My CrossFit Journey.
Growing up I always wanted to be an athlete but did not seem to pick up on any ball related sports well (basketball, football, wrestling etc) and so landed in Cross Country and Track as a long distance runner in High School figuring that would be the one and only thing I could possibly do. In college I spent my Freshman year trying my handle at Crew (rowing) and ended up as a Coxswain (the person at the back of the boat yelling commands to the rowers).
After graduating from college, I wanted to stay in shape and the only thing I could think of was subscribing to Men’s Fitness magazines and following the monthly workouts programmed in which I would go to the gym on three days a week targeting specific body parts each day like back, legs, chest etc. I was doing the motions but was not enjoying the exercises and felt alone working out by myself not seeming to be able to get the muscular results that the guys around
me had.
The gym I was working out at was converting part of their racquetball court areas into a “CrossFit” gym and I was intrigued by the coming soon sign that read: “Tired of the same workout? Come try CrossFit!” I attended a weekend long orientation to learn the nine foundational movements, had a blast and converted my membership to CrossFit immediately.
My first three months were exhilarating. CrossFit is set up in the form of hour long classes led by a Coach who takes the group through a thoughtful warmup, reviews the movements within the workout of the day and then starts the clock. The Coach moves around the room checking everyone’s form and technique and providing cues to improve safety and efficiency. I was having a blast within a community environment in which everyone was supporting each other in achieving their potential. What drew me to CrossFit was the focus on functional movements which are ways I would naturally move in nature: squatting on a toilet, deadlifting groceries, pressing boxes up and overhead into storage and more. These movements would be programmed together to create highly intense workouts which would burn more calories in a 10-15 minute compared to jogging for an hour on a treadmill.
My first Coach early on told me that he saw enormous potential in my ability and that I displayed “virtousity” which meant that I was able to perform the common, uncommonly well. I didn’t understand at that time what he meant but continued to develop strength gains and set new records over time. There are various local CrossFit Competitions that are hosted by CrossFit Gyms which give people the opportunity to compete and I found myself loving these. I felt fulfilled in that I was finally able to pursue my dream of being an athlete and doing a sport (fitness) that I was skilled at.
Competition aside, the people and community have made a huge impact on this being such a rewarding journey. Unlike other fitness classes where people come and go, in my CrossFit experience I have forged bonds with people that I would not normally have ever come into contact or interacted with from all walks of life from military guys to Moms. People at the gym genuinely cared about the wellbeing of others. After a very tough breakup which had me tearing up during workouts in the aftermath, a friend at the gym invited me to dinner the following week.
Dining with other CrossFitters is not uncommon and so I thought we were just getting together to break bread. When I arrived at the restaurant, I found that friend along with four others from the gym at the table waiting for me. After ordering, the one who had invited me out told me that the group wanted to acknowledge the difficult time I was going through and wanted to simply remind me of how awesome of a person I was and that I had their support. They had no doubt that I would love again. I shed a tear of joy feeling the genuine love that I was receiving from this group of people.
10 years later my CrossFit journey continues and I have discovered and formed some of the most amazing friendships. I’m presently a member and also a CoachInTraining at San Francisco’s United Barbell (CrossFit SoMa). Some of the personal records I have achieved in my CrossFit lifetime include:
Back Squat 345lbs
Bench Press 217lbs
Box Jump 51.5”
Clean 265lbs
Clean and Jerk 250lbs
Deadlift 450lbs
Front Squat 305lbs
Overhead Squat 215lbs
Shoulder Press 150lbs
Snatch 190lbs
Thruster 217lbs
Weighted Pullup 106lbs
I share the above to show actual results from not only the investment I made in myself, but the belief I had and maintain in what continues to be possible for me.
