Admittedly, I didn’t know these things about Justine before reading this. However, after reading, I have a much better understanding of why she is such an amazing person. Here is the 2nd half of our Power Couple:
Most people who join CrossFit have their own story and reasons for joining, whether it is the need to change their original workout routine, an urge for a challenge or simply to see what all the fuss is about and get stronger, further and better than they imagined. You could say I joined for all of these reasons. One thing that I wasn’t expecting was the mental and emotional growth alongside everything else.
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Two years ago, in the span of six months, I lost two very important people in my life. The first was expected and I was able to dig in and carry on. The second, however, was a shock in the worst way. I struggled with depression, the inability to sleep and eat – I wasn’t able to function like a regular human being. I knew I couldn’t carry on in that way and needed something – anything – to get me back on track. I think one intuitively knows what their body needs to survive and thrive, and I could tell I need to focus my energy on getting well. I started by going for long walks to clear my head, daily bike rides, and I even attempted running by myself. I quickly learned I wasn’t a runner and lacked the motivation to do so by myself. I had been on an ultimate frisbee team in the past, playing for two seasons, and had a lot of fun doing so. In the summer of 2013, I branched out to try different activities to get me through these admittedly difficult days. One of my friends was making up his summer soccer team and invited me to join the team. I hated soccer growing up, but I agreed and found out that – shocker – I still hated it. I did enjoy a few aspects of the game – that we worked as a team, there was an obligation to run, and there usually was a sense of accomplishment after the end of the match. I’d come home sweaty, tired, hungry and mostly happy. Then summer drew to a close and I knew as much as I enjoyed the end results of the match, I seriously hated playing soccer.
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I had recently started dating JT (who had joined Sublime a few months prior) and could not shut up about the place. I’d just smile and nod my head like I understood when he started going on about squats, kettlebell swings, and various lifting terms. JT then started encouraging me to give CrossFit a try. I was in the process of applying to the Massage College of Manitoba at the time and said maybe later. However, in my interview for the college, the subject of JT and CrossFit came up. The school director, Garth, became excited when I said how JT wants me to join CrossFit. Garth told me to do it as a strong core and good mobility are assets to a successful RMT career. I was accepted at the college and, the very next week, I contacted Kyle and arranged my first assessment sessions.
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I had never set foot in a regular gym before – I was intimidated, frustrated and even a bit discouraged in my first few weeks. At first, I was committed to a couple of classes a week but, as JT and I work together, I found myself tagging along every day after my shift. That’s when a funny thing happened – I started to enjoy the workouts and looking forward to the next class. Kyle had been extremely supportive and understanding of my lack of experience and knowledge in anything that’s done at Sublime. Workouts and movements were tailored to my mobility restrictions and I was constantly supported and encouraged by every coach. CrossFit at Sublime has quickly become the place where I broke free of my stress and mental frustrations; I feel a lot happier after my classes and I notice if I miss a day. Sublime is not only comprised of amazing coaches, but it also has a family feel to the place – it doesn’t matter who I end up working out with I know that we’ll be cheering one another on and celebrate when personal goals are reached and broken. Before joining Sublime I couldn’t have imagined I’d be deadlifting over 200 pounds, being able to do pull ups and chin ups and, as much as I hate running, I was able to run a mile without stopping. And back to that family vibe, while I was running that mile I was with another member and we were encouraging each other every step and afterwards I said to her, “if you hadn’t been there I probably would have ended up walking!”
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The support from Sublime extends beyond the workouts – during the early spring, our water main froze for close to two months. Dishes, laundry, and hygiene all became more difficult. Upon hearing this, one member delivered a home cooked meal to us during one of our classes, including disposable plates and cutlery. It was completely unexpected and representative of the amazing community that calls Sublime home. In addition, our dog/mascot Lola, who tags along when we head to Sublime, had stomach surgery a few weeks ago. While she was healing, everyone made sure she had lots of attention and were genuinely concerned for her well-being. It’s moments like these that make Sublime a fantastic place to go to and makes me strive to be better because of it.
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I’ve already surpassed where I expected to be and I’m beyond excited to carry on and push harder for bigger goals in the future. I know that Sublime will be the place to accomplish this, each coach and trainer has infinite amounts of patience and have all given me invaluable advice. Huge thanks to Kyle, Gail, Brad, Brendan, Melissa, Tyler, Andy and Caitlin – I couldn’t imagine where I would be right now without the support and guidance each one of you has given me. And a huge thank you to all the members at Sublime, I love meeting positive, hardworking individuals and there’s definitely an abundance of them here!
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I joined Sublime out of curiosity and necessity to focus my energy into something positive. I stay because of the coaches, the people, the results and the feeling of being grounded and in control of myself. Everyone needs a foundation in their life and I couldn’t imagine a better place for mine.