Why I’m Still Excited About Lifting After All These Years

The adrenaline’s still there—but what keeps me in the sport now runs much deeper.

What Got Me Started

When I first stepped into the world of weightlifting, it was all about the rush. The adrenaline of walking onto a platform, being surrounded by people just like me—adrenaline junkies ready to take on the chaos and pressure of a max-effort moment.

What kept me going in those early years was the camaraderie. Being around people who pushed themselves, who showed up and laid it on the line, made me want to do the same.

Over time, those people didn’t just become training partners—they became part of my story. They’ve been there through every evolution of who I am as an athlete, a coach, a father, and a business owner. And now, what fuels me is knowing that a little bit of my story can inspire the people around me.

The Time I Almost Walked Away

It was about a year ago.

I was banged up. Training wasn’t going well. Meets didn’t feel meaningful. And I found myself going through the motions—not because I wanted to compete, but because I thought I had to. Because that was “who I was.”

I thought: Maybe I’m done.

The biggest realization I had during that time was this:

Me competing doesn’t define me.

It doesn’t define Daniel Dodd, and it doesn’t define TriState Training.

What brought me back wasn’t a meet or a number. It was the release of pressure. When I let go of what I thought I had to be, I found the joy again. I remembered what I loved about lifting—and I fell back in love with it.

What Excites Me Now

Now, what excites me is a different kind of challenge.

Yes, I still love the platform. I still love putting on a show. But what lights me up even more is coaching. Digging deep into technique. Talking biomechanics. Getting obsessed with the “why” behind a missed lift. Helping someone breakthrough when they’re right on the edge.

I love sitting with other coaches and athletes, picking apart movement, cueing strategy, and trying to solve the puzzle of performance.

That’s where my fire is right now.

How I Define Success Today

Success used to be about numbers. Bigger lifts. PRs. Podiums.

Now, it’s this:

Can I lift and feel good doing it?

Can I move without pain? Can I train without digging a hole?

Yes, I still chase big numbers. I still want more. But now I’m more concerned with longevity and impact. I want people to see me training and think, “He’s still going. He’s still reaching.”

That’s the version of success I’m chasing now.

Will I Still Love This in 10 Years?

Absolutely. It might look different. I may not be taking big platform swings or competing nationally.

But I’ll still be here—lifting, coaching, learning, and being around people who love the sport.

Maybe it’s back to local meets with good energy and loud support. Maybe it’s coaching on the floor or throwing a barbell around in a CrossFit class again.

What I know is this: I’m not done. I’m just evolving.

Weightlifting’s given me too much to ever truly step away. The community, the process, the passion—I’m in it for life.