At the beginning of January  I was nosing around facebook (with a slight hangover) I clicked on a link to CrossFit Mallows facebook page, not knowing anything about CrossFit at the time I did some research on the web by looking a videos on u tube. My first instinct was no way would I be able for this type of training because I had no experience in weight training such as deadlifts, back squats and power cleans etc and at 15st 9lb these workouts would be impossible.  Then after doing a bit more research I noticed how the workouts can be scaled for all levels of fitness so I decided to book in for the free intro session. During the intro session Ger explained the theory behind CrossFit, then he got me to do AMRAP (as many rounds possible) workout in 10min which consisted of 10 wallballs, 10 box-jumps and 10 squats, I did step-ups instead of box jumps, straight away I could see how these workouts can be scaled. After completing the intro session I knew this was what I was looking for and could not wait to get started. I started off with 2 sessions a week, at the beginning I found the sessions tough but the support I got from the other CrossFit members was fantastic. For the second month I increased it to 3 sessions a week and for the past three months I’ve being doing 5 sessions a week….yes I was hooked.

I like the way it’s a different WOD (workout of the day) and the results are posted on the website that night so if the WOD is repeated in a few weeks time your can see how much progress you are making by comparing time or number of reps. I never look at a WOD and say “oh that’s tough today, think I’ll give it a skip”, the tougher the WOD the greater the challenge and the greater the challenge the more I want to do it. The sense of achievement when a WOD is completed gets better every time and if a PR is achieved its even better. CrossFit shows how people have different strengths and weaknesses in different areas, so there is always room for improvement. A lot of people join regular gyms with good intentions and may last only a month because they want to see progress straight away; from the moment you join CrossFit you will see yourself progressing all the time.

The progress I’ve made at CrossFit Mallow over the past 6 months has being incredible. I’ve lost 18lb in body fat and getting stronger all the time. I’ve gone from using green band doing pull-ups to doing unassisted pull-ups; just the other day I did 6 consecutive double-unders a few months ago I couldn’t even skip properly. My skills are improving all the time using the gymnastic rings. My deadlift 1 rep max is 420lb, back squat 275lbs, power-clean 185lbs, these are all lifts I’ve only learned in the past few months. I’m getting faster, stronger, fitter and I can not wait to see my progress over the next 6 months. When I look back at the first training programme I got 12 months ago and look at the CrossFit workouts I’m doing now, I realise how far I have come. This week I will be going back soccer training and I cannot wait.

I would like to thank the other members for their continued support and encouragement since joining CrossFit Mallow. Finally I would like to give a massive thank you to Ger. I first met Ger last August (at his previous job) and I weighed 17st 7lbs and I now weigh 14st 5lbs. Thank you for the advice, guidance, encouragement and support you have given me in the past 12 months. CrossFit Mallow is a special place. Thanks for introducing me to CrossFit.