The Purpose of Training: Preparedness and Capability
Fitness, at its heart, is about preparedness. It’s about developing the capacity to respond physically, mentally, and emotionally to whatever life throws your way. That’s why the concept of general physical preparedness, or GPP, has gained such traction in recent years. It’s not about mastering one discipline. It’s about readiness across the board.
The specialist may dominate a narrow field, but the generalist survives the unknown. That’s why real-world fitness often looks like a blend. If you slip on an icy pavement, you need strength, coordination, and reaction time to stay upright. If you help a friend move house, you’ll need muscular endurance, grip strength, and functional mobility. If you’re asked to run a spontaneous charity 5km, you’ll need enough aerobic conditioning to make it to the finish line without crumbling.
Events like CrossFit competitions, Spartan Races, Hyrox, Deka, and Deadly Dozen exist for this exact reason: to test and showcase well-rounded athleticism. They combine running, lifting, jumping, crawling, rowing, and climbing. These races aren't about being the strongest or the fastest; they’re about being the most capable. And their popularity reveals a cultural shift: we’re valuing adaptability over aesthetics, completeness over extremes.
This isn’t just a physical idea. It’s a philosophical one. The Stoics, who understood the value of hardship and preparation, would have found modern training, in a sense, deeply familiar, albeit a little strange. They believed in rehearsing adversity. They taught that effort was a form of discipline, and that we should condition ourselves not for comfort, but for the unpredictability of life.
To train, then, is to deliberately practice discomfort. It’s to choose challenge now so that you’re better equipped later. That early-morning session when you’d rather stay in bed. That’s not just physical, it’s mental conditioning. You’re not just building lungs and legs; you’re rehearsing for difficulty. Every workout becomes a proving ground. Not just for strength or stamina, but for resolve.
The Stoics didn’t see the body as something to be worshipped. They saw it as something to be maintained and honoured as the vehicle for action. Fitness was a duty. Not because it made you look good, but because it made you ready. That mindset still resonates. Every time we train with intention, we build resilience. Not just in muscle tissue, but in character.
Stoicus Esto
Jason Curtis
