I joined Reebok Crossfit 306 two years ago and my only regret is not joining sooner! It has changed my life. Not only physically (I’ve lost 25 pounds and I went from a 32” to 26” waist) but mentally, it has made me a better person. So why have I “drank the cool aid”? Well when I joined Reebok Crossfit 306, I was 39 years old, 162 pounds and although I did my best to hide it, I hated the way I looked, the way I felt and what I had become. I was a mother of 2 young children, wife to a great guy and had a rewarding career, but something was missing… ME… I was so busy taking care of everybody else that I had lost myself along the way.
The more I read or heard about CrossFit the more intrigued I became. But getting me in the door was a struggle…I had the same concerns that many of you contemplating CrossFit have… I have to get in shape before I can join, I won’t be able to do the workouts, I don’t have the time. And the excuses went on and on. I emailed the owner, Jason Cain, who would answer all my questions, but would always end by saying, “Just come on down and try it”. Finally, I showed up to check this place out. It was a Monday morning, so Jason wasn’t there, but he said I could speak to his wife and co-owner Rebecca. When I walked into the gym it was loud with music and weights. As I hesitantly inched my way to the gym, I saw about a dozen people working out really hard, doing some type of bar work, burpees, handstand push-ups and they looked like they were loving it. People were cheering each other on as they sweated it out. I could feel my eyes getting bigger and bigger, as I watched in awe and fear all at the same time. All I could think was there is no way in hell I can do any of this… I can’t even do a pull-up, let alone a handstand push up. I felt like an overweight, middle-aged, mom who had no business at a CrossFit gym. I slowly started to back up but before I could turn away, the coach/owner Rebecca saw me and pulled me in with her warm and welcoming nature.
Rebecca took me to the front to chat. She took the entire hour to tell me about her family and how they started this CrossFit gym. I shared my fears with her and she reassured me they were normal and that she was confident I would love it. She offered to let me stay and work out, but in all honesty, I was scared to death. I told her I would be in contact and got out of there as quick as I could.
That whole week, I couldn’t stop thinking about that gym and the athletes I saw. I so badly wanted to look like them and be able to do what they did. Finally, I emailed Jason and asked if I could just try it out before buying a membership. So that following Saturday morning I showed up for a class. I was so intimated and scared. Steven Lund was coaching and welcomed me in. I don’t remember the whole WOD, but I do remember it was an AMRAP with burpees and box jumps. I remember during the workout wanting to quit, but everyone was working so hard and people I had just met were cheering me on. And then before I knew it, it was over and everyone was high fiving each other and smiling.
I decided to buy a one month membership and give it a try working out in the afternoons with Jason as coach. At this point I still hadn’t met him and still pretty intimidated at what an accomplished athlete he was. I walked into my first official class one Monday at 3:00 p.m. and I haven’t stopped yet! I still remember Jason’s post wod question, “How was that?” he asked with a smirk, while I lay on the floor in a puddle of sweat. I loved it. Although it may not have looked like it at the time, I was beaming inside. I had found my happy place. I had found my way back to me!
“We don’t meet people by accident. They are meant to cross our path for a reason.” - At Reebok CrossFit 306 the motto is “Community above all else”. Although when I initially joined I thought to myself, I just want to work out, I don’t need any new friends. But the people and environment at 306 is incredible. Community minded passionate people bringing out the best in each other every day. If you want to be part of something bigger than yourself, 306 is the place for you. At Reebok CrossFit 306, I found my tribe. The people that would change my life forever.
Like many of us, I have a high stress job that takes a lot out of me mentally and emotionally. Reebok Crossfit 306 is my therapy. The athletes at Reebok Crossfit 306 are people like you and me. They are moms, dads, nurses, teachers, accountants, students. Some come 1-2 x per week or every day. Regardless of how often you are there or what skill level you are at, we all take that hour to put all our energy and frustration of the day into that workout and leave it all on the floor. And trust me, we always do!
Every day I walk in the doors and see Jason waiting for us, always welcoming and supportive. He is always 100% focused on his athletes making sure you are warmed up, ready and prepared to perform to the best of your ability. Whether you have an old injury or not feeling your best, he will scale your workout based on your needs. And being coached by someone who can not only coach, but can do, gives us the confidence in the programming we are receiving. And the best part is you don’t have to figure out what to work on when you get to the gym. No thinking required, you just have to show up and work hard. Prior to joining Reebok Crossfit 306, I couldn’t even do a pull-up. Now I’m doing chest to bars, toes to bar, handstand push ups and so much more. You don’t need to have any experience before joining Reebok Crossfit 306, you just need to want to be a better version of yourself. Jason, you are an amazing coach who motivates and inspires us all. Your knowledge combined with your passion for the sport makes us all want to be the best we can be.
“Nothing is Impossible, the word itself says “I’m possible”. Audrey Hepburn.
I realize I’m going to start sounding like a paid advertisement, but I feel that I owe it to you all to know that you can change your life at any age and any shape. The only thing you have to do is commit to the work and show up and the coaches at Reebok Crossfit 306 will do the rest. And it doesn’t matter which coach you get, they are all fantastic. Although I am faithful to Jason’s 3:00 class, I have been coached on occasion by all the other coaches and they are all amazing. Rebecca, Beth, Sam, LT, Kelsey, Steve, Eric, Elektra, thank you all for your support and guidance. And if you want to improve specific skills, there are specialized gymnastics classes, weightlifting classes, ladies only boot camps, spin classes and much more. And if that wasn’t enough, Reebok Crossfit 306 partners with Vitality Nutrition and Summit Sports to provide you a full-service gym.
It has now been 2 full years since I joined Reebok Crossfit 306. I feel confident, strong and happy. I love myself again. I’m the person on the outside that I’ve always been on the inside. I feel like I can be a better mom to my kids by having the energy and health to keep up with them and enjoy life. Now at 41 years old, I feel younger than ever. I wake up every day, counting down the hours until I get to my “happy place”. Reebok Crossfit 306 gives you that opportunity to take care of yourself physically, mentally and emotionally and to live the best version of yourself. Thank you, Jason & Rebecca, for creating such an inspirational and passionate community. Looking forward to great years to come.