It has been 10 years since I started my journey. What began as a desire of vanity, has spurned and endless pursuit of conditioning. I use the word conditioning for good reason.
From Encyclopedia Britannica – Conditioning is a form of learning in which either (1) a given stimulus (or signal) becomes increasingly effective in evoking a response or (2) a response occurs with increasing regularity in a well- specified and stable environment. The type of reinforcement used will determine the outcome.
10 years in and that is more to the point than almost anything I have ever read about what it means to train effectively. When I first started out on my pursuit, I did not have an understanding of how to properly signal my body to change. I went to the gym; strapped myself in the machines, and went through the motions. Chest day, back day, arm day, leg day, running, swimming, cycling, sprint training… and for a while I got results.
Eventually I plateaued both physically and mentally. The reinforcement and signals I was sending my body determined my outcome.
What happened was simple – my mind and body stopped learning. My conditioning had become stagnant and therefore so did my results.
I knew I had to change the way I was training. I began with personal coaches and trainers, working with them up to seven days a week – focusing on everything from weightlifting to calisthenics. I worked with former Marine Combat Instructors, College Football Strength and Conditioning Coaches and CrossFit Coaches. We discussed nutrition, cardiovascular output, recovery, deficits, strip sets, powerlifting methods and almost everything in between.
Each coach, each trainer, helped me not only to learn about my own transformation, but what it takes to help others succeed. My path became my education, my workouts – my lessons. There is no better teacher than experience.
My journey came full circle when I moved to Ferndale and met Chris Burkeybyle.
Burkey introduced me to The Station and Gym Jones. Everything over the last 10 years fell into place. My pursuit of conditioning met its match. The culmination of everything I had learned in the last 10 years, and everything I hadn’t.
Now, I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to work with Burkey and share my passion and experiences at the Station.
email: cole@stationfiveonefive.com
