Starting the Year On the Rocks

Starting the Year "On the rocks" - How to stay consistent

There is something amazing about how starting a new year feels.  Even if most of our life looks the same, it feels refreshing and filled with new hopes.  That, is awesome!  I want to lay out a key point for everyone as we kick off 2026.  This point applies to everything health and fitness related, and I’d bet most have heard this before… Focus on the big rocks!  There is an old tale about how to fill a container with as much material as possible, when given a variety of large and small rocks, water and sand.  The trick is to start with the biggest rocks, then smaller rocks, then gravel then sand and finally the water.  To have the best season you can this coming year, keep these key points in mind:

• The basics: Sleep, good daily diet, some downtime/social time.  All the training in the world wont overcompensate for letting those areas slide…Choose to prioritize those areas.

• Consistency: Your training should feel like it’s doable.  Some sessions push you a bit more, but overall, you should feel like you can fit workouts into life and that the workouts you do dont make you so sore that you can not train tomorrow or the next day.  Focus on a flow of workout and style of workouts, which you can do day over day with consistency. 

• Adaptability: life happens and you will have to miss workouts or move them around now and then.  That’s reality.  The athletes who stay on track when these situations happen, are those that view those challenges as chances to adapt and make the best of the situation. 

Those three areas: the basics, consistency and adaptability, will set you up for an enjoyable and strong season this year.  Enjoy it!

Will Kirousis, MS, CSCS, CISSN
Tri-Hard | Director
USA Cycling Certified Coach

USA Triathlon Certified Coach
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist

Certified Sports Nutritionist

508.633.2708 | will@tri-hard.com | www.tri-hard.com | @willkirousis

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