From College Athletes to Corporate Executives: Lessons from 100+ Elite Clients

From College Athletes to Corporate Executives: Lessons from 100+ Elite Clients

Over 27 years and 18,000+ training hours, I've had the privilege of working with an incredibly diverse group of high performers. From Division I athletes maintaining their edge post-competition to C-suite executives preparing their bodies for the demands of leadership, the patterns that separate those who thrive from those who merely survive have become crystal clear.

Here's what I've learned from helping elite clients build bodies that perform when it matters most.

The Performance Paradox

The college athlete walks in with impressive numbers—a 405-pound back squat, sub-5-minute mile, vertical jump that would make most people jealous. The executive arrives with a resume that commands respect and a schedule that would break most people.

Yet both often struggle with the same fundamental issue: their bodies can't handle what real life throws at them.

The athlete can squat heavy but can't move around without back pain. The executive can run a marathon but gets winded carrying groceries up stairs. They've optimized for specific performance metrics while neglecting the movement patterns that matter most in daily life.

This is the performance paradox—excelling in narrow domains while struggling with functional, real-world demands.

What Elite Performers Actually Need

After training everyone from former college rugby players to venture capital partners, I'm not here to dismiss the value of metrics or elite performance. Numbers matter. Tracking progress matters. The discipline that drives athletic excellence is invaluable.

But here's what I've learned: the transition from hyper-fit, elite performance activities to training for strength, capability, and longevity—that's the sweet spot most high performers are actually seeking.

The college athlete who ran a 4.4 forty doesn't need to abandon their competitive drive. They need to redirect it toward building a body that performs exceptionally well at 45, 55, 65. The executive who's never trained seriously doesn't need to apologize for starting late. They need to embrace that they're actually ahead of the curve—they get to build capability without first having to unlearn destructive training patterns.

Movement quality becomes paramount. Metrics remain important—but different metrics.

Instead of:

• Maximum lift numbers → Can you move well under varying loads?

• Fastest mile time → Can you sustain effort across different demands?

• Aesthetic benchmarks → Does your body feel as capable as it looks?

• Single-sport performance → Can you handle diverse physical challenges?

This isn't about lowering standards. It's about raising them to include what actually matters: a body that moves well, recovers efficiently, handles stress effectively, and keeps getting stronger across decades instead of peaking and declining.

The Seven Patterns That Matter

Whether I'm working with a former All-American athlete or a 50-year-old CEO discovering strength training for the first time, we come back to the same seven fundamental movement patterns:

Squat and Hinge - The foundation of getting low and picking things up
Lunge - Single-leg strength that translates to stairs, hills, and real-world stability
Step - Getting up and down from the ground, accessing different levels
Push and Pull - Upper body strength that shows up everywhere from opening doors to weekend projects
Rotation - The power pattern most conventional programs completely ignore
Carry - Moving loads, moving through space with purpose

Master these patterns with progressive intensity, and you build a body that's genuinely adventure-ready. These movements form the foundation for both performance AND longevity—the rare combination that keeps you strong and capable for life.

What College Athletes Teach Us

The most successful transitions I've seen from competitive athletics to "real life" happen when athletes shift their identity from "performer" to "capable human."

The football player who learns to value how their body feels moving through a day more than how much they can lift. The track athlete who discovers that training for life's demands is more fulfilling than chasing times they set a decade ago. The basketball player who finds new purpose in building strength that serves them in every domain.

These athletes already have discipline, work capacity, and body awareness. What they need is permission to train differently—to value capability over performance metrics.

What Executives Teach Us

Corporate leaders teach me the opposite lesson. They often arrive apologizing for their fitness level, as if their lack of a gym routine diminishes their worth.

Then they proceed to demonstrate incredible discipline, consistency, and strategic thinking once they understand what they're training FOR.

The best executive clients don't treat fitness as another box to check. They recognize their body as the vehicle for everything else they want to accomplish. They invest in movement the same way they invest in their professional development—strategically, consistently, with clear purpose.

They teach me that you don't need hours in the gym. You need intelligent programming, consistent execution, and a clear understanding of why you're doing what you're doing.

The Common Ground

Whether you're a former athlete or someone who's never set foot in a weight room, the path to a capable, resilient body follows the same principles:

Train movements, not muscles. Your body doesn't work in isolation—neither should your training.

Build capacity across domains. Strength without mobility is limited. Cardio without strength is incomplete. Power without control is dangerous.

Test yourself in the real world. Can you help a friend move? Hike a mountain with your family? Play with your kids? Say "yes" to an unexpected physical challenge? That's the test that matters.

Progress consistently, not dramatically. Small improvements compounded over time beat dramatic efforts followed by burnout.

Stay curious about what your body can do. The best clients—regardless of background—maintain a sense of exploration and possibility.

The Real Elite

After training hundreds of high performers, I've learned that "elite" isn't about your athletic resume or professional title. It's about how intentionally you prepare your body for the life you actually want to live.

The truly elite client is the one who shows up consistently, moves with purpose, challenges themselves appropriately, and builds a body that serves them across all domains of their life.

That's equally accessible whether you're a former Division I athlete or someone just beginning to take their physical capability seriously.

Your Next Move

The question isn't whether you have an athletic background or an impressive fitness resume. The question is: what do you need your body to do?

Once you answer that honestly, we can build the training program that gets you there—one that respects your time, honors your goals, and creates genuine capability that shows up when you need it most.

That's what 27 years and 18,000 training hours have taught me. And that's what I bring to every client who's ready to train with purpose.

Ready to build a body that performs in real life? Let's talk about what elite training looks like for you. Schedule your free consultation at MaxmeadFitness.com.

Adventure Prep Series: Ankle & Knee Stability for Uneven Terrain

You can be strong in the gym and still get wrecked on a trail.
Most ankle instability isn't a strength problem — it's a timing problem. The ankle can't react fast enough when you step on an edge or root. These four drills fix that.
Step 1: Forefoot Walk + Heel Walk 

10 yds on the ball of the foot — spring tall, no collapse. 10 yds on the heel — toes up, anterior shin loaded, controlled pace. 2 passes. 90 seconds. Do this before every trail session.
Step 2: Active Foot Hold Stand on one foot.

Tripod contact: big toe mound, pinky mound, heel. Arch active — not gripped, not collapsed. Hold 30 sec. Progress to eyes closed and perturbation holds.
When the foot communicates clearly, everything upstream responds better.
Step 3: Multi-Direction Lunge Matrix 

Forward → Reverse → Lateral → Rotational → Crossover One round each direction, both legs, bodyweight only. Terrain doesn't move in one direction — your prep shouldn't either.
Step 4: Step Downs Stand on a step.

Lower the free foot slowly (3 sec). Stop before contact. Return. Watch for knee cave, ankle collapse, or torso pitch — each one tells you exactly where your deficit lives.
15-Minute Pre-Trail Circuit: 

Forefoot Walk + Heel Walk — 2 x 10 yds each

Active Foot Holds — 3 x 30 sec/side

Lunge Matrix — 1 round, all directions, both legs

Step Downs — 3 x 8/leg
The mountains don't care how much you bench. Train for the terrain.

"Coach for Life"

"Coach for Life"

And other things we believe.

“Coach for life”,  “Every class, every member”,  “Train for life”.

A few phrases you’ll hear from coaches and members at Maxmead Fitness. We would like to explain what these phrases mean to us.

Each of our coaches at Maxmead Fitness has a contagious excitement and enthusiasm for fitness and health. That is set by owner, Ryan McDowell. Ryan has been coaching for 18+yrs. He passes on an “open mind and empty cup” mentality onto Coach Brad and Coach Elizabeth. As a team we have set a strong philosophy that we coach and live by. We want to help others move well, improve quality of life, and strive for a healthy style of living. We want them to have an awesome experience at our gym. To have a community that they can depend on. To feel support from their coaches and other members.  

How do we setup this atmosphere at Maxmead Fitness?

We meet with members one-on-one. We are a CrossFit gym with group classes. However, we want to get to know our members better. Having a ‘coach for life’ means staying in contact with you. We want to know what activities you are interested in. What your hobbies are; how you spend your time outside of the gym; that way we can help you get the most out of the time you spend in the gym. The more we learn about you as an individual athlete, the more we can help you in a group fitness class.

When coaching group classes we believe in ‘every class, every member’. In every class, it is our goal to coach and impact every member in one way or another. Each athlete deserves the opportunity to improve each day. Additionally, having met one-on-one with your coach means there is a better understanding of what you are working towards. What movements are difficult, what extra work is needed, and any additional warm ups necessary for each individual.

Coaching with this philosophy we hope to prepare our members for whatever tasks they are taking on outside of the gym. Whether it’s being Mom, Dad, softball player, recreational skier, hockey player, or track star we want to help you move better and achieve your goals.

With 2018 right around the corner there is no better time to join with several great options:

• Our New Year 2018 Fundamental class will start Jan 2nd.

• Holiday Training Special is 4 personal training sessions for the price of 3.

Two great opportunities for you to start your fitness journey. It’s also the perfect gift idea for someone you think would benefit greatly from our philosophy! We are excited to help you or a loved one get started. Call, email, or even better stop in and ask all about

-Your Coaches at Maxmead Fitness

Ryan, Elizabeth, & Brad

All the Pieces to the Puzzle

All The Pieces To The Puzzle

For those of you that have never experienced the Open, now having completed 17.1 & 17.2, you have an idea of the atmosphere and the workout intensity during an Open metcon. The Crossfit Open is a great time for the crossfit community to get together, and for you to experience the camaraderie of your gym. It is also a great time to take a step back and make sure that you are paying attention to all the pieces of the puzzle.

Often times we walk into the gym, crush a workout, leave the gym and continue with our busy lives. We forget to pay attention to the other aspects of our lives that affect our workouts. Diet and Nutrition, Sleep, Stress, Mobility, and Recovery are all things we need to pay attention to in order to crush the open workouts.

Additionally, taking a few minutes to reflect on where your stress level is at, how much water you’ve had, or are you hungry or tired can help you determine what you need to do to recover. If you don't minimize your stressors, get enough rest, drink enough water, etc. it will show up in your metcon the next day. Taking the time to address all of the pieces of the puzzle will ensure that when you walk into the gym, you are ready for the workout.

You are in the gym an hour out of your day. If you are not paying attention to Diet, Nutrition, Sleep, Stress, and Recovery during the other 23 hours; it will be very hard for you to make the progress you hope to see. At Maxmead Fitness we want to help you reach your individual and personalized goals. As a member at Maxmead, you will have a one-on-one intro session with a coach to discuss your goals. We will encourage you to take time throughout your day to think about what you are doing outside the gym to support your goals.

Make sure you are covering all aspects of health. If you have any questions about how you can apply this to your life, ask your coach! We want every member of the clan to achieve their goals and live happy, healthy lives!