When we had our first daughter, I struggled to find myself as a new dad. I had always trained as a competitive athlete, and I let my years of sport-specific training and disciplined routines define me. I was hell bent on making sure that when we had kids, that I wasn't going to be the dad that "lets it all go".

But finding time to train and stay focused with a newborn was tough, and the more time I missed training, the more I felt like I was losing who I was as an athlete. I dug in harder, committed more hours to training and left my wife shouldering the bulk of the load as a new mom with our little girl.

I tried to continue to train like I had prior to becoming a dad, but all it did was take me away from the new priority in life that mattered most: my family.

When we found out we were having our second child, everything changed. My wife and I had some tough conversations about where my priorities were, and it rocked me into realizing that my training was no longer just about me. It couldn't be. All of the goals and targets I had chased in the gym before paled in comparison to what mattered right then and there, and it became clear that my focus had to shift.

Training is part of who I am, and I never want to lose that edge, pushing myself. But I needed to shift my training to be more efficient, focus my training on the strength and conditioning elements what would elevate me physically as a father and allow me to spend quality time with my family. It was a chance to set a positive example for my wife and children, and it had to start with me.

That’s where Dad_Training came from. It was my new-found way of training with a purpose, but that purpose was now life as a father and a husband. I worked to prioritize the fitness and training verticals that helped me most as a dad, but did it in a way that allowed me to be fully present at home. Staying in shape isn't just about physical health; it's about training to be our best for our priorities outside the gym, where it's needed most.

Dad_Training helped me build foundation to be a supportive husband, engaged father, and a dedicated teammate. This manual is designed to share my experiences in a way that helps other dads find themselves in that same balance, ensuring we can all lead by example.

We are our craft. Be a craftsmen, and let the Dad_Training Manual guide your work to becoming the best version of you, for them.

Remember: now, we train so that if we need to, we can.