Training for Longevity: Tired Isn’t the Goal

I was chatting to a mate on Friday night..one of those good catch-ups where you end up talking about training, life, and everything in between.

He said something like, “Remember when we thought the goal of training was to crawl out of the gym?”

And we both laughed..because yeah, we used to wear that like a badge of honour.

Back then, if I wasn’t gasping for air and lying in a puddle of sweat, I thought I’d wasted my time.

I trained like more was always better .. more reps, more weight, more pain.

But over the years ..through a few injuries, lessons, and two growing kids who expect me to still be the dad who joins in the fun .. I realised something:

Getting tired isn’t the goal.

 Tired Doesn’t Equal Progress

Being wrecked after every session doesn’t mean you’re improving.
It usually means you’re digging a hole that’s getting harder to climb out of.

You’re not getting stronger when you’re exhausted.
You’re not getting more capable when your coordination’s gone.
And you’re definitely not building longevity when every session leaves you half broken.

You’re just tired.

And when you’re tired, that’s when the bad reps happen, when the bar drifts, the hinge collapses, and your body whispers, “Not today.”

If You Really Want to Be Tired and Sweaty…

Take a red-eye flight and spend the day on a beach in Fiji.
You’ll still end up tired and sweaty, but you’ll come home with a tan, not tendinitis.

Training to Keep Training

These days, I train differently.
I train to keep training.

To be strong enough to lift, move, carry, and keep up with my kids as they get bigger, faster, and more competitive.

I want to finish a session with something left in the tank.. to feel better when I walk out than when I walked in.
That, to me, is what training for longevity is all about.

Effort That Builds, Not Breaks

People ask, “But don’t you need to push hard sometimes?”

Sure …effort matters.
But I want my effort to build me, not break me.

True conditioning comes as a side effect of training with purpose.
When you move well, lift smart, and recover properly, your fitness sneaks up on you.. without needing to prove it every session.

The Real Goal

Breaking yourself down isn’t a badge of honour.
It’s a poor investment.

These days, I want training to support my life, not dominate it.
To be strong enough to do the things that matter .. not just in the gym, but everywhere else.

So no, getting tired isn’t the goal.
Getting better is.
Getting stronger for the long haul is.
And building a body that lets me live fully, that’s the only result I’m chasing these days.