I LOVE the echo bike. I adore a good long grind. The longer the workout, the more equipment- the better. Y'all haven't witnessed it yet, but I've been known to crush Karen. When it does happen at TCF, don't call it a comeback- I've been here for years.
Superlatives and taking pics.
Atlas Stones and dunk tanks.
Rudolph relays and mythical creatures.
Chili cook offs and thumb wrestling.
Jingle kettlebells and wheels of GLORY.
Banners and clothing designs.
Decent looking writing and drawing on the walls.
I have a competitive spirit with not much skill to back it up. But gosh darn it, I'm going to try. Jack of all trades, master of none... swimming, soccer, softball, volleyball, hurdles, cross country, crew team, backpacking, rock climbing, skiing, yoga. Yes, I'm basically 6ft tall. No, I was never a basketball player. My college crew coach selected me to do a time trial evaluation for the US Rowing team … I choked on the open net.
When I was younger, I got stuck. I was good at school, so I hid there. I went from high school to college, to grad school, to become a teacher. I confused a lack of resistance with accomplishment. I was checking off boxes, but I didn't feel particularly fulfilled. I was sure that feeling good and looking good went hand in hand, and I could find my best self by running more, eating less, drinking more, and sleeping less. I planned to sleep when I'm dead, run further & faster, and fuel myself primarily on coffee and alcohol. I weighed 130lb and had health insurance as well as summers off, so surely I was winning at life. Best just to ignore that I was riddled by anxiety... In the summer of 2007, when I was 26 years old, a far-fetched opportunity found me on a research trip in the mountains of Idaho. That trip gave me space to realize that there was very little about the life I was creating that served me in a positive way. So I changed it. I quit, I left. I lived in the woods on and off for several months while I hiked the Appalachian Trail. I moved to Connecticut to be with my fella, and started working on a life where I try to prioritize healthy mental, emotional, and physical choices. It's nearly 20 years, 1 husband, 3 towns, 3 kids, 2 dogs, 9 cats, and a handful of jobs later. I am 20lb heavier. I eat food. I stick mostly to seltzer and water. I run on occasion, but only because I want to, not as a compulsion. I am deeply flawed, but very happy. It's all a work in progress. Tolland CrossFit is my third gym base, and I'm confident I've arrived.
CrossFit programming is effective and fun. But only as much as I show up. The boost I feel from exercising only takes me so far, and motivates me so much. It's the community that keeps me coming back for more. The more connected I feel to the community, the more I invest. The people fuel me to be consistent, and the people challenge me to push my own boundaries. But only if I feel safe. I want to trust that I can feel safe being whatever version of me shows up that day... whether I feel strong or weak, invincible or vulnerable, able-bodied or injured, pissy or silly, manic or exhausted. There is a natural bonding that happens through shared adversity, so the work we put in at the gym fosters that trust, but it's the other activities and events that truly seal the deal. Holidays, challenges, celebrations... I love that time to connect. I love the grind, but I want to hang out and play too. The social aspect is the yin to the WOD's yang. Connection is a gift Tolland CrossFit gives me, and I want to promote that for y’all.
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