My fitness routine involved running, yoga, and volleyball. The running part became more challenging due to nagging injuries that just seemed to persist, so I needed to switch things up. I also seemed to be getting older, so a more balanced approach to fitness was necessary to prevent injuries and to keep me standing up straight.

While I didn’t have any specific goals (I’m more of a process person), I like learning new movements (everything was new) and pushing myself hard. I sucked at everything when I started and I still suck, but now I suck a little bit less.

I like the variety of the workouts. I like the stripped down, somewhat grungy gym atmosphere – it’s as it should be (I don’t feel comfortable with all the upscale BS at the MAC). I like the thoughtful scaling options for those of us not at “Rx” level. I’ve found a good fit with the build and burn classes. The occasional “good job” or smile-and-nod while running go a long way in motivating me through a “chipper.”

Sometime last June/July I noticed that I don’t have any knee or shoulder issues anymore. I think the workouts have balanced me out a lot and stabilized my joints so that I can play in volleyball tournaments without tweaking something or go trail running with friends without dying on the hills. BSC has also been a great learning experience – I’ve never done anything like this and it’s good to try new things.

I think everyone there has inspired me at some point. The women are especially fierce!

Before BSC, I mostly did workout classes at Nike and would lift here and there. I enjoyed those classes but was always curious to see what this whole CrossFit thing was all about. Two years later, I'm so glad that I joined, and I feel stronger than I ever have.

When I first joined, my goal was simply to get stronger and while I have achieved that general goal, there's always more to go and more goals to set!

The people for sure! Having a community of incredible athletes and just all-around good people by my side makes all of those hard workouts so much more enjoyable.

I think my "ah ha" moment was when I got my first rope climb. It was something I had never done before, and it took some practice and time to get there. I still have several more skills to work on and I look forward to having more of those moments.

Oh man, so many people do. Do I have to name all of them? I feel like there are several in every class and it's truly every person who shows up and stays committed to doing the work to get better. Special shoutouts to all the coaches, the BCF Beauties, and The Breakfast Club!

I was very active in sports throughout my life. However, during COVID I had to take some time off from all fitness to recover from a surgery; essentially starting over! After almost two years of consistency, I am excited and proud of the progress I have made.

My goals are always shifting. When I first started, my main goal was to reestablish my foundations (e.g., pull-up, push-ups, 1mile time). Now, my goals revolve around increasing strength in all of the lifts. I spent a lot of time learning/refining my technique and it has finally been paying off!

Easy answer: the community! The people in 5:30p and 11:30a classes, BCF Beauties, and the Dad jokes make it easy to keep coming back.

It's hard to beat the feeling when Double Unders finally clicks or the first strict pull-up. :) The next "ah ha!" moment is always around the corner. It is great having a community of people to share in the wins!

There are many people that inspire/motivate me at the gym! They encourage me to add more weight on the bar or Rx the workout. There are so many fit people at the gym so there is always someone I try to keep up with during the WOD.

I have done CrossFit for quite some time, but before BSC, I had recently had my first baby and was working out in my garage. I wanted to be back in a gym environment and push myself more!

When I started at BSC I had a few different goals: 1. To get out of the house - I work from home primarily. 2. Push myself in my workouts 3. Get back some of the skills I had prior to baby (bar muscle up, HSPU, pull ups, etc). I'd say I've achieved these and have created new goals since!

The programming and the people. BSC is such a welcoming place to be.

My latest ah-ha moment has been working out more for longevity and less intensity. I can scale some things on certain days and still have a great workout. This latest mindset has helped me to get in the gym 5x most weeks without being burnt out mentally or physically.

So many people - Fred and the whole Peterson clan for their consistency, Elly for working out her entire pregnancy, Greg for pushing it on every single workout, and Sasha - she's typically the first one I see bright and early each morning, and I'm always greeted with a smile/ask on how I'm doing.

I've been active all of my life (soccer, running, mountain biking, skiing/snowboarding, etc.) and enjoy the activity more when it can be shared with others. Prior to Covid I had a group fitness schedule at Nike that I really enjoyed. During Covid it was hard to keep my intensity and motivation using Zoom and an iPad. So before joining in the Summer of '21 I was in a slump.

My cardio has always been decent, but I never consistently lifted heavy weights. Zoom workouts felt like a chore and I missed my fitness group. Fiona (my partner) had previous CrossFit experience so it was a common activity we could do together. The most important aspect is enjoying the workout and once that goal is achieved, I can layer in specific objectives. This year is getting muscle ups! Much of my motivation is tied to staying healthy. When I retire I want to be in good enough shape to do all the things!

Mike Ford's Dad jokes, Joey's lunch updates, Derrick's ever worsening finger and the 11:30 peeps! And because I enjoy the classes I get a lot out of them. I'm stronger than I have ever been and learning skills which will allow me to thrive in the Zombie Apocalypse

I love the feeling of learning new skills. At BSC it was a kipping handstand pushup. Mike D saw me practicing prior to a WOD and said to think of sitting in a chair while upside down. That made it click for me. I'm hoping for many more moments just like that!

There is always at least one person I try to pace with during a workout. It helps fuel my competitive side even if they don't know they are 1 burpee ahead of me but I'm closing the gap. The person changes from workout to workout and I can't call anyone out at risk they move faster :)

Before COVID I was really into rock climbing, hiking and mountaineering. Unfortunately, those activities pretty much came to an end due to the nature of being around people and in remote areas. I got fairly out of shape and was looking for something fun and challenging when my friends invited me to BSC. I really didn’t have any idea what the workouts would be like, and I had never lifted weights before, so it was a lot at first, but I really liked it. I am getting better at all of the movements and am able to lift a lot more weight now. I am also more conditioned and flexible than I have ever been in my life.

My general goal when I started BSC was to get in shape so I could get back to climbing rocks and mountains again. My ultimate goal and motivation of everything I have been doing over the last year at BSC and about six months before was to be able to climb strong and fast. I hated always being in the slow group or not being able to join teams because of my pace. I also wanted to do something fun and challenging on a regular basis and not have to rely on another person (like a climbing partner) in order to workout. I did the nutrition coaching program and was finally able to reach my goal weight and maintain a healthy BMI. I have been able to hike significantly faster and more easily, especially in the last few months while training for a climb. In February I climbed Pico de Orizaba (18,500’) and was in the fastest group (fast is relative- 5 miles total, 4500’ elevation in a mere 17 hours) for the first time ever. I consider that a major goal that I achieved.

Every workout feels hard in one way or another, but I feel so empowered as soon as I get done with it. I keep coming back because I see my progress, the workouts are more fun as I improve, and I really like the group atmosphere. I can be kinda quiet and shy, but I really look forward to seeing lots of people in the 5:30, 11:30 and afternoon classes.

Before BSC, I thought that to climb a rope you had to have significant upper body strength, so I just figured it was something I could never do and didn’t ever think about it. Then I came to BSC and saw those ropes. The first time Sasha showed me what to do, I realized that it is pretty much all in the legs and feet. I sent that rope on my very first try and it might be my favorite part of a workout. It is the closest thing to rock climbing that I have found in the gym and I love getting to the top and hitting that beam every single time!

So many people inspire me! There are lots of people I could name, but it would be a long list. The experienced members inspire me because I see their strength and endurance and I know I can be like that someday. The younger members because they seem so strong and brave to come in before or after school and do a challenging workout with a ton of adults. The new members because they are trying something new and willing to be vulnerable, ask for help, be bad at lots of things, and still come back. The trainers because they can see the details in the movements and give helpful feedback, know how to both challenge and support, and make the workout fun and entertaining.

When I joined, I was looking to get stronger to keep doing the other sports I enjoy most, mainly jumping horses and playing tennis.

My goal was to keep my strength, quickness and balance on a horse as I wasn’t riding as often. By going regularly to Beaverton Strength Training and CrossFit I am assured of my confidence and balance on horseback.

I tell myself I am only one workout away from a better attitude! My job is stressful, I equate it to swimming with the sharks, so after I finish a workout, I always walk away with this feeling of accomplishment that I finished, this feeling that I can endure a little more tomorrow.

It is always refreshing to me that if I can show up for an hour that everything else is done for me! The warmup, the workout, the music, the skill sets, the cool down, it’s all thought out by professionals so I don’t have to worry about muscle imbalance, injury, building and getting stronger, it’s all planned out for me. I just need to show up and the rest falls into place.

I have been an athlete all my life and enjoy all sorts of sports. I have also done some modeling, back in the day. I am inspired by all of the strong women who define what it looks like to be a healthy athlete. Sasha was excellent onboarding me. I had not done a morning workout for years, yet I did it for Sasha because I wanted to get started! Mike always keeps it real, new and current. I appreciate that. Joey’s clinics have sharpened my skills and Derick keeps the atmosphere low stress with his island attitude.