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We share a new year mindset shift: stop chasing results and build systems that make progress unavoidable. We offer simple ways to start at the gym, reduce fear, and turn small habits into a lasting routine, with a nod to Atomic Habits for practical guidance.

• why goals often fail without systems
• how to design small, repeatable habits
• practical first steps for the gym
• using staff and simple plans for confidence
• leveraging AI to draft a basic routine
• making progress with low friction actions
• reframing outcomes as outputs of systems

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We riff on how YouTube became our most useful training partner and where it can lead you astray. From fixing a good-morning deadlift to building finger strength and dialing recovery, we share channels worth your time and the BS meter every masters athlete needs.

• using video to improve deadlift setup and bar path
• climbers’ methods for finger and tendon strength
• warm-up volume for longevity and pain control
• simple hydration and electrolyte habits
• spotting fake weights and risky advice
• tailoring popular programs to masters needs
• caffeine strategy without the crash
• building a personal system from curated channels

If you enjoyed this episode and you'd like to help support the podcast, please share it with others, post it on your social media, or leave a review
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New episodes come out every other Thursday!

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Adriane Wilson joins us to show how daily mobility, honest intensity, and smart recovery keep a world-class thrower competitive as a masters athlete. We unpack her one-hour training template, nutrition resets, and the lessons she brings from coaching the Warrior Games.

• Adrian’s path from collegiate throws to Highland Games world titles
• Why twenty minutes of mobility anchors a one-hour session
• Simple warm-up primers that raise heart rate and pattern the lift
• Managing a “spicy” hip with blocks, variations and RPE
• Season planning for strength early, speed late
• Compression, massage, sleep and hydration as recovery pillars
• Food triggers, alcohol and honest macro tracking
• Underfueling risks for masters athletes
• Coaching adaptive athletes and seated throws at Warrior Games
• How to get involved with adaptive sport and resources

If you enjoyed this episode and you'd like to help support the podcast, please share with others, post it on your social media, or leave a review
To catch all the latest from us, you can follow us on Instagram at Masters Athlete Survival Guide

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New episodes come out every other Thursday!

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We drive home from a strongman meet and dig into why traveling to compete after 40 sharpens focus, grows community, and raises your game. Real stories of grit, the difference culture makes, and how to handle costs, logistics, and recovery without losing the joy.

• why travel builds sharper focus and intent
• meeting new athletes who push different gears
• lessons from a truck pull and teen tenacity
• sharing technique across strength sports
• culture, charity, and choosing the right meet
• costs, packing lists, and recovery on the road
• training deadlines that drive consistency
• sportsmanship over showboating
• building partnerships and long-term community

If you enjoyed this episode and you'd like to help support the podcast, please share it with others, post it on your social media, or leave a review
To catch all the latest from us, you can follow us on Instagram at Masters to Athlete Survival Guide
Now get off our lawn, you damn kids

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New episodes come out every other Thursday!

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We weigh the tradeoffs between chasing lifetime PRs and training to stay strong for decades, then land on a simple rule: let longevity set the frame and let smart, contextual PRs keep you hungry. Strain becomes the guide—enough challenge to adapt, not enough to break.

• setting longevity as the framework and performance as fuel
• defining “strain” as appropriate challenge across sports and life
• redefining PRs by age, bodyweight, and context
• building capacity: gas tank, bone density, joint resilience
• warm-ups, recovery, sunlight, nutrition as longevity levers
• listening to your body and auto-regulating effort
• competing with yourself rather than chasing others
• planning seasons, stacking small wins, finding a tribe
• using coaching and accountability to sustain habits

If you enjoyed this episode and you'd like to help support the podcast, please share it with others, post it on your social media, or leave a review. To catch all the latest from us, you can follow us on Instagram at Masters Athlete Survival Guide

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New episodes come out every other Thursday!

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Dr. Erik Jensen bridges the gap between medical science and strength training wisdom, sharing insights from his dual perspective as an anesthesiologist and competitive strongman at age 55.

• Trained in Buffalo and worked at Erie County Medical Center as an anesthesiologist for decades
• Found weightlifting during college, used it as stress relief during medical residency
• Competed in powerlifting before transitioning to strongman competition
• Weighs under 200 pounds but competes successfully against much heavier athletes
• Set a goal to own the world record in deadlift for the over-80 age class

• The mental health benefits of intensive training: "The harder I beat my body, the quieter the voices in my head became"
• How strongman training naturally incorporates the conjugate method through implement variety
• Why physicians typically have poor knowledge of strength training and exercise science
• The importance of training smarter but not necessarily easier as we age
• Why protein supplementation is overhyped compared to actual resistance training
• Effective supplements with scientific backing: creatine, caffeine, and occasionally beta-alanine
• Finding enjoyable activities is crucial for long-term exercise adherence
• The social aspect of training becomes increasingly important as we age
• Exercise should involve some degree of "strain" to activate physiological mechanisms

Find something you enjoy that gets you moving. Medical evidence clearly shows that movement reduces hip fractures, spine fractures, stroke and heart disease rates – and the more movement, the better the outcomes.

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We chat with Denny Labresh, founder of Valkyrie Strength Team, about thriving in strength sports after 40 and his journey from basketball player to successful strongman competitor and coach.

• Denny shares how he transitioned from basketball to strongman in his late 20s and is now hitting lifetime PRs at age 41
• The evolution of strongman from showcasing athletes from other sports to becoming its own codified discipline with specialized athletes
• Why recovery becomes the most critical factor for masters athletes compared to younger competitors
• Training philosophy changes for masters: intense but less frequent training (3 days/week) versus high volume for younger athletes
• The importance of weighted carries like sandbags and husafell stones for developing functional strength for all masters athletes
• How Valkyrie Strength Club developed from making equipment during the pandemic to providing high-quality, affordable strongman gear
• Denny's coaching approach focuses on teaching independence and progression rather than creating dependency
• Online coaching benefits: more economical, provides accountability while promoting independence
• Key advice for masters athletes: "Enjoy the process" and remember why you fell in love with the sport

Find Denny and Valkyrie Strength at valkyriestrengthclub on Instagram or valkyriestrengthclub.ca online.

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Scott Fike shares the inspiring story behind the Love Like Ben Foundation and its annual strongman charity event honoring his son's memory while raising funds to help children afford sports participation. What began as a heartfelt tribute has grown into a thriving community event raising over $17,000 this year to provide equipment, memberships, and tuition assistance to young athletes in need.

• Detailed recap of the four main competition events: Circus Dumbbell, Sandbag Over Bar, Seated Arm Over Arm Sled Pull, and Hummer Tire Deadlift
• The event's accessible approach allowing athletes across nine divisions to participate
• Incredible community support from sponsors like Serious Steel Fitness and Valkyrie Strength
• Beautiful custom metal awards created by Wicked Welding and Fabrication
• Pain Face Photography's professional documentation of the event
• The Benjamin Fike Memorial Award given to individuals embodying Ben's spirit of making people smile
• This year's successful fundraising total of $17,000 gross, with approximately $14,000 going directly to the foundation

Visit lovelikeben9.com to learn more about the foundation, donate, or apply for a grant if you know a young athlete who needs financial assistance to participate in sports.

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New episodes come out every other Thursday!