Officer Training School (OTS) or as most people know it as, is boot camp. When I went to OTS I had 12 years under my belt in the Air Force. I had already been through enlisted boot camp so I had a general idea of what to expect.
I am no spring-chicken, so I worked hard to prepare for the physical fitness portion, doing HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training), before leaving for eight weeks. I enjoyed this type of workout, it offered variety and it improved my overall fitness. It wouldn’t be until I left for another 10 weeks, one year after OTS that I finally tried CrossFit.
I was in Biloxi, MS and found a box that just happened to be having an “On-Ramp” program. I thought if I liked this CrossFit stuff, it would work out perfect that I would do the beginner course for one month and spend the second month to really get “ripped” before I came back to WI.
Before my first session, I spent an hour talking to the gym owner on the phone about where I was currently physically, what were my goals, etc. I was impressed to say the least, no “big box gym” had ever worried whether I would be the right fit for the gym.
I was hooked instantly! I couldn’t believe that after leaving the first night, I knew four of the eight people there, I had never been to a “gym” like that. And then when I came back, I kept meeting more people, and despite being out of my comfort zone with the weights, terminology, etc. someone always made me feel comfortable or paired up with me on partner WODs. Oh yeah, and HIIT had nothing on these WODs and METCONs!
When I left for WI, I was sad to leave. I had no idea I would make such good friends and CrossFit could affect me so much more than just physically. I was also sad to leave because I hadn’t reached my goal of getting “ripped” in two months!
I was really shooting for a Jessica Biel circa Blade timeframe (don’t know it, Google it). So I had to find a box ASAP to continue progressing toward my goal! My husband and I did some research, toured a box but when we walked into CFR and met Coach Patrick, we knew our search was done.
I have been at CFR since October and I love it. I joined CrossFit to get “ripped”. I’m still not at my goal but in just under a year of CrossFit I have noticed a huge difference physically (I just need to be more patient and realize I am not an actress hired to film a movie about vampires!)
Being more physically fit isn’t the only thing I got from CrossFit. Sometimes the military causes members to become segregated by the nature of our profession/lifestyle. I was eager to be around “civilians” again, get to know the community, people and stories within it. Little did I know I could find that by doing CrossFit and being at CFR.
I return every morning because I love the physical and mental challenge CrossFit gives me. I return every morning because I’m wondering how everyone’s weekend went, those of you buying homes for the first time, I want to hear the excitement in your voice, I want to know how seeing the grandbaby was, your weekend visiting parents.
I return every morning because I want each of you to hold me accountable, to push me for one more rep or maybe a little bit more weight than I thought possible, so that I can slay vampires someday soon!