As a kid I was always playing outside, biking around town, and playing soccer. I could eat whatever I wanted and my body remained the same. I was happy with how I felt and how I looked. In college my physical activity started to diminish while I focused on my studies, but I was still happy. After college, I started my career as a teacher and my “fitness” was no more. My time was completely devoted to my students and I started gaining weight and feeling sluggish. I was unhappy with how I looked, how I felt, and the road I was headed down. I knew I needed to make a change.
A friend of mine had been working out at a CrossFit gym for a year and suggested I give it a try. I told him it wasn’t for me, that I had no (I mean zero) weight training experience and I wasn’t strong enough to hang with those insane people. Secretly I was just completely terrified that I was going to fail and get laughed at for how weak and out of shape I was.
I mulled over my life situation and toyed with the idea of joining a standard 24 hour fitness gym, but I knew if I didn’t have someone there to motivate me I wouldn’t push myself. Shortly thereafter a colleague started a male only yoga group and over the course of a year I started building some strength and confidence. I reconsidered CrossFit and decided I was going to give it a try.
“To Hell with anyone that made fun of me.”
In October, 2013 I noticed all of these people running down the sidewalk and back to what I thought was a burned-out warehouse. Then I saw the sign “Schedule II CrossFit”. I took it as a sign (haha) and sent Bryan an email saying I was going to try a free Saturday class. The next weekend I literally forced myself to go to “the box” and introduce myself because I knew I would chicken out if I wasn’t accountable to a real person.
Saturday November 2nd 2013 was my first CrossFit WOD. I was incredibly nervous, but I worked out with two of the nicest people you could ask to work out with. They encouraged me; made sure I didn’t hurt myself, and worked at a pace where I didn’t feel like I was failing. I couldn’t do a single pull-up, running 400 meters left me gasping for breath, and the Olympic lifts had me terrified, but I was hooked!
In summer 2014 I was approached by members and coaches about becoming a CrossFit trainer. I hadn’t thought about it but I am a teacher by trade (and by passion) and I coach middle school soccer. I had been helping other people at the box during workouts unofficially, so it didn’t take much convincing for me to see that it was a natural step to start coaching CrossFit as well.
I started studying and with the blessing of the other coaches and owners of Schedule II CrossFit I took the CrossFit Level 1 trainers course. On September 14th 2014 I achieved Level 1 trainer status and was brought on to the Schedule II team.
The growth you make in the first year of CrossFit can be astounding. I started feeling happy about myself, my body, and my fitness level. I was able to do multiple pull-ups for the first time in my life. I completed “Murph” (look it up!) 7 days after I turned 31. I ran my first sub 7 minute mile EVER! I became a coach in a sport that I didn’t think I was even capable of participating in. I continue to grow and push myself without the constant need for an outside source of motivation. My growth and the growth I see from other CrossFitters is what motivates me now.
I encourage everyone to give CrossFit a try and to come and join our Schedule II family. It has changed my life in so many positive ways I hardly recognize the old me.
Academic Achievements- University of Connecticut – BS Secondary Education Mathematics | University of Connecticut – MA Curriculum and Instruction
Trainer Certifications– CrossFit Level 2 Trainer, CrossFit mobility trainer, CrossFit Aerobic Capacity, CPR/AED certified
