WEDNESDAY 091118

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Mike, at CrossFit Warren (WY), working towards getting a planche.

Parallettes: How many sets do you have? Do you use them often or not? If you could miraculously turn them into a squat rack or a barbell, would you? Why or why not?

Sometimes you read a testimonial that just needs to be shared. CrossFit Milford (CT) has Crystal's "Secret Garden" . . .

Have you ever read The Secret Garden?

It's the story of a little British boy who spends his whole life being told he was too sick to walk, to play, or to go outside.

The truth was he hadn't ever been given the chance to try. Everyone was too afraid he'd die on the spot.

Staring through the sallow yellow plastic of the isolation tent in the hospital room of the children's ward I had been admitted to more times then I celebrated birthdays; my seven year mind mind thought I was like that little boy. I thought I was being told I was sick, couldn't play or go outside when I was really okay. I could unhook the I.V., remove my oxygen mask, leave my plastic prison and play outside in the secret garden.

The truth was I was very sick and in months spent in isolation, my yellow plastic prison was almost my yellow plastic coffin.

But my child's mind wrapped moments like that in imagination and adventures of characters in books. But it did shape my life.

I spent the next eight years on asthma medications and steroids; kept inside and being told I was fragile. And while I became very adept at reading, I was also being a very skilled eater and soon knew what it was to be the fat kid.

By high school, I was off the steroids and thinned out a bit, but dozens of asthma attacks and a lung capacity of a little under 90% put sports far down on the list of possibilities. I was the smart kid, little geeky, that could talk you to death.

It's a state of mind knowing, believing you could never be athletic.

Flash forward to about three years ago; back in the hospital I was born in, dying of a post- surgery infection. On a diet of Chef Boyardee, frozen meals and soda. It was my second in four months and at 118 pounds, 5 foot 9 inches and a fever of 104, I was at my weakest.

Lying in another hospital room, I made a choice. I'd never be that weak or fragile again. I'd be stronger than ever before.

I started at the gym, hitting the elliptical and the occasional class, even going to a trainer for a bit. But nothing gave me the results I had wanted and gave me the guidance in changing my eating habits to get those results.

It wasn't until one very early, fateful morning in May where I discovered the thing that would change my life, forever. CrossFit.

As my news van pulled into the industrial complex, I didn't know what to expect.

After a few words about the format of the show and being dared to do a pull-ups on television by my colleague, I tried one.

After doing a few jumping pull-ups with a 24 inch box I thought, "Maybe I could do this."

What sealed the deal was Jason and Jocelyn's enthusiasm and know-how on the human body. It was very impressive to a professional information gatherer, and was what struck me the most.

They weren't selling a potion or a fad phrase. They were selling common sense. They were selling an unwavering belief in my ability to excel at their gym; in my ability to be an athlete. They were selling, unconsciously, hope.

And I have never been let down. I have never looked back.

After a week, I was sore from running, exhausted from burpees, calloused from lifting weights and completely hooked. It wasn't just the workouts that forced me to challenge my core beliefs in what I could physically do, but the education in eating and the continuous support from the members of the gym.

Running my first 400 meters, I was actually startled to see others cheering me on; some even coming back to run with me after they had finished their workout. They didn't know me at all. All they knew is that for an hour we were all one team, with the same goal: to finish and finish strong. In that hour and the hours afterward, I knew what it was to be on that team. (Could there perhaps, be something to the magic of the letterman jacket other than to make the geek-a-zooids like myself green with envy? Yes. Yes there was. And now there is the CrossFit tee!)

On my six month anniversary, as I cross the finish line of my first race, I'm reminded of my seven year old self; in my yellow plastic prison, wondering if it was possible to play outside .

This day, I know it is . . . and much more.

It's possible to deadlift 240 pounds.

It's possible to medication free.

It's possible to have a lung capacity above 90%.

It's possible to do a pull-up.

It's possible to eat healthy without feeling like you're missing out on anything, because food is for fuel, and a long healthy life with your loved ones is the treat.

It's possible to go from no running, to running a 5K.

It's possible to run.

It's possible to be an athlete.

It's possible to sit and play and laugh and be healthy in the garden.

And there are no words for the feeling . . . and it's all because of CrossFit.