ALTHEA SALGADO
1) Before joining CFRL what was your biggest struggle? What were your biggest frustrations? I was in a going through a phase where I had a lot of self-doubt. I felt crappy about myself and reached a point where all of that needed to change. I was searching for something new. Whatever it was, I wanted it to be something I knew nothing about, to learn about it, and from there, just get better at whatever it was. I happened to come across an advertisement for the 6-week challenge on Facebook, and my interest was piqued. 2) How did your struggle and frustrations affect your life? What did you feel like before joining CFRL? It was easy to put on a happy face and fake the funk in my daily interactions, but behind closed doors, it was the opposite. Overall, I felt like shit. 3) What was it about CFRL that made you join? During my “on-ramp” sessions with Charly and Jon, I was learning new things, I started to lift heavy things, and I knew it was going to lead to what I was searching for. 4) What made you stay with us? What do you enjoy the most about CFRL? What made me stay? More like why would I not have stayed? I’ve gone from going to classes based on which WODs I thought I could do, to showing up regardless of what lies ahead. I enjoy the ass-kicking. Sometimes I get my ass kicked, sometimes I kick ass. Whatever happens, I know I put up a good fight. Finishing last is still finishing. 5) How did our program help you? How is Life different for you now? The gym has become a “happy place” for me. I have gained not only physical strength, but found empowerment. Never did i think that I would be someone who liked to lift or want to go to the gym regularly. In the last year and a half, I declared a big F-YOU to the past. It’s an uphill battle, but the only way to go is up. 6) Were there any specific goals that you reached that you are particularly proud of? How did it make you feel? When I first started this journey I didn’t set any goals. I just wanted to change. I surprised myself by impulsively signing up and participating in a Spartan race and participating in a CrossFit Open. There will always be new goals to reach – one can be content with a PR for only so long. Accomplishing what I have thus far makes me feel badass, but I still want to be a better badass. 7) What would you tell someone interested in joining CFRL? I would tell anyone thinking about joining to run, don’t walk. DO IT!!! It’s more than just a brick building with heavy things to pick up and put down. Try it. Stick with it. It’s life-changing. 8) Is there anything personal you would like to add? To the coaches, thank you for your motivation and encouragement and for pushing me a little further than I thought I could go and believing that I could do it even when I didn’t. To this fit-fam community, thank you for a sense of belonging. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my pivotal moment in all of this… A wise coach once told me to “rise above the ashes of my past.” It was the night of 20.4 and with seconds left before I had to start the workout. I don’t know why he said that to me at that moment, and I don’t remember what else he said (I was scared shitless as the clock dwindled) but those words have stuck with me since then. Thank you, Charly. I will always be a work in progress at the gym and in life, but I rise. Lastly, Hook ’em Horns. |