I always wanted to write a blog. I love CrossFit and our community. I love reading other people’s blogs, but I felt like my story was so similar to what everyone else has already said, why bother? Well, that’s changed a little so, here goes.
Here’s the part that is similar, I was never an athlete when I was younger, at all. I didn’t work out much and wasn’t very fit. I was introduced to CrossFit by my neighbor (thank you Kristin) but initially didn’t think it was for me. I was wrong, so very wrong. I went to Fit Camp in July of 2015 at 43 years old. Mark Saber was running the Boot camp at the time and he told me that he thought I would be great at CrossFit, that inspired me. I had never stuck with any of the previous workout regimes that I tried because I would get bored. This was different, the workout changes every day. Plus, I figured out that I liked weightlifting, who knew? Then there is this whole community aspect of it, I never thought I would become so attached to the other people that I suffer through these workouts with, but I adore them all, they are my friends. Three years later, I am still CrossFitting and still love it. I grew to love CrossFit so much, I considered getting my Level 1 certification, because, why not? I wanted to be able to teach this awesome training to other people. I am stronger and more fit than I have ever been my whole life.
Here’s where my story took a bit of a turn, at the end of last summer, my hips started to bother me, I was having trouble even in the warm up and felt “off”. I would take a week rest here and there hoping it would help, but then after a few months and it was no better, I decided to go to the Chiropractor thinking I needed an adjustment. Still no improvement, so, after the holidays, in January, I went to an Orthopedic Doctor to figure out exactly what was causing the pain. He told me I have arthritis in both of my hips, the right hip being worse than the left and I will need a hip replacement in the next couple years. Ugh!! (insert pouty face here). How is this even possible when I wasn’t an athlete and my parents were fine? Where the heck did this come from? While this diagnosis is not the worst thing in the world and I am thankful that it was nothing more serious, I was upset. Actually, I cried in my car right after I walked out of the Dr.’s office. I was not expecting that diagnosis, there is nothing you can do to help arthritis, it will, and has continued to get worse, much worse. I walk with a slight limp now. I had told the Dr. that I was a CrossFitter and he told me to keep doing what I was doing, that I needed to keep moving as much as I could, so, I am.
Thank God he told me that. Over the next few weeks, I started to think, oh my god, I will have to give up CrossFit because I won’t be able to do this stuff soon and it was like a stab in the chest, I was really sad. I knew that it would continue to get worse. All of the progress that I made in the past 3 years would be gone. This can’t happen, I can’t stop, it’s a part of my life now, it’s my routine, my stress relief, my friends, what was I going to do?? I had a little bit of a panic attack. I told a few of my friends that I was thinking of stopping, they all said don’t. So, I kept at it. I thought about when I first started, I had to learn all the movements because I didn’t know how to do any of them, I couldn’t do them. Wait?? I couldn’t do them!! Yes, and I still got a good workout when I couldn’t do all the movements, right? Right!! Eureka moment. I can’t do a lot of the things that I did a year ago. I am to the point that I can’t run anymore, can’t squat, can’t do a normal burpee, can’t lunge, can’t do toes to bar, and don’t think I will ever get a double under with these hips.
BUT, it’s all ok because… I can still push press, power snatch, power clean, row, bike, attempt pull ups, ring dips, sometimes box jumps, etc., etc. There are lots of things that I still can do. Above all else, all the awesome coaches at this place know what I am going through, and if I question whether I can do something because of my lack of mobility now or that it will be painful, they will most definitely find me an alternative that will kick my ass just as much!! There is no other place that will do that for you. No other place continues to lift you up. No other place I would rather be. In my opinion, CrossFit is so versatile. You can scale anything and still have a good workout.
I love when I tell people I that I do CrossFit, recently a co-worker I don’t see often said to me, “Wow, that’s pretty bad ass!” I can’t stop, I may slow down a bit, but I won’t stop. Someday, I will get new hips and I will be back to trying to kick all your asses, but, for now, I am going to show up, do the best I can and sweat a little. ANYONE can CrossFit, ANYONE. And there is no better place to do it than CrossFit Off the Grid.
