CrossFit came into my life out of unhappiness and chance over two years ago. At the time, I was unhappy about the “college weight” that I had put on but yet had no motivation to go the SRSC and workout for an hour or two on an elliptical or stationary machine. Needless to say I was at a standstill.
It just so happened that I lived just around the corner from a CrossFit gym and was curious about what it entailed. Being somewhat serious about getting into a routine I called, and about a month in, I was hooked! Who knew picking up a heavy barbell would be so much fun. Before I knew it, I was tracking workout times, recording my personal best lifts, and hitting milestones like a kipping pullup (still crazy to think about).
About a year into my CrossFit journey, I felt confident enough to sign up for a competition up in Indianapolis, and this is where I met Shaun and Jenna. After meeting them both and enduring a ridiculous amount of workouts together, I felt something was different in their CrossFit attitude. I wasn’t completely sure what it was but I knew it was something that I didn’t have and I wanted. Starting the next month, I became a member of their gym, Hoosier CrossFit.
Coming into the gym, one year ago, was a decision that is indescribable. Since becoming a member of HCF, all of my personal bests have improved, I have been better coached on Olympic lifts, my weight and body composition has dramatically changed thanks to eye opening nutritional information, and I have become involved with a core group of true friends. I never would have expected all of these to come from a gym! I give myself credit for putting in all the time an effort, but it would not be possible without Shaun and Jenna who continually give me the correct tools, environment, and support to make it happen.
HCF is truly like my family.
I was a competitive swimmer for 15 years and thrived in a team environment. I Love walking into a class and chatting up people while simultaneously painfully rolling out tight muscles (ok maybe I do more talking than mobilizing but it’s the thought that counts!). I have gotten to know people from all different backgrounds, older, younger, and everything in between. It’s comforting to know we all have separate lives, but the moment we walk in that red door, we are bonded by the pain we are all voluntarily about to endure. I am happy to say that since making Bloomington my permanent home post college, I have some truly made amazing friendships through CrossFit (which at times really disrupts class—sorry ShaunJ).
Looking back on my experience I can see how CrossFit has not only helped me get into the best physical shape of my life, but has given me self confidence, discipline, and the ability to better handle tough situations both mentally and physically in and out of the gym. Even though I feel that I have accomplished so much with CrossFit, I am hungry for more. Everytime I drop time in a workout or master a new skill, it lights a fire in me to push on to the next thing. CrossFit is an insatiable appetite I have and I look forward to continually pushing the limits of what I thought I could do.
