My favorite saying at CrossFit Snohomish is "You had me at hello." Which is literally what happened for me.
I have always been a person who enjoyed running but never considered myself an athlete, even after running four marathons and several half marathons. I felt like something was missing. During my training, I would run past the Vales house when they were still operating CFS in their garage. I would slow way down just so I could watch what was going on - lifting weights, box jumps, jumping ropes and a lot of grunts, groans and laughter. After reading a newspaper article about Charity Vale, my interest grew in finding more out about CrossFit.
After years of working out on my own (at least that is what I thought I was doing) I decided to give CrossFit a chance. On May 24, 2011 (yes, I remember the exact date) I walked into CFS and Jeff Vale said "Hi, how can I help you?". At the time I had no idea how he and CrossFit would change my life. I can clearly remember my 101 classes - pull ups with the black band, dead lifting only a PVC pipe and the fear of having to climb the rope. Two years later, I could complete numerous unbroken pull ups, dead lift one and half times my body weight and easily climb the rope (socks are the secret).
My improvements were a direct result of the physical training provided by the Crossfit Snohomish coaches as well as the emotional support of the CrossFit Snohomish community. I knew the benefits that CrossFit provided me and I knew it was time to payback. I wanted to help others that found themselves in the same situation I was when I started and pursue coaching, completing my Level 1 certification in June 2013.
I am proud to be a part of CFS family were everyone cares for you, cheers for you and even feels your pain for you. Each time I walk into CFS, I am excited to see what will become of the "unknown".