by Aimee Wojtowecz

In the world of CrossFit we often measure our success through PR’s; ever heavier lifts, faster workout times, 6-pack abs, but do we ever stop to think about what this might be costing us? When our singular focus becomes how much further we can push our bodies on any given day we lose sight of the bigger picture. 

I’ve only been a coach at UPCF for a short time but it has given me a whole new perspective on CrossFit and our community in particular. Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing you all achieve your goals and I have big goals of my own, but it’s not all I’m chasing anymore. 

I started CrossFit several years ago to simply lose weight, to shrink myself into the beauty standards that are so often pushed on women (yes, I do realize men experience this too but I’m a woman writing from my perspective), and somewhere along the way it became about the goals; faster, stronger, fitter. Maybe you started CrossFit for similar reasons, your health, your fitness, simply improving the quality of your life. As we say at UPCF, all goals are equal. 

Yet watching all of you through the lens of a coach has revolutionized my goals. My focus has shifted from chasing my own performance to watching you all grow as athletes and more importantly as humans. I love seeing you all work hard but I love just as much hearing about how that hard work is changing your life, whether it’s being able to keep up with your kids and grandkids, moving heavy furniture, getting the farm chores done without help. It’s not all about the numbers but how those numbers translate to real life. Don’t forget to find the joy in your workouts and the joy in the connection and community that has been built at UPCF. If you find your workouts lacking the joy and love you first felt walking through those doors remember that it’s ok to change your goals whenever you want. Don’t let chasing the PR’s cost you all the other ways to measure success.