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Fitness

The Science of Strength for Every Athlete

Strong is never wrong, in every sport and in life.

Written by Pete Hitzeman Last updated on January 29, 2018

What are the stories you’ve always told yourself about your body? If you’re like most people, you either believe you were born strong, or you weren’t. The role of genetics in body type, physical capacity, and longevity has been emphasized for so long in the scientific literature and pop culture alike, that a whole lot of people have subconsciously resigned themselves to what they believe is their fate.

What are the stories you’ve always told yourself about your body? If you’re like most people, you either believe you were born strong, or you weren’t. The role of genetics in body type, physical capacity, and longevity has been emphasized for so long in the scientific literature and pop culture alike, that a whole lot of people have subconsciously resigned themselves to what they believe is their fate.

But CJ Gotcher never bought into that. After he discovered weight training through his experience with CrossFit at the Naval Academy, he embarked on a mission to find out just how strong he could make his 165lb frame. His exploration of his own performance potential eventually led him to Mark Rippetoe’s Starting Strength system, and CJ fell in love.

He sat down with me to explore some of the ideas he recently presented in a talk at the Starting Strength Coach’s Conference, including what the interference effect is, and how to mitigate it in your training. We also cover how people mangle the idea of sport-specific training, and why strength is your best defense against the effects of aging.

About Pete Hitzeman

Pete Hitzeman is an unlikely athlete. Raised in a household of engineers and musicians, he was introduced to athletic training only after joining his high school wrestling team on a whim. The ten years after graduation were filled with more cigarettes, pints, and cheeseburgers than he cares to remember, until he rediscovered mountain biking as an adult.

In the years since, he has steadily developed into a pan-athlete, flinging himself headlong into cycling, running, and CrossFit. Despite being physiologically ill-suited for any of those endeavors, he has competed in a variety of endurance events, including the marathon, 6-hour road bike time trials, and a 100-mile mountain bike race.

His pursuit of his own physical potential is far from over, but his greater desire is to inspire others to find theirs. He has become a race director, fitness media consultant, and a coach and mentor to the athletes around him. He believes that good coffee is the root of all genius, that there’s a bicycle out there for everyone, and that we are all born athletes.

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