About Dan
Dan Mathers is an ACE-certified personal trainer, ultramarathoner, obstacle racer, father, husband, occasional ninja, hiker and paddler.
He has completed several ultramarathons, including finishing second in the 2019 Peak Bloodroot 100, a grueling 100-mile race in the mountains of Vermont. Dan has also competed in some of the world’s most challenging obstacle and endurance races, including the 24-hour World’s Toughest Mudder, the Spartan Death Race, the Spartan UltraBeast, and many other events. He also enjoys short course obstacle challenges, and he qualified for and competed at the 2019 and 2020 National Ninja League World Championships.
Why Train With Dan
He’s Old
Well… let’s say “experienced.” At 49, Dan has a lifetime of fitness experience. Over the past three decades, Dan has tried just about every fitness approach out there. He’s learned what works and what doesn’t. If you’re old- … uh, I mean, “experienced,” Dan can relate, perhaps more than younger trainers. He knows what it’s like to wake up with aches and pains, to battle back from setbacks and injuries, and how hard it can be to stay fit and active while also balancing work and raising a family.
His Fitness Philosophy
Dan’s fitness approach is highly individualized. He realizes everyone is different, and a cookie cutter approach to fitness will not work. What is effective for one person might not be effective for someone else. And not everyone will progress at the same rate. Dan will customize an approach that works for you based on a philosophy rooted in values he has learned over many years.
- It’s More Mental Than Physical – Often, what is going on inside your head and the things you are telling yourself have a lot more to do with your fitness than the number of push-ups and sit-ups you’re doing. And fitness is a lot more attainable when you view being active as fun rather than a chore.
- Small Steps – We tend to get caught up in big, splashy changes or programs. But the reality is it’s often the small changes we make that are the most effective at making a big difference. Small changes are manageable, doable and, if you’re patient, they add up.
- It’s About Function – Our society tends to place more value on how things look rather than how well they function. Health and fitness isn’t about looking good in a bathing suit or a selfie. It’s about what you can DO.
- Deal With Setbacks – One thing is certain: There WILL be setbacks. Don’t let them sabotage you. Approach fitness kind of like a video game. When you try to beat a video game, you fail just about every time. “Game Over.” Only, it’s really not “Game Over.” You start again, and maybe get a little bit farther before failing again. And then next time maybe a little farther. Keep at it, and you’ll eventually conquer the game.
- Challenge Yourself – You are capable of more than you think. Challenge yourself to commit to something that you’re not sure you can do, and maybe that scares you a little.
