Wednesday, May 9 2018

That’s where it started for me. After a year and a half, Bradley finally convinced me to try CrossFit, and I haven’t regretted my decision. Not only because of the benefits to my physical and mental health, but the friendships I’ve made and people I’ve met have made cfhsv like a second home. My appreciation for cfhsv only grew after having Mac and seeing the enormous amount of love and support from our CrossFit community in such a scary time. Nate, Mandee and their families have built something incredible and I am so proud to get to be apart of it.

My first class May 2013 never will forget that day came in as a college football player and came on the day we had overhead squats tore me up I thought I was fit cause I played ball ... I couldn’t run 400 meters it humbled me like y’all won’t believe the people I met that day ...did something to me it showed me there was people who could lift run look good and still be humble and everyday people ...I missed that when I went back to college football but I always knew after I was done Crossfit Huntsville was the place for me not cause of the workouts but because of the people ... it’s Contagious I thank Crossfit Huntsville everyday for the man they have helped me become

There you go.

In September 2013 I met Dennis Berry in the Matrix globogym. He invited me to come watch the 11:30/lunch class. I sat there in my khakis and polo shirt and watched people like Scott O'Hanian and Paul McCrary wear it out. I lurked online and tried some workouts(WODS) on my own in the soccer field that faces the Matrix. Paul and Melissa Daigle, Daniel Stearns, and Daniel Sherman would occasionally come into the Matrix gym and answer my questions about CrossFit. In October 2013 I drove home from work, walked into the living room, and told Steph that I had signed us up for CrossFit 101 at CFHSV. I'll let her tell you what she thought. By Christmas 2013 I was wearing some black tights under some Nike shorts almost everywhere I went(still had squishy shoes though). Drank all the Kool aide. I would have never dreamt that one of the people in that first class that I watched would go to the CrossFit games, and include me on his journey to Carson, California and Madison, Wisconsin. I could have never imagined that my kids would eventually do CrossFit, and most recently, my Dad of over 70 years of age. One thing that stuck with me, ever since Nate taught one of my 101 classes, was the phrase, "We retire our bodies too soon."

In my line of work its kind of hard to have friends. Living in Tennessee and having a practice in Huntsville also can diminish or dilute your circle of influence. CrossFit Huntsville gave me real friends. A great circle of influence, a band of brothers and sisters, a crew, a community. As a really good coach once said, "This is not the end, this is just the beginning." #ttptb

What he said ☝?

A1: 95-105-115-125
A2: 10-15 reps strict T2B per set
B: Rx, think it was 12:25 with aslt bike and weighted SU

I remember walking into the new facility in 2012 and thinking "we will never fill this place!" #ShouldHaveKnownBetter

Squat racks banging on your legs when you brought them out, old pullup bars (I miss you!), track with every sort of animal (man and mammal)cheering you on, everyone laying in the air conditioned kitchen floor for relief, the smell of the brewery in summer (ugh), dodging tons of cars during parking lot runs....good times and great memories!

14:26 Rx weighted sit-ups/ toes to bar

Haha! You summed it up beautifully!! :)

The testimonies make me cry!

In July of 2013 I made the decision to finally do something differently. I watched youtube videos of Crossfitters, read the blogs, and scoured the CFHSV website for a few days before I finally grew the courage to email Mandee and sign up for the 101. My squishy shoes carried me in the gym that first day, terrified but totally in awe of the athletes in there working out and having fun. I look back over the last 5 years and count myself so blessed to have found this sport which has fundamentally changed my life forever. When I came to the gym, I was still over 200 pounds and had been on thyroid medication since I was 15 with no end in sight to that process. Within a year of Crossfitting and following a mostly paleolithic diet, I convinced my doctor to allow me to try and wean off of thyroid medication. He told me no one does that, but he would let me have my 3 month experiment.
Within 90 days, I was off of my medication with perfect blood work and have never needed it since.
I've met my closest most precious friends here. I've watched my husband morph into a total bad ass. I've learned so much about health, wellness and nutrition and what it means to be humble in all aspects of our journey to get to our optimum self. I love this place! Thank you CFHSV! Can't wait for the next 5 years :)

Yes! This!! one time I found a crab on the track! A CRAB!

I joined crossfit Huntsvile in August 2012. I have always had great coaches in all the sports I have played growing up and through college. But I have to say without question. Dennis Berry was the best coach I have ever had. PERIOD. I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to have been coached by him. The last 5 years have been so much fun for me. I have met so many nice people and look forward to many more.

For time 4 rounds
21 cal row
15 t2b
9 hang snatch @95
9:57

100 push ups
100 sit ups

2012/2013 I was cranking a lot of tunes and eating a lot of cheeseburgers

Lmao, perfect synopsis! This is where it all started for me too!

9:11 rx w/ row and t2b

Love reliving these moments!

My first Barbell Club I could only use a 45lb Barbell for the whole Snatch class. I remember being frustrated, angry, and embarrassed that I had never faced my weakness with the OHS and Snatch. I had convinced myself I could CrossFit without these valuable movements and now I was a Coach that hadn’t practiced what I preached. I started practicing and I would’ve never believed that a few years later I could OHS 225, Power Snatch 205, and Squat Snatch 190. Those numbers might not be that impressive but I couldn’t OHS a PVC pipe in 2008. I’m now the most proud of those numbers.

A1. 125-140-155-165
A2. 8 Strict T2B

B. 10:41 Rx w/Bike and T2B

A. 115-125-135-145
A2. 2 strict T2B, quads were cramping up ??‍♂️
B. 10:48 Rx ?

That was a lot tougher than it looked.

A. 95,105,115,120
B. 3-5 strict
C. 9:51 Rx+ bike

A. Hang Power Clean: 125(7) - 140(6) - 155(5) - 165(4)
5 strict T2B each round
B. 10:58 RX with bike and T2B

7:40 Rx+ bike

My Man, My Man that WOD didn’t stand a chance !!!

65-75-95
9:32 scaled to knee ahap

6:15pm Class:
A1: 135(7)-145(6)-155(5)-160(4)
A2: StrictT2B - 8/8/8/8 (all unbroken)
B: 9:41, RX w/ T2B & Bike
- Fun class Nathaniel/Bradley/Daniel!!! 2012 looking strong!!!

Awesome awesome awesome

115-125-135-145
8:44 rx bike ttb

Thanks for that lifetime discount you gave me when I joined. $50/month has been one of the most rewarding investments I’ve ever made.