Part 1: October was the month I was introduced to CrossFit…
In 2008 I was mobilized to Camp Buehring, Kuwait as part of a ground ambulance unit from Texas. We handled all emergencies for the base and we also were the medical evacuation for Soldiers and contractors if weather conditions were too bad for flight evacuation. We worked 24 hours on, 24 hours off for 365 days. While I always loved training, it took on a whole new meaning being there. Soldiers depended on us to be physically fit to do our job. They depended on us to be able to carry them, put them on a litter, and load them into a FLA (field litter ambulance) and take care of them until we could get them to a higher echelon of care.
On days I was off, I would spend 3-4 hours at the gym. I would lift weights, and do tons of cardio. I would buy every Men’s Health and Oxygen magazine and do all the workouts they suggested. During that time the “300” workout became popular (from the movie 300) and you could find me and a few other medics and corpsman doing that almost everyday. On days I worked 24 hours, I would get up before I had to report for duty and train 90minutes to 2 hours, grab food to go from the DFAC, quick shower and head to our building/tent.
The MWR would do fitness related competitions and I would often sign up for them if they were on my days off. This particular one that I signed up for had pullups, dips, running, and some other things. I didn’t think much of it and the next day while eating lunch with my ambulance team a Marine Corps Captain and SGM walks up to my table. I was SCARED! I checked my uniform, weapon, and was about ready to crap my pants when the SGM started smiling and asked me how I was doing. I stand up, go to parade rest, and he tells me to relax. I’m still standing at this point and the Captain begins talking. “We saw you at the MWR competition last night, and we wanted to know if you’d like to train with us tomorrow. We do this training called CrossFit.” At this point, I don’t even think I could say no, I’m a lowly E-5 and CPT and SGM just asked me to join them. I tell them yes. They tell me what time and that they are meeting up at the squat rack. I wish I could remember more details about my first workout. But I don’t. I just remember it was for time, you rested the time it took you to complete it and then repeat it again. I remember everyone cheering and shit-talking, high-fiving. I hadn’t seen or felt that since I left college basketball. It was something I missed so much, but had just resigned to the fact that they didn’t have that for adults anymore. You did 3 sets of 10 of weights and you ran or did elliptical. Seeing and doing CrossFit changed all of that. I was hooked. I went online and read everything I could find about it. I read their journal articles, watched all the videos. When I wasn’t working or working out, I was learning about CrossFit. After a few months of training with Marines, they finally received their orders and left Camp Buehring. I was sad to see them go, but they planted a seed in me that continues to grow to this day. I think of that time often and how that one moment. That one invitation changed the entire course of my life. And how that how now impacted hundreds of other people because of the gym. I didn’t think 10 years ago, I would own a CrossFit gym- but now that I do, I can’t imagine doing anything else. (maybe except helping animals) .
Part 2 coming soon…