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‘Go hard or go home’. ‘Pain is just weakness leaving the body’. ‘Nothing hurts more than sitting on a couch’. Whether it’s on a T-shirt, internet meme, or is the chosen saying of your favourite fitness class leader, we’re betting you’re familiar with at least one of these so-called ‘positive’ exercise mantras. With the ongoing rise of female participation in sports such as CrossFit and triathlon (organiser Go Tri says women aged over 55 represent its highest growth area), ‘faster, harder, further’ is the motto du jour. And, while we all want to see more women challenging themselves, this ‘no pain, no gain’ approach has its drawbacks, too.
More harm than good?