Grandma's Ninja Warrior Diary: It's Not Algebra, Linear or Otherwise
Precerpt (excerpt prior to publication) from Grandma's Ninja Training Diary (Leaver):
Back in the day—when I wore combat boots and carried an M-16—building strength and endurance felt as simple as a math equation: work out hard, rest overnight, get stronger. A + B = C. Just keep adding another push-up, another mile, another rep. Linear progress. Predictable. Efficient.
But now, as a septuagenarian chasing strength and stamina with the same stubbornness that once got me through Army PT tests, I’ve come to a tough realization: this isn’t algebra. Not linear. Not even remotely additive in the way I once believed. Progress at 70+ has its own rhythm, its own rules—and they do not obey my old formulas.
The first time I tried to follow the “add one rep every day” mindset, I hit a wall so fast it felt like I'd body-slammed reality. Muscles stiffened, joints ached, and instead of growing stronger, I just grew cranky. I wasn’t failing in discipline; I was failing in strategy.
The new discovery? It’s not just the workout that builds the strength—it’s the recovery. And for me now, that recovery takes three full days. Not one. Not two. Three.
When I was active duty, one night of sleep was all I needed. As a reservist, I needed a day. Later on, two. But now? If I don’t give my muscles three full days to repair and reset, I’m not getting stronger—I’m just wearing myself down. That third day isn’t laziness. It’s necessity.
Yes, it’s frustrating. My mind wants to go, go, go. My body says, slow, slow, slow. I don’t get to see the same dramatic gains I once did. But I’ve learned to work with what I have.
So, I rotate: upper body one day, lower body another, core the next, and endurance—well, that gets sprinkled in as carefully as seasoning. This allows me to stay active daily without repeating the same demand on any one set of muscles. I stay in motion, but not in overload.
And here’s the funny thing: I am getting stronger. I am building endurance. Just not in the neat, linear way my old training manuals promised. There are plateaus. Setbacks. Days when the mirror seems to laugh. But there are also breakthroughs—small, steady victories that add up in their own, quiet way.
Reality bites, yes. But it also teaches. I’ve traded rapid results for sustainable progress. I’ve learned to honor recovery as much as effort. And I’ve discovered that the strongest kind of discipline isn’t just doing more—it’s knowing when to do less and trust the process.
So no, this isn’t algebra. It’s biology, age, patience, and persistence. It’s not one more rep every day. It’s the long game—and I’m still in it.
Grandma’s Ninja Training Diary is the inspiring true story of a 70-year-old grandmother who dares to dream big—by training for American Ninja Warrior. Teaming up with coach and trainer Brittany Renz, she embarks on a three-year journey to build strength, resilience, flexibility, balance, and endurance—starting from scratch.
Told in a dynamic mix of diary entries, coaching insights, and behind-the-scenes reflections, this book chronicles the ups and downs of late-in-life athletic training. From gym workouts to rock climbing, yoga to injury recovery, sleep to mindset—every aspect of the transformation is explored with honesty and humor.
Grandma shares what she’s learning; Coach Brittany explains why she’s right—or wrong. Together, they offer a realistic, encouraging look at what it takes to pursue an extraordinary goal at any age.
Part training manual, part motivational memoir, Grandma’s Ninja Training Diary is packed with practical tips for readers over 50 who want to improve their fitness, health, and confidence. You’ll also get insider insights into the world of American Ninja Warrior, strategies for balancing real life with ambitious goals, and hard-won wisdom about success, failure, and the joy of simply showing up.
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