“Believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. No one said it would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.” 

-Anonymous


Above:  Kapono, one of our new members, gets his row on during a WOD.

How has CrossFit changed your life? Recently, I have found myself talking about this a lot. In July 2007, upon graduating from Princeton, I never imagined myself doing what I am doing today. CrossFit? I had no clue what CrossFit was. I never even heard the word prior to meeting Kimo in March of 2008. However, today, CrossFit is my life–its my job, its my workout, and its passion. There is not a day that I don’t talk about CrossFit or think about a CrossFit WOD.  I look forward to the hour in my day where I get smoked by “sucky” WODs.  I even have dreams about CrossFit.  Many of you have heard CrossFitters say this, or have even said it yourself, “I’m addicted to CrossFit.” Well, here’s my announcement, “I, Elyse Umeda, am addicted to CrossFit… and I’m okay with that.”

For those who don’t know my story, I graduated from Punahou School in 2003 and Princeton University in 2007 with a B.A. in Economics and a certificate in Political Economy. Upon graduation from Princeton, I was planning on entering the finance world that so many of my classmates did. I played basketball throughout my years at Punahou and was given the opportunity to play Division I Basketball at Princeton. Prior to CrossFit basketball was definitely my passion. I was not tall, but I was strong and quick, and I worked my butt off in the weight room. After basketball season I decided to take a break from athletics and the regular “hardcore” college workouts I had been doing the previous 4 years of my life. When I returned home, to Hawaii, I still had not gotten into the groove of working out. I would do the “Global Gym” lifts and go running around Diamond Head every now and then, but nothing really caught my interest. Nothing until CrossFit that is.

Sometimes I wonder, could there be a more perfect workout for me? Not only am I competitive by nature (I hate losing), but I have a pretty strong gymnastics and olympic lifting background.  I also love challenges (I hate quitting) and playing Division I college basketball really strengthened my mental toughness.  A background perfect for CrossFit!  The best part, I have only been doing CrossFit for 9 months and I have never felt more fit in my entire 23 years of living, and believe me I’ve done a bunch of different workout styles, including strength and conditioning programs, fitness classes, lifts, circuits, cleanses, detoxes, and fad diets!  Nothing comes close to the results you get from CrossFit.  Nothing.

But, that’s only half of my CrossFit experience.  My story wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t talk about how much I love coaching CrossFit.  Because, as much as I love doing CrossFit, I also love coaching CrossFit.  I love motivating people to reach their fitness goals, I love watching them achieve their fitness goals, I love helping people do things they thought weren’t possible, I love changing people’s lives for the better, the healthier, the fitter. I love coaching CrossFit.
So, for those who didn’t know my CrossFit story. There it is. CrossFit has changed my life, for the better, and I’m thankful for that. Happy Thanksgiving!

“Believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. No one said it would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.”

Please post your stories in comments about how CrossFit has changed your life!  I’d love to hear about all your experiences over these past months!

Go get your CrossFit on!
Coach Elyse

Today’s Workout:
“Turkey Coming!”
6 rounds for time of:
30 second Squat Hold
20 KB SDLHP
10 Tuck Jumps
10 Pull-Ups
1 Circle Run

Post time to comments.