Member Stories

“I like to joke that I accidentally joined CrossFit. I was always intimidated by the CrossFit communities I met over the years, but when a friend recruited me to do a Spartan Sprint to celebrate our impending 40th birthdays, I googled how to prepare in just three months and found SRSC offered a great custom program. 

I met those initial goals and just keep finding different reasons why I love SRSC. Really, it comes down to being a part of a healthy, positive community, with a nice dose of competition, that focuses as much on your mental strength as your physical. 

For me, the past year has been one lesson after the next of turning “I can’t do that!” into “Sure, I can try!”, or better yet “Oh, I did do that!”. And that’s meant going from rope “hangs” to rope climbing, going from 3 mile runs to 18+, and even starting to like burpees!”

“I had been aware of CrossFit for awhile, but didn’t think I was in good enough shape to join a CrossFit gym. After spending lots of time in a conventional gym lifting weights and running on a treadmill, I grew bored. I wasn’t sure that what I was doing was the best use of my time and effort, I was ready for some expertise and wanted to make a commitment and investment in myself so I reached out to CrossFit Santa Rosa.

“I went from playing college soccer to sitting on a couch. Injuries kept me from running for ten years. Complications from multiple surgeries on my right arm left me believing I would not use it functionally again. Two years ago, a Couch to 5K program got me running again. I began to wonder what else I could do. In January 2018 I joined SRSC assuming I would have to modify most movements to accommodate my injuries.

I was soon functioning way more than I thought possible. I learned to mobilize and care for my body outside the box. I got roped into doing the CrossFit Open and enjoyed the challenge and camaraderie, even though I scaled almost every movement. I signed up for three obstacle course races (Spartan Trifecta – Sprint, Super, and Beast), not knowing if I was even capable of doing them. SRSC CrossFit and SGX coaches Nikee and Dan encouraged me and provided accountability. The SRSC community provided tremendous support. At the end of September 2018, I completed my big, hairy 2018 goal by doing the 13+ mile Spartan Beast in Tahoe, finishing in 3:35:22 (#71 out of 5,371 in the open category).

More important to me than ranking is the fact that I am more functional than I’ve ever been in my life. I completed every skill and strength obstacle (I only missed the spear throw, which is like rolling dice). Before the race I assumed I would be doing 120-150 penalty burpees since there are some obstacles I have never been able to do. My newfound capacity to function SHOCKED me. It still does. I travel a lot for work now, but I love coming home to SRSC, a place where a bunch of awesome people do what they never thought possible.”

“I’m excited how much fun this whole process is. Each day is a challenge, so I’m not getting bored. My most significant improvement came in the form of a mindset that I am in control of my health and fitness and I can do anything through hard work and commitment. This isn’t a fad diet or program; this is a life change.”

“My primary motivator for joining SRSC at nearly 64 years old was a bone density test showing I had bone loss of 4.6% from 2 years earlier and was now considered Osteopenia, a precursor to Osteoporosis.  My entire life, I have been physically active between cycling, jogging, and hiking, and, I also was on a regime of Calcium, & Vitamin D, but it clearly wasn’t enough. The technician cautioned me that the only thing that would help to reverse bone loss was regular weight bearing exercise.

Given this was something I clearly needed to get serious about, and I knew trying to do it on my own never worked in the past, I started checking out different gym options, including cross-fit, which was becoming very popular, and that is how I got connected with SRSC three years ago, through a 6-Week Introduction Program they were offering, and I have never turned back.  I have been so grateful for the support and care they put into preparing my own custom program that is unique to my abilities, along with their diverse conditioning classes, which are always changing and challenging. I have found SRSC unlike any previous gym experience where they mostly would get you started and then let you fend for yourself.

Best of all though, I just retested my bone density, and in a little over 2 years, I have gone from -4.6% to +1.9%, and am no longer Osteopenia and back in the Normal range!!!!!”

“Growing up as a girl in the 60’s on Long Island didn’t offer me many choices to get involved in sports.  Ballet and golf was all that was offered to me.

In 1976 I headed across the country and settled down in Sonoma County.  Every so often I would dabble in Jazzercize or running but I never stuck with it too long. 

Somewhere in the ‘90’s I was stricken with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I was completely disabled for a number of years and losing faith.  As luck would have it, I am one of the fortunate ones, for I have recovered.

As my body got stronger, I found swing dancing and I joined the YMCA.

Turning 60 was a huge change for me.  It was at that point that I thought I would start challenging myself physically and I hired a swim coach and entered my first athletic competition, the “Senior Games.  I realized I had a competitive side and came from the games feeling prouder than ever and sporting a few gold medals.

So what’s next, I asked myself and off to Santa Rosa Strength and Conditioning to take just one month of training to help me do more at the YMCA. That was 10 months ago and I love my CrossFit training.  There’s an element of competition for me daily.  Always wanting to lift more, run faster, one more pull up, etc. 

I have uncovered a tenacity I never knew I had.  Thanks to the support of my trainers and other gym members, I am accomplishing my goals and realizing that there’s no need to give into getting old. Work your body and it will work for you.”