9/3 Transformation Tuesday - 2 Years at TSCF!

John Elwell - Congratulations on your 2 Year True Spirit Anniversary! 

What was your fitness, CrossFit, or yoga "life" like before you started training with True Spirit CrossFit & Yoga. 
I was fairly fit in college, and participated regularly in karate and cycling. After college I embarked on a typical corporate-world career, sitting behind a desk for 30 years, all the while thinking I needed to do something more physically. I never really stuck with anything except longer hours at work while eating lousy food. Unsurprisingly I lost strength and gained weight - over 50 pounds by the time I was in my 50's.

What brought you to True Spirit CrossFit & Yoga in the first place?
After retirement I tried for a year to get in shape on my own. Though I made progress I just couldn't seem to stick with it. I finally decided I needed something more structured to help out. I knew about CrossFit because I've eating a paleo diet since 2010, and CrossFit is discussed often in the paleo-sphere. I found the "functional fitness" aspect of CrossFit very appealing, rather than just getting good at one thing. I checked out online all the CrossFit boxes in the Bozeman area. I selected True Spirit because of Leslie's intro video clip on the website. At my age my biggest concern was getting injured, and Leslie addressed that topic right up front in her video clip.

What was your first impression? Has that changed?
I took foundations from Leslie and my first impression was her broad knowledge of CrossFit exercises and techniques, and very importantly, the limitations that come with age. I felt that if I listened to her, I could do this without injury. My next impression was being scared to death when she said Dover would be my coach for the Silver Fox class. For some reason I thought I was being thrown to the drill sargent from hell. Of course, that was a completely wrong impression, and Dover is knowledgeable, thoughtful, a great coach, and a very nice person to boot!

What was the first thing fun or positive thing you experienced while training with us? 
Rope climbing! I wouldn't have dreamed that as I stare 60-years-old in the face that I would be climbing ropes. It took a few tries but now I can do it, and I get a real kick out of it. (Now if I could just master getting back down without rope burns, life would be great.)

Are you working on any special CrossFit related skill now?
As a young man I had good upper-body strength, mostly from hauling and stacking hay. I'm working hard to regain some of that strength. I'd like to achieve 10 or 12 strict pullups, and 30 or 40 strict pushups. (And maybe, someday, a muscle-up.)

How has you life changed since training with TSCF? 
I still have to move hay around, and there is no question that life "on-the-ranch" has gotten easier with CrossFit.

What's your favorite True Spirit CrossFit memory?
Probably the first time I reached the top of the climbing rope - I was so focused on climbing that it took a second for me to realize what I had done. It was quite a feeling of accomplishment.

Click Here for The WOD

The Open Starts OCT 10! Get ready with our Open Prep Clinics. 
Coach Heidi starts our Open Prep with a 2-hour clinic on barbells and dumbbells on Saturday, Sep 14 10-noon
Do you want to get better at cycling fast snatches and connecting big sets of thrusters? This clinic is for you!! Thursters and snatches have been programmed in every Open.
Learn tips and tricks for making barbell and DB workouts more efficient, faster, and less painful.
The Open Prep Clinics are $30. You can save $20 if you purchase a pre-paid pack for all 4 clinics for $100.

Register for the Open Prep Clinic NOW!