each of his pursuits.
Tip #2: Find your training community
Having other people to train with removes the issue of negotiating with yourself. When you don’t feel like training, it’s not just you who would be affected by taking a day off. You know that your group is counting on you, and the energy of those around you helps keep that fire burning even when the cold challenges your motivation. Eric finds friends who are targeting similar goals so they can keep each other accountable, excited, and disciplined, in and out of the gym.
Tip #3: Don’t entirely remove outdoor activity
When we feel trapped, motivation wanes. While prioritizing indoor training like strength work, human-powered cardio, and bodyweight movements is important for maintaining consistency, sprinkle in some outdoor movement. The feeling of freedom that comes with a connection to nature is extremely powerful to keep you centered and motivated, and it’s important not to lose it entirely. Be careful of unsafe conditions, but know that a little bit of cold won’t hurt you. Eric likes to ride his fat-tire bike in the snow to get out and feel the fresh air.
Tip #4: Prioritize recovery
While always important, prioritizing recovery during the winter months is especially impactful—specifically for your mentality. Eric uses contrast therapy (alternating exposure to extreme cold and heat, like ice baths and saunas) to refresh his mind when it feels fatigued. By removing stress and increasing the production of feel-good chemicals, contrast therapy boosts productivity and makes tackling challenging tasks much easier.
While what motivates you may differ from what motivates the next person, we encourage you to try out these tips to see how each can play a role in helping you dominate your winter training. Slacking off in the pursuit of your goals just isn’t an option.
Posted by Dylan Norris on
