Ready, set… hold up! Before we begin, let’s start off with a few definitions courtesy of Merriam-Webster:

athlete

noun

ath·lete | \ˈath-ˌlēt, nonstandard ˈa-thə-ˌlēt \

A person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina.

 

uninitiated

adjective

un·ini·ti·at·ed | \ˌən-ə-ˈni-shē-ˌā-təd

Lacking knowledge of or experience with something : not initiated, inexperienced

I joined the neighbourhood CrossFit gym almost two years ago because it was:

1. Close to my house
2. En route to the subway
3. In the same building as a supermarket.

How’s that for lazy? The gym’s location was also very convenient and super efficient!

My first experience with CrossFit wasn’t very encouraging. I had just moved back to Toronto after a three year stint in Vancouver, where I would regularly bike and go on hikes. Adjusting back to big city life in Toronto in the dead of winter was easy – I stayed indoors and ate a lot. When my gym bunny friend invited me to join her on a free introductory class at a CrossFit gym, I begrudgingly accepted, I knew I wasn’t in any shape to keep up with her.

As newbies to CrossFit, we were given a corner and a routine of basic gym exercises like push-ups and planks — while the regulars jumped on top of tall wooden boxes, performed pull-ups and lifted weights — a normal CrossFit routine. I left feeling out of breath, sore, and frankly, a bit ignored. Side note: this gym is no longer in business.

A few years later I moved to a new neighbourhood and my roommates insisted I join them for another free introductory class at a gym nearby. My reluctance was high when I discovered it was a CrossFit gym – or a “box”, as it is often referred to – because they resemble a cement box containing only the necessary equipment for a workout like barbells, weights, pull-up bars, medicine balls, boxes, resistance bands, rowing machines, and so on. Unlike regular gyms, CrossFit boxes don’t have any frills like televisions, mirrors or cardio equipment with screens. We joined the beginner Foundation class where the instructor known as a “coach” showed us basic movements with proper form and technique.

I always of thought CrossFit as an activity for hardcore athletic types, for those who could leap on wooden boxes like superheroes, lift like ogres and do pull-ups like marines. I thought their bodies were made for these types of activities and mine wasn’t. The intimidation factor weighed heavily on my mind, but it quickly disappeared when I noticed people of all ages, body shapes and sizes participating in the class. As a group, the coach guided us through each movement slowly, watched and made adjustments. By the next day, our muscles were stiff and sore. These effects lasted throughout the week and I promised myself, “Never again!” but a few weeks later an ad flashed across my screen for ClassPass promoting three months of classes for half price. For those of you who aren’t familiar with ClassPass*, it’s an app where (at the time) you paid for a certain number of classes per month to access classes at various gyms and fitness studios. One of the gyms listed was the neighbourhood CrossFit box and I thought, “Why not?”. Using Classpass allowed me to try it without commitment: no monthly membership, no one-year contract. For the next three months, I went to the weekly Foundation class to learn new moves, break a good sweat and slap a few high fives with other members. The trial period gave me time to develop the habit of going to the gym regularly, to build confidence and strength. After the ClassPass promo ran out, I finally bit the bullet and bought a one-year membership.

In CrossFit, coaches call their students “athletes”. I don’t consider myself an athlete. I’m not trained or skilled in sports or exercises that require physical strength, agility, or stamina. Even though I’ve now been practising for two years, I still think of myself as inexperienced with a lot to learn. But I’m determined! And to this day, I smile when I hear, “C’mon athletes, finish the round!”.

Do you consider yourself a lazy athlete? Where are you in your fitness goals? Let me know by leaving a comment below.

* No affiliate link since I no longer use the app.