Well, initially it was my back / arthritis. But with some strength training (Thanks @Jeff Boyer for the suggestions to add to my regime) and stretching / flexibility work mobility is getting better. Still can't run (which is fine). Now it's getting over the inertia of potentially getting to a pool. Getting on my bike is easy - need to find a gravel race or something. But not only the inertia of getting to a pool to swim, it's the mental part. After years of triathlons, and before that swimming for over a decade and into college, it's a mental game to get psyched to get in the water.

I literally laughed out loud. The time spent behind the blocks trying to get into the water is comical. How long can I delay this?! And indeed. As we age, strength and mobility are massively importan.

Thankfully no shoveling, but it was 24F when I got up this AM. 19F yesterday. That's a little chilly for the south-east! Considering what I'm seeing on TV and online, I'll take it over truckloads of snow.

Thankfully, no! Finally warm enough today to get back into the cold plunge. Tomorrow should be good to be back on the bike.

I do varying lengths of strength sessions (and varying types) 5-6 days a week. Some shorter that are more flexibility focused with a little bit of body-weight strength work in there. But 2-3 days a week I'm doing flexibility, plus strength work (body weight, resistance bands, free weights / kettlebell). I'm doing this year-round (started a handful of months ago) and from a functional movement standpoint it's fantastic. But realizing how much I neglected working on core strength was an eye opener. My philosophy is that just about everything I'm doing has a core component to it, so need to always be doing that, as well as alternating areas of focus elsewhere through the week. Been a huge benefit from a cycling perspective. Hips are opened up more, leg strength. All good stuff.

@Jeff Boyer This would, of course, require me getting back in the pool more frequently! And I'd have to start doing power and VO2 work on the bike. I'm not saying I'm opposed, but I know how my "competitive" gene pool kicks in as soon as I sign up for a race! Might start with a gravel event just to have some fun and if I can get in the pool without hating it - competitive swimming from 11 years old through 2 years of college and then triathlon will do that - I might be good for next season.

LOL. Already doing the Paloff presses - just didn't know the "official" name! But just tried the stir the pot exercise. Harder than it looks.

@Jeff Boyer thanks! The Paloff presses are great - upped the reps from what I was doing before and that's making a significant difference already. Will add in STP as well beginning tomorrow.