I am super excited to announce that February's Athlete of the Month is JOY! This girl is just an amazing human being. She is always smiling, she works super hard in and out of the gym, and she never complains. Even when she had her hand in a cast she still came to the gym to workout. Nothing was stopping her from getting her workout in. ;-)
Congratulations Joy!

From Joy -
I've known Chasity my entire life but I really started to get to know her a few years ago when I started babysitting for her and Americo. One day she forced me to go to CF Sodality and I have been hooked ever since. I had never really worked out before just ran, but thanks to all the coaches I learned the movements and plan on improving at Sodality for a long time to come.My favorite crossfit movement is hang cleans! :-D
Thank you sodality team!

Well it may be over half way through the month BUT we finally have our January Athlete of the Month! Now most of you won't recognize his name or his face because this individual comes during his lunch hour to work out along with about 5 other guys. They're the "geeks on fleek" lunch time crew, or at least that's what us coaches call them! They all work with computers and do geeky things like networking, software development, talk in computer code, etc. We love our "geeks on fleek" and we'd like to congratulate Ken Merthe on being January's Athlete of the Month! You have shown so much improvement in the last few months, Ken and we are so thankful to have you be a part of our Sodality Family. - Samantha

As a person who works in a technical field, I not only appreciate getting away from the desk and the computer to get my heart and lungs pumping, but also that the trainers at CrossFit Sodality have a passion and an eye for every detail of the workout routines. Instead of the typical "just push this here" or "pull that there" or "pedal these until you fall off", they really teach you every aspect of the workout. From how to scale and pace yourself in each interval to benchmarking your progress at the right weight percentages to using proper form all the way down to all the nitty-gritty angles and stances. And on top of that, their enthusiasm and insightfulness gives you every reason to stay motivated and wanting to come back for more despite the fact that it can be a real bitc... er... struggle to get through some (or just all) parts of the workout.

I can see now why people get so addicted to the gym, especially here at CrossFit Sodality. And not just because you nearly overdose on your own endorphins when you push hard enough or you get a kick out of having to limp around town like pirate every once in a while after a hamstring-heavy routine. The exercises are constantly getting mixed up and made interesting day after day. If you have a touch of OCD, you will gladly try to find the hidden numerical pattern hidden in the reps for today's WOD and use them for good luck for the rest of the day. You will also start looking forward to see what the WOD will be the next day and it continually challenges yourself to learn from each slightly different but new experience.

When you come in through the doors to our CrossFit gym here, the people you are working out with and the trainers you are learning from are there for the same reasons as you. We all want to be there to encourage each other and to, as I remember Coach Samantha Taylor putting it, "make a better version of yourself." Those people end up becoming your very own gym-oriented family and is something that makes CrossFit Sodality very unique and endearing. Needless to say, I am now addicted.

Thanks to Eddie Taylor for getting me from "playing around on a frisbee field", as Americo put it, and into this gym. And thanks to everyone else for the encouragement and making me feel like I belong in this gym.

For those of you who may not have met Karen, you should! She is one of our morning athletes and what an amazing athlete she is. Karen is so kind and humble but do not under estimate her. She is strong, full of endurance, she never complains, she is great at asking questions on how to be efficient in her workout, and we all look up to her.

Thank you Karen for being such a great role model for us!

I am honored to be chosen as Crossfit Sodality "Athlete of the month of December"!
As a more senior member of crossfit I find I am stronger and more coordinated and have as much energy at work as my younger coworkers. However, the real reason I crossfit is that I just plain love it!
I started 7 years ago and have found my home at Crossfit Sodality.
The coaches are the best and I meet up with my friends of all ages including our crossfit babies and kids.

Thank you all for being a big part of my life.
Karen Carter

So proud of this lady! She is an amazing Wife, Mom, Friend and Athlete. We have watched her improve so much over the past months and while she is still limited on certain movements due to her ankle, she never complains. Congratulations, Renee, on being CF Sodality's November Athlete of the Month.

Renee's Testimonial: My Crossfit journey has been almost a year so far. I have changed my life and I know that I will never be the same. My testimonial is not so much to say where I started or where I am going, but the crossfit "family" and friends that have literally changed my life. Every passing and interaction with my crossfit family encourages me as they tell me how great I am doing and keep going you're almost there. The compassion, reassurance, inspiration and support does not wane. Everything about Sodality is just real... real people, real workouts, real advice and real results.

My crossfit family spurs each other on to best that we can personally be and push each other beyond what we don't think we are capable of. Never once have I felt out of place or that I didn't belong. It was never about being the best with times or weights. It has been about being the best I that day.

To speak on my accomlishemnts, (before crossfit I still look at the WOD and youtube routines I don't know) Daily I get stronger and can now do things I never thought possible. I am so thankful for the changes that I actually look forward to being there, miss when I am not there, and crave it if I cannot attend. The mental and physical transformation has made me a stronger person.

In addition to my mental strength and endurance improving I have lost inches and pounds. So far, over 20% of my total weight from a year ago!
I am still on my crossfit journey but I can say that I am stronger than I ever was before and I have found a family that cares about me, pushes me,

Is anyone else amazed how fast this year is flying by?! We are in October already! And a new month means that it's time to recognize a Crossfit Sodality Athlete!

Mike Brown is October's Athlete of the Month! I have to say that his testimonial is pretty awesome. So honest and well written. If you see Mike make sure you congratulate him! You will more than likely see him during Open Gym time in the afternoon. He usually is working out by himself but that doesn't stop him. He will still give 100% effort. Congratulations Mike!

I became a member of the Sodality family just six months ago. I was skeptical at first. My wife Naomi and I regularly exercised at a traditional gym, thinking the pool, treadmill and machines were enough to stay in shape. Naomi (Chasity's cousin) was persuaded to quit the gym and join the "box" instead. I wanted nothing to do with it. I thought it was just another fad of the fitness world. So I stayed at the gym and stubbornly continued to do my own thing my own way.

However, my body didn't change, and Naomi's did. Naomi would enthusiastically tell me about the WODs and even teach me some new moves. I knew there was something special about Crossfit. Naomi and the Machados convinced me to try it for a few weeks. I did, and . . . I hated it. I hated it because I was actually pushed to my physical and mental limits. I hated the nausea and nerves I felt before each workout began, and I hated the awkward movements I wasn't familiar with. But I kept coming back.

Now I realize that my negative feelings in the beginning were irrational and selfish. I knew that all the time, energy, and money I dumped into the other gym resulted in little gain, and just a few weeks of Crossfit made me feel like a champ (a very sore one, but a champ indeed). Crossfit has made me understand how a real workout should feel.

The Crossfit Sodality name is a two-part title for good reason. Crossfit is the physical and mental part, but I think Sodality is the most important piece. It means brotherhood or family. That's the biggest reason why I love being a member here. I'm part of a team that truly cares about its athletes. The coaches are helpful, caring, persistent, encouraging, honest, and real. The diversity of athletes who come to each class takes away the intimidation I thought I'd feel. Instead, everyone supports each other, and competition exists as a means to beat personal bests and to push athletes beyond their comfort zones. I still can't do a kipping pullup or a double-under, but I have mastered so many other techniques, and I'm proud of my accomplishments so far. I love this gym--the athletes, coaches, and beliefs it promotes.

There's no going back. Thanks, CF Sodality!

September is here which means it's time to announce a NEW Athlete of the Month! This month the Sodality Coaches has named Amy Skeen as September's Athlete. We ask our athlete's to share their Crossfit story with everyone in hopes they will inspire someone to step out of their comfort zone.

"Hi, my name is Amy Skeen and I was asked to write a few things about Crossfit that has changed my life! First of all, I have made the most amazing friends here at Crossfit Sodality. We don't just workout together, we do lots of other fun things like: go to the lake, have BBQ's, go on hikes, wine tasting, Bible studies, movie and dinner date night with the girls. We are like a family and everyone encourages one another to do better. I never wanted to move up here to Sonora because I was afraid of leaving my bootcamp family. I remember them telling me "you will find something else up there!" Boy did I EVER! I am so happy I found Crossfit. I'm stronger than ever before and I even ran my first 10k thanks to Crossfit Sodality."

Congratulations Amy! We are proud of you and all of your accomplishments. Thank you for being a part of the Sodality Family.

So excited to announce that Suzanne Njirich is our Athlete of the Month! Suzanne is one of our early morning athletes...and I mean EARLY! How early? Well, by the time she walks into the gym at 5AM she has already gotten in her morning run! Yup, she goes for a run PRIOR to her Crossfit class. She's amazing!


We asked her to write a little something about Crossfit and how she started...

"When Americo told me I was athlete of the month my first reaction was "me"? Our 4:59 class has amazing athletes, but I took the challenge to write how I started crossfit and what I love about it. Before crossfit I was working out with Bobbi and Christine, we were doing some running and classes at the gym. Bobbi mentioned there was a new crossfit gym opened and it was free the month of November and we should try it. Christine and me were reluctant we didn't want to get hurt and can we even do crossfit? Bobbi talked us into trying it and we were only going the month of November, it was free!! We went and one of our first classes was farmers carry with Dumbbells, I kept asking myself what am I doing? But we loved it!! Every class gets you out of your comfort zone, it's such a variety and it's so challenging .

Americo and Sam have been wonderful, so encouraging and patient with us. I love my 4:59 girls and Brad ( poor Brad what he has to put up with). You have all been so encouraging, helpful but most of all fun. I love the saying "if it was easy everyone would do it" that's how I feel about the 4:59 class, it's hard getting there. Poor Americo comes half asleep, but we love it when you are there. Thank you Sam and Americo for all you do. I have definitely become stronger, accomplished things I thought would never be possible. My two goals box jumps and pull ups, without a band , are close but not yet accomplished. It has helped with my cycling and last but not least I think my pannus is smaller (love you Bobbi)"

Starting this month, Sodality will be recognizing one of its members for an "Athlete of the Month" award! And for the month of July the coaches at Crossfit Sodality picked Kim Ramirez!

We asked Kim to write a testimony about Crossfit and why she started...and this what she wrote.

Why CrossFit... In spring of 2015, I made a decision to get healthy mentally and physically. I lost 42 pounds and established a daily routine of Power Walking and you tube exercise videos. I knew I needed to take the next fitness step, but was unsure about joining a gym because of my lack of knowledge of what workouts to do and how to navigate the machines and weights properly. A friend of mine invited me to join her at CrossFit Sodality for a free class and I thought free and something new, "I'll try it". I will admit, when I first stepped into Sodality that day, I almost let fear and intimidation send me back out the door. As I looked around the gym, it just seemed like everyone was so young and fit and I thought "I don't belong here". But I was wrong...
I completed my first class and was "hooked". I quickly discovered CrossFit is for anyone that is motivated to embrace it and incorporate it into their life. It is for all ages and yes I could do it. The difference for me is the coaches who teach with patience and are so supportive and encouraging and push you just enough to help you to advance at your level and pace. I get personal training every time I go and they look out to make sure no one is doing a movement wrong to cause harm or injury. I am 55 years old and accomplishing things I never thought I could; I am the most fit I have ever been. I get to work with different coaches at different times, and each one has helped me in my CrossFit journey. The Sodality Family is so encouraging and cheer you on every step of the way. Is it hard? Oh yes it is; Are there times I think I cannot finish the WOD and why I am doing this? Oh yes. But I cannot describe the feeling you get when you finish your WOD, or lift more than you ever have or run further, or accomplish a new movement. I love that each day is a new WOD and a new challenge. Is CrossFit in general for everyone; no it is not, but for me it has changed my life and helped me accomplish my physical goals. The CrossFit Sodality Family has embraced me and welcomed me, and my journey will continue and hopefully I can be an encouragement to others that if you want to, you can!!! Thank you CrossFit Sodality for helping me to be a "better me"; I look forward to new challenges and accomplishments and friendships to make.

We love you Kim and thank your for sharing your Crossfit story with us. Congratulations on being Crossfit Sodality's first Athlete of the Month!