Most new members walking through the doors of CrossFit Undeniable have some special “Why?”. Maybe they’re looking to gain confidence or build strength to play with their grandchildren.
For Jacob, that “Why?” goes pretty deep. As a Firefighter Paramedic with the Aurora Fire Department, lives literally depend on his fitness on a daily basis.
I had a recruit class instructor ask myself and Academy mates a simple question that has stuck with me for my short career and will no doubt endure my career. The questions they posed was, “Would YOU want YOU rescuing YOU?”
That question eventually led Jacob to CrossFit Undeniable. He had been exposed to CrossFit through friends and in his recruit academy. CrossFit offered a few aspects that intrigued him, namely challenge and variety:
I was brought to CrossFit Undeniable looking for a challenge and knew CrossFit would be exactly that…The variety involved in the workout always keeps me guessing and has continued to challenge me for over a year.
The first thought that raced through his mind when he walked into the gym though was a bit different. Where is everything??
Walking into CrossFit Undenaible for the first time, I noticed that the gym had more open space than actual equipment anywhere. I was a little unsure.
This isn’t uncommon! We organize the gym in a way that creates the most open space possible. That way, we have a ton of options when we run classes. If you’re used to a more traditional gym though, it can seem a bit…weird.
The first workout will quickly change your perception of that “empty space”! 😀
However, when I walked out after my first few workouts I was thrilled and loved it. Moving the barbells and changing the workout every time made me love every minute of it.
Jacob came to CrossFit Undeniable looking for a challenge, and the first one came in the form of something simple – a jump rope. Double unders (where the rope goes under your feet twice each jump) are notoriously difficult..
I had struggled with being consistent at Double Unders. That stupid jump rope was winning every time I picked it up. I couldn’t believe that a jump rope was hanging me up and causing me to feel un-athletic and un-coordinated. After following advice from a few of the coaches, I began improving, and then, one day it clicked. Then, I crushed a workout that required Double Unders. It was far from perfect, but I got those Double Unders!
The best (and maybe worst) thing about CrossFit is once you master one challenge, there’s always another one around the corner. For Jacob, he’s focused on lifting heavier (especially on clean and jerks) and getting a ring muscle-up.
Speaking of challenges, his favorite CrossFit Undeniable memories are around hero workouts:
The Hero workouts are typically named after a service member that have made the ultimate sacrifice, and the workouts are typically more challenging than the usual. They’re incredibly motivating because the workouts are for someone who gave their lives for someone else. To push through a little soreness, being out of breath, lifting a heavy weight, and exhausting every effort to complete the workout in remembrance of True Heroes and their sacrifice is a humbling task.
Ultimately, Jacob’s drive and inspiration to push through hard workouts and continue striving to be stronger return back to that single question – “Would YOU want YOU rescuing YOU?”
The question has stuck with me and motivates me when I make my goals and during the difficult workouts that has you questioning if you should quit or take a break. “Never quit, Never give in, push through, it’s not about ME, Its about THEM” are the phrases that echo in my head in those hero workouts. The phrases meaning is to hold yourself accountable in the most serious of aspect of my job, rescuing civilian or fellow firefighter.
Thank you, Jacob, for your service to our community! We’re lucky to play a small role in your journey.
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