Not that girl but now I CrossFit/Maria Holee
I was never the drop dead gorgeous model looking girl with beautiful long legs, long flowing lustrous hair, and perfect complexion. I was the girl that all guys wanted to be friends with but really wanted to date one of my friends. I was/am a tomboy with short legs and short arms. I have to hem my pants, and used to worry about buying shirts that didn’t make my shoulders look too broad. I had always loved to play sports, but can only play well enough to get the job done. I was never the all star athlete in high-school, the all-americans that several of my siblings were. Always been competitive, it’s my family’s nature. I made good grades, but I had to work hard at it. I wasn’t the girl that could take the ACT and score above a 30 easy. I was lucky to get my 23. Still hate multiple choice tests. Graduated after changing my major three times from Biology to Nursing to Business Administration. Wouldn’t change it in a heart beat.
Not that girl, but today I am a mother, wife, daughter, and employee. And I CrossFit.
I can state the world is not all sunshine and rainbows, but for one hour a day when I get to go CrossFit with my Jefferson City CrossFit family. Nothing else really matters. I get cheered on, encouraged. Pushed in ways that I would never push myself. I “get to” fall back on CrossFit. As a trainer, I get to teach people that they are an athlete and what it is to have fitness. They learn through CrossFit they are capable of pushing themselves out of their comfort zone. And no matter where you start, every single person has to start somewhere. At night, I go to sleep thinking about the next day’s workout. What will be the hardest part? “eh, it doesn’t look too bad.” My famous last words. Yes, I programmed the 2000ME Row then the Burpees. Slap me.
I come from a large family. I fall number four out of 6 girls and 4 boys. I am humbled and grateful to my parents for every one of my siblings. My father was a power-lifter. His best records were set the year I was born. My parents have taught me to be responsible and capable. Capable of anything I want, but I have to work for it. When I was 12, and diagnosed with my hip disease, I was quite discouraged. The young carefree soul at first I didn’t think anything of it, till my Mom called Dad and broke out in tears on the phone with him. If you have a strong mother, you know something is really wrong when she cries. The longer I had it, IT became part of me. I was on crutches for 3.5 years in my life time. I am pretty fast on them. No lie. I had hip surgery at 17 when I did the splits playing softball and broke a part of my femur head off. I then had surgery again at 20 y/o to remove hardware from the previous surgery and bone spurs. They said, it should last for a good 10 years maybe till I needed a hip replacement. I have a beautiful scar that runs about 18 inches on my right thigh and hip.
One hot fireman, two C-section healthy babes, and almost 13 years later, I got sick and tired of being told “I can’t” and decided to try out strength training and that led to CrossFit. Since, I have ran 8- 5k’s(weird, I was told I could never run) and I can lift a reasonable amount of weight. I share this story because I get to hear, “I can’t do that because [insert excuse here]”. Everyone can, it’s a choice if you “will” or not.
As I help Jonna get dressed and put on her shoes this morning, my mind begins to wander at what person today may come to our gym and what PR (personal record) they will obtain for themselves. Who will get to ring that bell? What smiling face will I get to see and high-five? What nervous soul will walk through the doors at Jefferson City CrossFit and see what they are getting themselves into? There is no turning back once you have tasted the Kool-aid.
As I snuggle close to my son Benjamin in the evening watching a movie or reading a book, I think how lucky I am to have my life. God is good. How blessed I am to be a part of JCCF. Of course we (Team Holee and Team Casey) are the owners, and who wouldn’t pride themselves in that. Coach Sam did say it best that we crossed our Rubicon, and we are at the point of no return. And that is okay because what is most incredible is our dream gets to be shared with so many of our friends and future friends. Guiding our athletes towards making their own version of better than yesterday.
Yes, I like to walk on my hands. Yes, I think the world should be able to do that. Yes, I am a little crazy. But it isn’t any fun being normal. God gave us a lot to work with, and we can desig