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Mark Thill shares his lifetime journey as a dedicated athlete across multiple sports and how his passion for excellence became the foundation for his coaching philosophy. His story exemplifies how maintaining athletic pursuits throughout life can lead to extraordinary physical capabilities even in our 60s.

• Beginning with basketball in sixth grade and developing a 44-inch vertical jump through persistent practice
• Competing in arm wrestling using innovative training techniques like bicycle inner tube resistance training
• Experiencing windsurfing as a true addiction that occasionally required divine intervention to moderate
• Developing profound training wisdom including resting heart rate monitoring and listening to body signals
• Discovering the power of proper nutrition for recovery after physically demanding activities
• Finding unexpected rehabilitation through pickleball after foot surgeries left him with limited mobility
• Coaching others with an approach focused on meeting athletes where they are rather than imposing rigid standards

The journey matters more than the destination. Mark emphasizes that his most euphoric moments haven't been his personal achievements, but rather helping others improve physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

@masters_athlete_survival_guide on IG

New episodes come out every other Thursday!

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Check out John's YouTube channel Empowered Strength and IG @empowered strength for more of his ideas and insights

John Odden shares his journey as a Highland Games competitor, fitness professional, and movement enthusiast who's discovered the key to athletic longevity after 40.

• Background in healthcare, cardiac rehab, and multiple strength sports including Highland Games and stone lifting
• Importance of technical precision in training as we age to reduce wear and tear on the body
• Moving in all directions and planes to maintain mobility and function
• Training more frequently but with shorter, more focused sessions
• Combining structured training with unscripted play to maintain athletic joy
• Prioritizing animal-based nutrition with strategic carbohydrates for performance
• Finding your optimal body weight for both health and athletic performance
• Taking a mindful approach to supplementation focused on basics like creatine and magnesium
• Including family in health and training goals creates sustainable lifestyle changes
• Maintaining childlike movement curiosity while respecting your body's changing needs

Stay tuned for a future episode including John's guide on realistic weight cutting for competitions that works for both men and women.

@masters_athlete_survival_guide on IG

New episodes come out every other Thursday!

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John "Rock Man" Johnson shares his journey from childhood athlete to desk job worker to internationally connected stone lifter, revealing how this ancient practice transformed both his physical strength and mental resilience.

• Early athletic career playing baseball and football before losing interest in fitness during young adulthood
• Family connection to Hollywood through uncle Pat Johnson, martial arts expert and fight choreographer for films like Karate Kid
• The pivotal moment when seeing an unflattering photo prompted his return to fitness
• Discovering rock lifting by chance while hiking in the woods
• Finding mentors like Ross Enemayat, Bud Jeffries, and Scott Sonnen who shaped his fitness philosophy
• How stone lifting helped him develop mental toughness during challenging life transitions
• Connecting with a worldwide community of stone lifters through social media
• The various cultural traditions of stone lifting found across Scotland, Ireland, Asia and beyond
• His ongoing quest to discover a historic Erie Canal lifting stone during the canal's bicentennial year
• The technical aspects of approaching and lifting awkwardly shaped natural stones

Join us outdoors this spring to experience stone lifting firsthand and connect with this ancient test of strength!

@masters_athlete_survival_guide on IG

New episodes come out every other Thursday!