Through some amazing and not-so-amazing personal and professional moments, I also had amazing and humbling workouts. But regardless of what was on the white board, the people at Interbay became a family. For more than a year, that little box was my third place.
And, as I find myself with nervous, excited energy and a cautionary clearance from my doctor -- low-impact, straight-line movement for me! -- I feel pangs of guilt. I didn't give CFIB a chance to fight for itself. But there's a well-known quote that keeps replaying in my head: "Respect yourself enough to walk away from anything that no longer serves you, grows you or makes you happy."
Don't get me wrong, I love the people at Interbay like family. They shaped so much of the person I have become and my plans for the future. And it is because of my CFIB family that I am able to take this next step in my health and wellness future.
Tomorrow, I start at a new CrossFit gym.
For some, this would be no big deal. For me, it is full of new possibilities and hints of sadness. I will miss the people, first and foremost, but also, I finally work down the street from the gym. I mean, WTH am I thinking?
Well, about a year ago, a coach at Interbay did a weightlifting class. Every Monday night, we did snatch and clean & jerk drills. And when I say "we", I mean about four of us: JCam coached/sometimes joined, while Evan, Shogun and I learned. That class and JCam introduced me to Barbell Shrugged podcasts, California Strength YouTube videos and the Burgener warmup. It fell apart in the summer, when I was out with an injury and it was too beautiful to be in the gym.
Since then, I have spent many an evening studying and learning. I live-streamed the American Open at work (which only made my boss chuckle, thankfully), I did some research on USAW barbell clubs and I spent an ankle-braced day at a standing-room-only gym in Sumner watching a "small" USAW-sanctioned meet a couple weeks ago.
Sure, I need the fitness of the regular class WODs, but mostly I need to eat healthier. I know and understand this, and am working on it every day. But I find my zen in the barbell, because the barbell doesn't judge me by my weight or size. Either I am strong enough or I'm not. It's about technique and skill, not about speed while running or knee-bruising burpees. I can lose weight and size to make the bar path easier to manage, but I can also get stronger while the big improvement happens slowly.
So I've found a new home that offers what I have at Interbay -- a community and standard CF classes -- with what I crave: regular, programmed, focused, not-squished-in-a-corner time in front of the barbell. It wasn't an easy decision, but it comes back around to "serving", "growing" and "making (me) happy". It is bittersweet, but sweet nonetheless.
To all my Interbay family, many of whom will never even see this, the past 16+ months have meant the world to me. To Beth, my first and most sparkly coach; to Joey, who was always willing to play some '90s gangsta rap and flex; to Ron and Erin, who built the best CrossFit family in the city of Seattle; to the 4pm girls, who will always be my favorite workout/gossip/happy hour partners; to Sandra, who counted my super slow 12.1 burpee hell back in the beginning; to dodgeball, the Schmoopies, 915s and noons, the cutest CF kids, Holly the Seahawk Superfan and so many more: this isn't goodbye, it's just good luck.
To the new opportunities at my new home: I welcome you with teary eyes but an open heart and mind. I sense I will find a similar community feel and hope the barbells treat me as nice as the ones at Interbay always did. I forsee many USAW meets and PRs in my future and a completely different mindset.
Bring it on, CrossFit Industrious and Industrious Barbell Club. I'm so excited for tomorrow evening.
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