MICHAEL

Thirteen years ago, a series of fortunate events coaxed me into CrossFit: I saw myself in a family photo, my annual physical exam yielded a concerning cholesterol reading, and my dear friend Neil Blumofe invited me to join him at a CrossFit class he was taking with Lisa Thiel. All the elements were there – the need for change, longstanding friendships, and a welcoming environment for a newbie to workouts.

Certainly, much credit goes to Lisa and her optimistic outlook, encouragement, and goal orientation. My fitness goal is simple: maintain my health in order to enjoy all the aspects of my life. As my wife likes to point out, CrossFit is cheaper than a stent. For the past decade, I have climbed multiple 14ers in Colorado; the hiking motivates me to stay in shape.

I’ve experience lots of physical changes – loss of weight and gain of muscle. Emotionally, like most, the workout provides a natural stress release that sets me up for a positive and productive day. Gaining mental toughness in the workouts has helped me manage my response to stress in daily activities.

The comradery and variety keeps me coming back. The positive coaching fosters good spirits where folks can joke with one another in an incredibly supportive way. The variety of equipment and workouts challenges me. I can tell that the workouts are thoughtful and measured.