When I first heard about Rachael opening a gym, I figured I'd go check it out for a bunch of reasons, the main one being that as a friend, I felt I should go check it out to encourage her. When I walked through those doors, on Monday, September 14th, 2008 at 5:34 pm (4 minutes late), I did not expect what I saw. I expected a bunch of machines, people with their hoods onlistening to their iPods, acting big and tough etc. I expected a 1-hour training session, using said machines (which were surprisingly nowhere to be found), with endless repetitions of mind-numbing exercises...
When I was told that my workout required me to toss a medicine ball against a wall, do push-ups, jump on a box, only resting when I NEEDED to, I was a little skeptical. I thought I could just fly through it. And I did, so I thought. I finished it in 8 minutes 9 seconds. I also wanted to crumble in a ball and die right there on the floor I had collapsed on. I signed up as soon as I could get up, I knew this was something different.
I did not expect to get hooked on CrossFit. I did not expect this place to become such an important part of my life. I did not expect this to be one of the BEST decisions of my life. Rachael, Alex, and the entire community have helped me through some of the toughest times of my life. I've become a much stronger person, both physically and mentally. CrossFit is a life lesson. It teaches you how to deal with problems, doubts and failure. This place has become a second home to me, and there is nowhere else I'd rather be.
