Q: How did you find out about CrossFit Route 7 and what convinced you to join the gym?
A: I found out about CFR7 through Google Maps. As I was moving to the US, I was searching for nearby CrossFit gyms in the area, and CFR7 stood out due to the amount of good reviews and also its social media presence! But what convinced me the most were the following three factors:
* It was close to my place at that time.
* Great reviews by the community (which equals a great community!).
* A spacious gym with a lot of equipment!

Q: What stopped you from coming in sooner?
A: I was in Mexico! But outside of that, when I moved here it was still during the pandemic, so I wanted to take some time before going into the gym with everyone; otherwise, I was planning on doing Murph 2021!

Q: When did you start at CFR7 and what were the goals you set when you joined the gym?
A: I started in June 2021. As I had just moved to a new country, I was enjoying every aspect of my new life, and it was a great surprise to see what a strong community CFR7 is! I definitely set a goal to improve my CrossFit skills, motivated by that community.

Q: What has helped you achieve success at CFR7?
A: Community! Every day at 6:30 AM (aka the “7 AM Wildcards” when I started), everyone shows up to give their best and motivate each other to go one more rep or push until the last second of that AMRAP. If it wasn’t for the community, I would probably have quit CrossFit three years ago.

Q: What advice can you give to others who are new to CrossFit?
A: Keep showing up and stay motivated when possible, but overall be consistent; consistency is the key to everything. Progress is not linear. As long as you keep showing up and being consistent, that will add up every day… small steps are still steps at the end of the day.

Q: Besides working out, what other lifestyle changes did you make outside of the gym to achieve your goals?
A: The key pillars of a “healthy” lifestyle, for me, are body, mind, and soul. The hard work is outside of the gym. Having balance is key—having balance in what you eat and your work-life balance. Some changes that helped me were that I started reading more books, learning new skills (like playing guitar or a new language), and I even started meditating. We don’t need to struggle in life; we need to enjoy it, and with balance, we can achieve it.

Q: What is the biggest benefit you have noticed since starting CrossFit (both in or out of the gym)?
A: Definitely my mindset. I’m more focused and more engaged with what I do in my work and in my personal life, like looking for new adventures. And I feel healthy overall; it’s great to wake up and feel good (sometimes a little bit sore, but healthy! :D).

Q: What has been your favorite thing about CrossFit Route 7?
A: The community and the workouts! It’s fun to start at 6:30 AM while still a little bit sleepy, but then cool down after one hour and see everyone with a smile!

Q: What has been your favorite memory related to CrossFit?
A: Competitions with people from the gym! Struggling together but, at the end of the day, laughing and smiling because of all the effort (and suffering) we put into each workout!

Q: What’s one thing you love about this gym that has nothing to do with working out?
A: I think it’s pretty clear that community is my answer for everything, but it truly is. From my 6:30 AM class and all the morning crew there, to sometimes having a random Monday night workout, or going to local competitions and laughing at the end of a workout—I think that is what makes CrossFit and CFR7 special.