Happy Anniversary to the Newbies!

Two years ago to the day, ShopGym a.k.a. CrossFit Niverville, ran our first official Intro Class.  I can remember at the time how nervous all of us coaches were.  Would we do our clients justice?  Would we be able to convey our love and passion for the sport of CrossFit in just 8 sessions?  Did we know what the hell we were doing?  I can only imagine what those eight people were thinking as they walked through our door that day.

We thought it only fitting that we pay a little tribute to six of those eight wide eyed, shaking individuals as a token of our immense gratitude for sticking with us through all the growing pains with such grace and support.  We will be forever in your debt for the kindness that you've shown us.

First blvd WOD for the Intros.  And yes, that is my mother lying there :s

Miss Irene:  Your presence in the box is irreplaceable.  You are constantly striving to be a better athlete and never quit when it comes to perfecting your technique.  Your kind heart is my absolute favorite thing about you.  So many times when we needed someone, you were there to lend a hand or offer an encouraging word.  Thank you my dear friend!

Miss Robyne:  Determination is your middle name!  Never one to quit even when the going gets rough.  I have seen you overcome so many mental and physical obstacles without giving up.  This journey is not always an easy one but we have watched you persevere and have seen you grow in so many ways.  You are an absolute asset to the box and we thank you dearly for your commitment to us.

Miss Gwen:  Our tattoo'd beauty!  I have to admit that tears come  to my eyes when I think about all that you have been through over these last two years, we just hope that you felt our support along the way. You are an amazingly strong woman that is so selfless.  You instantly make people around you feel at home.  Your energy is so calming and your work ethic is amazing.  We have seen you grow tenfold in our box, both physically but more importantly mentally.  You are an absolute blessing to have in our CF family.  Thank you for allowing us into your life.

Miss Kim (Peters):  Oh Kim!  I can remember your first few classes with us like they were yesterday.  You were so shy and timid, never thinking you could "do it".  Boy did you prove yourself wrong!  The thing about you Kim is that you never stop putting one foot in front of the other.  You are so dedicated to your healthy lifestyle and it is an inspiration to all of us.  What an example you are to your 3 daughters!  You're always looking for ways to improve and we just love that about you.  Your hard work has paid off in so many ways and we are so thankful that you have also allowed us into your life.

Miss Sherilyn:  We could not be more proud of you!  Not only is your physical appearance completely changed from 2 years ago but you have come out of your shell my sweet friend.  You are truly an inspiration to all of us.  Your determination and dedication is priceless.  Your quiet way of leading by example has taught me so much.  You truly make us all want to be better people.  Thank you for walking through our door, we always knew you were born to do this.

Miss Kathy:  Your smiling face is always such a blessing to see!  For a girl who never did anything athletic, you coulda fooled us!  Your strength is incredible both inside and out.  Never a complaint out of your mouth.  You are yet another example of walking the walk.  You never cease to amaze us with your constant improvement and PRs.  Thank you so much for your dedication and positive spirit.

At the end of the day, we can honestly say that moving ShopGym, as sad as it was at the time, from Johnny's farm to town was one of the BEST decisions that we ever made.  We have all made friends that we truly consider family.  When things are rough and I don't know what to do, I head over to the box and know with every fiber in me that if I stick with these people and trust in their love and genuine concern for me, everything is going to be just fine.  I know that I speak for all of us coaches when I say you all (not just the above 6) have changed us and taught us so much.  From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!  Without all of you, there is no us.

~Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it!  Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.  Johann Wolfgang van Goethe

**We hope and pray that we have not forgotten anyone that was in our initial Intro Class because that would put a HUGE damper on this blogpost.