A little over a year ago, my wife and I started CrossFit . After more than a decade of not doing anything consistently, I plunged into this new fitness journey. There has been a lot to learn, and there still is. Some things feel completely new. But there are also things that have come back surprisingly quickly. Many of the lifts and movements we do now are things I first learned when I was 13 years old. Different form. Different equipment. A very different body that had not

This week at CrossFit , it’s 1-rep max week for back squat, shoulder press, and deadlift. For many athletes at our gym, this is just another set of workouts. Others, like me, have been counting down the days. No matter where someone falls on the spectrum, 1-rep max week is a regular part of what we do. It reveals the progress we’ve made over the past 12 weeks and shows us where we currently stand. Since much of our training is based on percentages of our max lifts, this week

I was rushing to a school to officiate a basketball game, frustrated that I might arrive late. Not late for the game itself (almost though), but late for when officials are expected to be there. As I drove, my wife had just asked how I was doing, and I realized my answer was more edge than honesty. The problem was simple. I left the church later than I should have. That moment stuck with me. People often tell me I am “ so busy ,” and for a long time I have pushed back on tha

For the past several weeks, I’ve been going to physical therapy. This is new for me. In all the years I’ve played sports, I’ve never been seriously injured until now. Sure, I’ve had my share of scrapes: years ago I sprained my thumb badly enough to wear a brace from wrist to elbow; last Fall I broke a finger playing flag football with some teenagers. But this summer, I sprained my sternoclavicular joint and strained my scalene and trapezius muscles doing hang cleans at Cros

Photo by Morrow Solutions on Unsplash He is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed! Easter Sunday is here, and while many people are focused on baskets and bunnies, we remember what Easter is truly about—the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This past week at CrossFit , we had an optional finisher workout called The Carry . It was created in partnership with a national CrossFit brand and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). The Carry involves taking a weighted bar