What SummerStrong 18 Reminded Us About Strength, Purpose, and People
May 22, 2025
We just got back from Sorinex SummerStrong 18, and while the barbells were heavy and the speakers were strong, what stuck with us most wasn’t the muscle—it was the humanity.
There’s something incredibly moving about being surrounded by hundreds of people deeply invested in performance and helping others become better versions of themselves. This year’s event wasn’t just about training techniques or performance science (though there was plenty of that); it was about heart—the kind of heart that shows up early, stays late, cheers for others, cares for others, and lives with purpose.
As Tim said after the weekend,
“What I loved about SummerStrong 18 was the humanity. So many hearts invested in helping others become better versions of themselves. Genuine care and interest in others. A spirit of strength and wholeness permeated the entire weekend.”
Created to Live Boldly
Tim had the honor of presenting this year, joined on stage by Coach Chip Morton and Coach Luke Day of SC Carolina Gamecock Football. Together, they shared the message that lives at the core of Original Strength: that you were created with intention and designed to move, feel, and live well... for a lifetime.
Tim said:
“I hope people leave feeling created to be loved so that they could be bold and courageous and strong and live an amazing, adventurous life.”
That message—simple, powerful, and so very deeply human—was echoed throughout the weekend.
Wisdom Worth Holding On To
There was a great group of speakers that all offered good insights for even the most seasoned of professionals, and not just focusing on performance and training, but into life, purpose, love, and leadership:
Jimmy Mackey brought the Bahama vibe right into the room and lit up the room with passion and stories on how we all can rise up and persist, especially when trusting God. He also reminded us that we need to take care of our people and remember that people are not meant to be machines.
Nick Tumminello didn’t hold back—“Shut up and put yourself out there. Let the rest of the world deal with it.” He challenged trainers to stop overthinking and start connecting. A good trainer 100 years ago is still a good trainer today, because principles don’t change. Be a simplifier. Be real. Be valuable.
Lee Haney—the GOAT himself—spoke with wisdom, humility, and faith. “Trust Dad” (aka God), he said. I didn't know what to expect when he'd get up on the stage, and here he was, sharing first what God has done in his life. He also shared that mastery is an ongoing process. Winners want to keep winning, but your worth isn’t in your title—it’s in your purpose. As Lee put it, “You are what you eat—protect your heart and mind.”
Coach Luke Day reminded us that barbells aren’t the only way—or even always the best way. Strength is more than lifting; it’s living. Leading. Loving well.... and of course, with a whole lot of energy.
Coach Chip Morton had the ear of the whole room. He brought a real-world scenario to the table and shared the power of movement. His heart for people is like gravity, pulling people towards him. He makes everything—and everyone—better.
And Bert Sorin—the man behind it all—is more than a host. He’s a facilitator of the gift of strength. He’s created something so much bigger than a weekend event. He’s created a movement.
Lessons in Leadership & Legacy
We learned from the Bernardis at Furman, who model leadership from the ground up: remind us to sweep the sheds (from Legacy, great book by the way), include everyone, and build a culture where growth happens from the inside out.
Coach David Feely of Duke Strength reminded us that this is a people business. Communicate face-to-face. Coach humans...not just weights. Know your why. Teach like you're talking to five-year-olds (not to be condescending) to demonstrate true mastery. He really hammered home how important it is to connect with people and showed the value of relationships.
Education Happens Best Together
This weekend reinforced what we already believe: there’s no substitute for being in the room.
Real connection, real growth, the kind of learning that only happens shoulder to shoulder, eye to eye, heart to heart.
Whether it’s a live event, a weekend workshop, or a local training, we say get in the room, spend the money, and “Burn the gas” (as Sorinex’s Bert Sorin might say). Ask the questions, make the connections, give the hugs, and be present with one another.
We left SummerStrong 18 feeling more connected to our purpose, to people, and to the power of simply showing up.
To the Sorinex family—thank you for building a place where faith, strength, and humanity are celebrated.
To the speakers —thank you for being bold enough to share your stories, wisdom, and heart.
And to those of you reading this, we hope this reminds you that we are meant to live in connection with others. When we do come together, we are given more support to live boldly and courageously and to fulfill our Purpose.
Comments (0)
Please login to comment.