You are FAR more
inspiring than you have ever perceived. I promise. Let me explain…
I had the incredible privilege of going to the CrossFit
Games this past summer, in Carson California.
To experience the CrossFit Games the way I did, as an employee, was
truly an amazing experience that I am still on cloud 9 about. Watching these athletes compete was
incredible. To see a human body reach the
state they are at, and competing at such an intense level was… almost
inhuman. Their bodies had muscles I
never even knew existed, they were moving weights I didn’t know a person could
move, and they continued to compete all weekend through more fatigue then I have
ever seen. This was such an incredible
thing to see with my own two eyes. I
give so much credit to these athletes and the commitment they give to get them
where they are. It takes immeasurable
discipline with the food they eat, it takes huge expenses for supplements, gear
and equipment, it takes a never failing mindset, and multiple training sessions,
up to 8 hours a day of training to reach this level. Admirable?
Yes. Realistic for all? No.
Many of us are in school full time, work a full time job,
have families to care for, or expenses that have to go elsewhere.
When I packed up to go to the Games, I remember talking to
my mom on the phone and saying “I feel like when I come back, all I am going to
want to do is train train train”. I was
expecting to witness these athletes and return wanting to train so much, to get
me to that level. I was a little taken off guard when I got back and my mind
set was changed but in a completely different way. I got back and wanted to
train (as always), but it wasn’t the Games that inspired me.
When I was there was when I realized, I didn’t need to see
the highest level of CrossFit athletes in the world compete to get inspired. All I have to do is simply walk into my
CrossFit box everyday.
THIS is where I am inspired.
Most people, when asked what the best part of CrossFit is,
will respond “The people” or “The community”.
I could not agree more.
When it comes to the aspect of the people or community,
responses will vary person to person but mine is the inspiration they
provide.
Now, I am not taking anything away from the athletes
training 8 hours a day to get to the CrossFit Games level. This takes a special kind of person, and
there is a reason you’re there and most are not. Rather, I am putting emphasis
on what I find to be truly inspiring, which is what I see each day…
The parent at the CrossFit gym that just dropped their kids
off at school and has an hour to spare before the next thing they need to do…
filling the hour with fitness.
The injured athlete that can’t go past parallel in a squat
but is still in the gym doing upper body work.
The people trying to lose weight and instead of starving
themselves, are looking to improve their overall well being and become
stronger.
The coach, that puts in significant time and energy to make
the classes the best they can be, but also has to go home and provide dinner
for the family.
The student athlete that’s putting all they have into
practice but still has to go back and study for an exam after.
The person who HATES running, but is still at the gym doing
the work out because… character.
The person whose running miles upon miles to fulfill a life
goal of running a marathon whether they finish first or last.
These are the people that drive me each day. The people that
hardly have time in their day but fill that small bit of time with fitness or
the people who can’t afford supplements but will still work to choose healthy
options to take care of their body.
I walk into my CrossFit gym and take a good look around at
everyone there. Good day, bad day – busy
day, slow day – able or rehabilitating – old or young, yet everyone is taking a
part of their day to spend working on their health and wellness.
I witness this on a daily bases. Each day I walk into CrossFit 8035 in Des
Moines, the members inspire me. Each day
I coach my fitness class at school, the students inspire me. Each day I am in my apartment and one room mate
is at rowing practice while the other is on a run, I am inspired.
It is apparent each and everyday, but we never really
consider that perhaps…
WE ARE THE INSPIRATION.
We are the ones that inspire others to get started on a
healthy track, we are the ones that encourage people to go outside their
comfort zones, we are the ones that keep them coming back.
You may be looking up to the
elite athletes, but there’s someone looking up to you.
