Yesterday, I hiked to Blue Lake, an impossibly turquoise glacial lake tucked in the mountains between Ouray and Telluride. It was eight miles round trip, with stops along the way because the views kept getting more ridiculous and the piñon scent was so strong I felt a little high.
Then, somewhere around mile four, a completely irrational thought broke the spell: I wonder how much my deadlift is slipping? My legs were cooking and my heart was pounding. I was climbing a steep mountain. Nature was hitting my glutes, hamstrings, calves, and quads from angles I’d never find in a squat rack. So who cares about the RDLs and weighted hip thrusts I would’ve been doing at home?!
It reminded me that a tiny, stubborn part of my brain still believes strength only happens with a barbell. So when someone asked me this on Instagram—”How do I get over the ‘it’s not a workout if I didn’t run at least five miles’ mentality?”—I felt very seen. And I have thoughts!
Below the paywall for Gold Star subscribers: a new batch of your wonderfully nosy (fitness, this time) questions on everything from body recomposition to travel workouts—with my honest answers.
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