No, doesn't sound absurd at all - there are even explicit connections between this type of "organic" complexity and the software world, like evolutionary algorithms and agent based models, for example. A while ago, I looked into the topic of complexity in a general way and found a biology book called "Structures of Complexity: A Morphology of Recognition and Explanation" by Rupert Riedl, which is very in-depth on the biological approach to complexity. In fact a little to in-depth for quick extraction of practical concepts.

But looking at something personal and concrete like exercise makes total sense, thanks!