By Mark Wood
A community like this produces incredible intensity. When the last person is finishing their workout, everyone else gathers to cheer them on.
Most people know gyms as places where you walk in, keep your head down, put some headphones on and mind your own business. Most people feel intimidated, like someone is watching them, judging them even.
Theres walls lined with mirrors, cameras out taking selfies, and TV’s playing whatever day time TV is on.
Sounds like an environment that doesn’t produce hard work!
When you walk into CrossFit Border for the very first time you don’t know what to expect. You’ve seen videos of the CrossFit games, heard about the “high injury” rate, but you still want to give it a go.
You meet a coach who makes you feel welcome, goes through the basics and walks you into the gym for the very first time.
This is where the community shines! Instead of getting blank looks, you get welcomed by people. “Hi, what’s your name? is this your first session?”
What?! Someone who trains here actually cares who I am? They look fit! Why would they care?
Why?
That is what CrossFit is all about.
We work hard… together
We sweat… together
We suffer… together
An environment like this produces incredible intensity. When the last person is finishing their workout, everyone else gathers to cheer them on. All they want to do is lay down and stare at the ceiling, but they know that it’s not over until EVERYONE is finished.
Most of us can recall when the rest of the group cheered us through a tough workout. Picked you up and carried you all the way to the end.
Nowhere else does this! Nowhere else supports you in that way, day in, day out.
WHAT CHARACTERISES THE CROSSFIT COMMUNITY?
1. Say hello to everyone, high five them, fist bump and share a bar with them. EVEN if they lift a different weight than you. It doesn’t matter how fit (or unfit) you are.
2. We leave no man or woman behind. When you finish a workout, you stand tall and help push the rest who haven’t finished. When a 20 year old weapon is being pushed by someone twice their age, you can appreciate the scale of this community.
3. We celebrate every PB! First box jumps are just as important as first muscle ups. Hitting a 100kg snatch means as much as lifting the 20kg bar for the first time. Stepping into the gym for the first time is a massive triumph that needs celebrating.
As a community, CrossFitters are amazing! (seriously, check us out) Remember, there is no other place that will support you through the most mentally challenging workout like this.
YOU are the community… You probably just don’t know it yet.