October 16th, 2017

Back in 2014, when I got out of active military service, I found myself longing for something to belong to again. It was an aspect of being in the military I did not realize that I would miss until I no longer had formations, organized physical training, spending months together with the same guys every day. Some of those things I thought were just the annoying part of being in the military. What I didn’t realize until after was that those were just some of the things that created the bond and team atmosphere I began to crave on the outside.

After the military, I got a job, went to work every day, went to the gym afterward, did some bench press and other random non-complex things, went home, had dinner, went to bed, and started over the next day. The biggest variation I had was which body part I was going to crush while I was at the gym.

I eventually made a career move that brought me here to Indianapolis. Within the first couple months of being bored with the globo gym, I got over myself and emailed a CrossFit gym, CrossFit Carmel. The response I got was warm and inviting so I went in on a Friday at lunch to give it a shot. I was a little worried about the WOD but, like most decisions in life, I said “screw it” and went after it. I found myself in a class with 15 other people all routing and yelling for each other until the very last person finished their very last rep. I was cheering right along. What really impressed me were the coaches. They made me feel welcome from the minute I walked in and were eager to have me back, which felt great.

What I realized, and experienced, over the coming months and years was that this wasn’t just a place where you go workout. Obviously, you do. But you go there, and you stay there because it feels like a second home. This is a place that when you go in for a Saturday morning WOD, you end up staying for the next one as well, then realize that you are still there hanging and talking 2 hours after. The first great friends I made, and ones I will be lifelong friends with, I met in a CrossFit gym. I know that the people here would give up their own time if I was in need or asked them for help. I know I can count on these amazing people. It feels like family.

Fast forward a couple years and here I am typing this up in my own gym. I get to hang with my family every day. I get to push them to their physical potential, all while continuing these awesome friendships I made as an athlete and now, grow them as a gym owner. I love how our community has come together through so much change and adversity and still continues to thrive in their fitness goals. It makes me extremely proud when I see classes rooting and cheering for every last person and then high fiving all around once the chaos is through. These are the moments that bond us as a community. As a family.

There is no doubt in my mind that I have the best job in the world, that I have the best coaches in the world, and that I have the best athletes in the world. I have the best family in the world.


Coach Chris Warsop