Why I Train (and Why I Train Hybrid)

“A strong mind lives in a strong system.”

I've always been drawn to movement.

Since I was a kid, I’ve enjoyed testing myself through all kinds of sports — football, basketball, swimming, weightlifting, running. Not to compete, but because I love the feeling of getting better at something. Training, to me, is learning. It’s feedback. It’s growth.

> _(Disclaimer: I feel just as much like an impostor calling myself an “athlete” as I do saying I’m a “software developer.” But here we are. I train. I write code. I show up.)_

⚠️ If you're curious about the plan:
I recommend checking the premises and context before jumping into it.
It’s not a “program” — it’s a framework that adapts to real life.
Think of it as a flexible system, not a rigid schedule.

🎯 What Are My Goals (and Why?)

Hybrid training helps me pursue **multiple capacities at once**, because life — and work — demand more than one gear.

Here’s what I’m chasing:

- Strength 🏋️

To stay capable, confident, and resilient under pressure — physically and mentally. Strength isn’t just about lifting; it’s about posture, tension control, and expressing power on demand.

- VO₂ Max / Cardio ❤️‍🔥

Because endurance is the foundation of recovery, energy, and adaptability. A good engine makes everything better — from long walks to deep work.

- Mobility 🧘

To move without pain, to age well, and to avoid the stiffness that comes from sitting and screens. Mobility is freedom. It makes strength usable.

These aren’t fitness goals — they’re functionality goals.

👨‍👦 My Deeper Purpose: (The real Why?)

The real reason I train — the deeper purpose behind all of it — isn’t just personal.
It’s generational.I want to be a role model for my son.

I want him to grow up understanding that:

• 🌀 Movement is joy: Not a punishment or obligation.

• 🧱 Strength is responsibility: The ability to carry your own weight — and sometimes others’.

• 💙 Discipline and Consistency is a form of love: For yourself, for your body, for the people you show up for.

• 🤲 Humility is strength too: Knowing your limits. Listening to your body.Accepting that there is always someone better than you, and that you would be lucky to have them around you.

🧬 What Is Hybrid Training?

As I evolved in training, I realized I wasn’t interested in following a single path. I didn’t want to specialize in one modality while neglecting others. I wanted range, adaptability, and challenge.

That’s what led me to hybrid training.

💡 Note: It actually reminds me of those early days in tech — when we had to touch both backend and frontend before “full-stack” was a thing.
You weren’t necessarily great at any of it, but you could ship things.
That’s how hybrid feels. You touch everything. You build versatility. You stay uncomfortable on purpose.

Hybrid training is the blend of:

• 🏋️ Strength

• 🧠 Endurance

• 🧘 Mobility

• 🧱 Structure

It's about building a body that can do more than one thing well, just like we do in engineering

🌊 Why Hybrid?

Because I refuse to be boxed in. This mindset isn’t only physical — it’s philosophical.

I don’t want to be *just* a runner:

• Or *just* a lifter.

• Or *just* anything.

I want to enjoy as many forms of movement as possible, and get good enough at them to say:

• “Yes, I can go for a ride with a cyclist.”

• “Sure, I’ll paddle out and catch a few waves.”

• “Let’s climb. Let’s hike. Let’s move.”

Hybrid training, for me, is about being ready for all of it AND saying yes to challenges AND having a blast doing it.

🧠 Training Is More Than Physical

That’s also why I train early — before I write code, before I solve problems, I train.

Over time, I’ve realized that training isn't just about the body — it's a framework that scales into everything else I do. Here's why:

• 🧭 It gives structure to my day
  It’s the first win, the anchor that centers everything else.

• 🧠 It sharpens my thinking
  Movement clears the fog. I think better when I move first.

• 🔄 It helps me find rhythm in chaos
  Especially in weeks full of uncertainty, training creates flow.

• 🧪 It teaches me how to iterate
  Every session is a small experiment — with inputs, outputs, and feedback.

• 🧰 It mirrors how we build systems
  Training is just systems engineering for the body —
  with feedback loops, stress tests, recovery cycles, and resilience metrics.

📂 How to start ?

You can check my current 3-month hybrid training plan here:

👉 GitHub – erasmo-dominguez-stuff/hybrid_training_plan

Feel free to fork it, remix it, or run it for yourself.

📬 If this resonates with you, I’d love to hear how you approach training as an engineer, a thinker, a builder.

Let’s connect.