“Squats” might as well have been a dirty word.
And lunges? Let’s just say I preferred lunches.
In every fitness program I’ve ever followed, leg exercises mysteriously disappeared from my routine.
Entire chapters of workout books remained unopened.
Why?
Simple: I didn’t like the movements, wasn’t good at them, and my knees complained.
Besides, I never thought I needed them:
• Served in Special Forces without them
• Ran mountain trails without them
• Crushed obstacle races with my daughter without them
So what changed?
1. Reality Check:
At 50, heavy-weight training is crucial. But balance is even more important.
Sure, I can bench press 95kg for reps at 80kg bodyweight.
Weighted pull-ups with 35kg? My favorite.
My squat numbers? I´m not even going to share them. 😉
Funny thing: Just one month of leg training, and suddenly all my other lifts are improving. Who knew, right?
2. The Daughter Factor
My 17-year-old CrossFitter is gaining on me.
She’s approaching my squat numbers.
And trust me, she keeps telling me.
Not cool. My ego is not ready for this.
3. The 2025 Challenge
I’m racing the 5-day RedBull Romaniacs Hard Enduro Rally in July.
The world’s toughest hard enduro race.
Think “just riding a motorcycle” is easy?
Try VERY hard.
I finished it in 2015, but that was 10 years ago.
This time, I need stronger legs.
In Special Forces, we lived by: “Hard training, easy war.”
This wisdom extends far beyond military life.
The Wake-Up Call:
• Age asks for smarter training
• Ego can be a great motivator
• Clear goals drive real change
It’s never too late to correct course.
Whether it’s fitness, business, or life – the best time to start was yesterday.
The second best time? Right now.
What are you putting off today that your future self will thank you for tackling?
PS. About the picture: Racing Redbull Romaniacs in 2015.
PS: Enjoy this? Follow Robin Coenen for more.
Ready to build your own Epic Life?
Join my community of subscribers to the Epic Life Newsletter here> https://robin-coenen-newsletter.kit.com/53c375a1b4