Why I Crossfit (long story, but if you read to the end you get the payoff/answer)

A little boy is growing up in Valsetz, Oregon.  Since his father was the school principal and because not a lot of kids wanted to ‘hang out with the principal’s kid’ he found solace in sports and fishing and starts finding some athletic success, especially on the basketball court. He would shoot in the snow (shoveling off the court when necessary), in the rain, in the sun, in the heat and his hard work began to pay off. As a seventh grader he once scored 18 points in a 6 minute quarter. As a seventh and eighth grader he practiced with the high school team and more than held his own. Also as an eighth grader he participated in the Elks Club annual free throw shooting competition and went to state, placing third while making 47 out of 50 shots in the event which was held at Gill Coliseum and televised during the Civil War basketball game.

Enter high school. Now granted, the high school he attended for the first two years was small but he did well, winning the Dick O’Day Athlete of the Year Award as a sophomore and continuing to develop his considerable basketball skills (he wishes there would have been a 3-point line when he was in school). Here’s a link for the doubters: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9wwRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EeEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5407,896862&dq=gary+bittner+and+valsetz&hl=en He moved to larger school his junior year and his success on the court continued thru high school.

After high school graduation he enrolled at Oregon College of Education (now Western Oregon University) and played freshman basketball for the Wolves (freshman could only play on freshman/JV teams way back then). After a year at OCE and spending waaaay too much time in the gym grades dictated that the young man attend Linn-Benton Community College the following year. The LBCC coach approaches the young man and invites him to workout/practice with the basketball team but since the team was pretty well in place for that year they agreed that if he was still there the following year there would be a place for him on the team. However, the young man had found the love of his life (Vonnie Collins) and a wedding on the horizon and upcoming 'new family responsibilities' prevented him from playing ball for LBCC.

After one year at LBCC the new husband enrolls at Oregon State University (Go Beavs!) and begins a 2 year career as one the of Langdon Hall/Dixon Recreation Center bball stars eagerly coveted by those waiting to take ‘next’ as courts became available. During this period the young man found favor with such OSU bball players as Lonnie Shelton, Rocky Smith, Roosevelt Daniels and others as they liked the accuracy of his long distance ‘potato pusher’ jump shot. Also during this period the young man is shooting free throws at Gill Coliseum, one day hitting 99 out of 100. That same day legendary Coach Ralph Miller stopped to watch for a while and commented to the young man “Why didn’t I see you sooner? I could use a shooter like you!” During this period the young man continued to play inter-mural and city league basketball, always being an effective scorer and assist man.

One day in late 1976 the young man was supposed to be moving he and his bride of one year into a new apartment but, after working the graveyard shift at Hull-Oakes Lumber, he decided he had time to stop and play some lunch-time ball. He was tired, should not have gone, but he was a ‘baller’ and whatcha gonna do when you’re a ‘baller?’ So, he went to the gym. After several games and no sleep he was exhausted, faked left, and everything above his left knee went left but everything below his left quad stayed put…And he falls flat on his face, having totally torn up his left knee. No basketball for months and months…Being a competitor, the young man was very sad to be sidelined and could not wait to get back on the court. He worked hard and did make it back, returning to the court in late 1977.

Flash forward to late fall 1999. The now not-so young man and his family had moved to Salem in 1995 and he is playing city league basketball at The Hoop. The young men on the opposing team did think the now ‘old man’ could do anything on the court and thus they did not realize they had to guard him until it was too late, allowing him to score 40 points on his 45^th birthday. Sweet. But, after 2000 not much basketball happened. Even so, from 2000 to 2006 the now not-so young man continued to workout, to run, to lift a few weights and stayed in decent shape.

All the above was written to let you know that I’ve always been a competitor. I’ve always been an athlete, doing ‘athletic things,’ until late 2006. In late 2006 some major changes took place in my life, the workouts stopped and the weight gain began. Then in late 2008 my dad became ill, passing away in the spring of 2009 and the weight gain continued. By the fall of 2009 I was overweight, out of shape, my doctor wondered if I was depressed, and I was having some cardiac issues.

Now, I had known Andy and Carol (Crossfit Salem founders/owners) for a few years and Andy had been encouraging me to give Crossfit a try but I was hesitant. I had never done those kinds of workouts, never seriously lifted weights (didn’t want to throw off my shot you know!). But, in the fall of 2009, after getting the ‘all clear’ from the doc Vonnie and I started our Crossfit journey and it’s been awesome. The changes in our overall health and fitness have been soooo good. Since starting Crossfit Vonnie has lost 40 pounds, has dropped 4 sizes, has gained lean muscle, can lift heavy things, can flip tires (see the videos on my Facebook page) and she is fierce! So proud of her!!!!

Here’s Vonnie’s testimonial from the CFS webpage:

"For me the changes that I have made through Crossfit have been huge. I have never been an athlete and never done much more than walk on a treadmill. Sometimes in the middle of a workout, when I am doing things (or sometimes attempting to do things) I never in a million years thought I would do, I just think how anyone who really knows ME would be shocked! Thanks Andy, Carol and the Salem Crossfit community. I would have quit a long time ago had it not been for your encouragement and support. I really have improved my health and each successfully completed workout encourages me to keep going forward. The best is yet to come!! :-)"

For me: As I wrote above, I’ve always been a competitor, I’ve always been an athlete, doing ‘athletic things.’ And Crossfit is giving me that feeling again of ‘being in the game and being part of a team.’ While it’s true I may not have the speed and endurance I had at 30 I'm blessed to say that I am far stronger than I’ve ever been and have seen a dramatic improvement in my overall fitness.  I can hold my own with the young bucks in the weight lifting, and though I most often have some of the ‘slowest and lowest’ scores in the running/rowing/body weight/etc stuff, with the coaching, coaxing, encouragement and support from our circle of CFS trainers and friends I am able to ‘keep on keepin’ on!’

And this is what sets Crossfit Salem apart from any gym/fitness regimen I have ever been a part of: At CFS Vonnie and I have found a community of people who really care how we're doing, who care about us, who are so encouraging, who don’t look down on us as the ‘old folks.’ There is a unique 'spirit of community and support’ at CFS.

So, here’s the answer/payoff to ‘Why I/We Crossfit:’

• I firmly believe in what the Apostle Paul says in 1 Thess. 5:23 when he writes ‘May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through…spirit, soul and body…’ In order to be really healthy we need to address all three parts of our being. Crossfit is helping us do that.
• We have found a consistent, caring community of friends that are experiencing the same challenges, set backs and victories as we are and we are 'doing this together'
• At almost 56 Vonnie is trying and doing things she never thought she would try and do, she's getting fitter, stronger, and healthier than she’s ever been
• At 57 ½  I'm continuing to improve my overall fitness. In fact, I’m still getting a PR now and then. Best of all, I can do most strength parts of the workouts at the same weight as the young studs and I think it makes some of them work harder!

Thanks for hanging in and reading this treatise….3-2-1 Go!