Last night I went to my usual 6:30 class with Coach Jake. I have come to really love Mondays at 6:30. We seem to have a nice flow with each other – we laugh, we work, we sweat, and we usually fall onto the floor together post workout as a team. It’s comfortable. It’s the only place I need to be Mondays from 6:30 to 7:30pm – proof of this includes my sceduling around this class. For the last 16 weeks, I’ve had meetings immediately following class for various things and they always knew I would arrive no earlier than 7:45, sweat and all.
I know you know by now how much I enjoy Solcana CrossFit. A big part of this is the community aspect – I have never worked out a gym where I hug and get hugged upon entering it. I’m not usually a PDA kind of gal, so you should know how much I have really come to love and enjoy these people. I don’t know everything (or even some things, sometimes) about their every day life but I do get to know them for an hour at a time when we sweat, grunt, laugh, push ourselves, and encourage each other together.
Last night I found myself looking around at everyone at the 6:30 (we had a pretty big class of 11!) and thinking about how much I really enjoy and admire each one. I know this sounds cliche and all that, but if you know me even a little, you’ll know that I cannot fake anything…even in writing. I really felt a sense of pride to be part of this dynamic group of people. The mental and physical strength exhibited by each of my classmates is seriously inspiring and as an adult I cannot think of any other place in my life that seems to be so mentally and physically healthy, and supportive for me. I know I’ve said these words before, and you know what? They are worth repeating. It’s what makes this experience whole for me, and it is a big reason why I keep coming back.
I am going to use this space to take a minute to thank some of my coaches and classmates from my Monday class because what they are doing and how they are doing it is impactful to me. I am watching, listening, and learning from them all of the time.
Coaches (Hannah, Ariel, Jake, Morgen, Marijke, Jerik, and Jeff): Thank you. Thanks for seeing strength and ability in me and helping me see it in myself. It’s pretty damn amazing to have a group of people around with a goal of helping me do better. I really look up to you all and enjoy you immensely and think that what you do for all of us is impressive. It’s a lot to give of yourselves on a daily basis and you do it so authentically and earnestly, you make me believe what you see in me, too. ALSO YOU ARE ALL SO OMG STRONG AND AMAZING!
Ryan gets his own shout out because he is the most genuinely supportive and encouraging person I have ever met. He gets more excited for things that I do than I actually do! Not to mention, he is one strong dude. I swear some day I will see him lift a barbell with every single weight plate in the gym on it.
Lauren B is a bad ass gal that started CrossFit a few months ago. In the time I’ve known her I’ve had the privilege to watch her surprise herself with her own strength (sound familiar? SEE ALL PREVIOUS POSTS!). Anyway, Lauren’s drive is amazing and watching her knockout a 75lb 5×10 Yates Row last night was THE BEST! KILLIN IT, GIRL!.
Becky, Hannah P, and Colette provide laughs and encouragement and their consistency and success with their own CrossFit journeys is something I really admire. Becky and Hannah are both moms of young ones and I think that the example they are setting for their children with their own self-care and fitness is remarkable. Watching Colette and Lauren do their partner workout last night was nothing short of emotional as they stepped up for each other in areas of vulnerability. These are life lessons that I get to watch in action. Maybe some day I’ll write my own version of Fulghum’s book and call it “All I Really Need To Know I Learned at Solcana CrossFit”!
Eric, Kase, Madhu, and Dennis (we missed you last night, Josh!) are men who very honestly view women as equals and it shows. They are so confident in their own abilities and they make the gym experience so comfortable for me. In my past experience, lifting weights in mixed company has always been an intimidating experience and you guys ensure that doesn’t happen at Solcana CrossFit. This especially resonates with me in light of the constant men/women struggles outside of the gym, on our own streets, and across the globe. I want you to know I notice, guys. Thanks for repping the good ones.
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