I have worked out for years, but I’ve never been more fit in my life than I am today thanks to Crossfit Pacific Coast. Crossfit Pacific Coast’s class-based system is a fun and highly effective alternative to the “do-it-yourself” approach at most athletic clubs.
Mar
05
OUR DAY AT CAMP.
By
A quick stretch before their first WOD!
As I write this, Eric and I are both a little bit worn out. Nope, we didn’t just finish a brutal WOD, or workout ourselves in any capacity. We did however, just run 80 boys ranging from 12 – 17 through their very first CrossFit workout. Working with Los Prietos Boys Camp and Academy was one of our community goals for the year, and I have to say that it was truly an awesome experience. The look on the faces on the kids once they realized that no, their team didn’t get to divide the reps up, but they actually had to each do 100 Squats, 60 Push Ups and 30 Burpees was priceless. Every time that we said the word “burpee” we heard a resounding “YAY BURPEE!!” in return. If we didn’t hear it, or hear it loud enough, motivational consequences ensued in the form of said burpees.
All in all it was a great morning. The kids got to work in teams, encourage each other, push their bodies to the limit and feel a great sense of accomplishment. We got to share our love of CrossFit with the future of Santa Barbara, a group of young men that have the same hopes and dreams that we all do but were dealt a very different set of cards than most of us – through no fault of their own. At the end, the staff of the camp couldn’t have been happier to get a very exhausted class returned to them after only an hour with us. My favorite line of the day had to be, “Sir, my legs feel kind of weird.” – music to my ears.
This was a successful outing for everyone involved and it is not the last time that we will be heading up to Los Prietos. Eric and I will be sure to let you know when we’re going up again and invite you all to get involved and join us for out next outing.
Today’s Workout:
1-1-1-1-1-1-1
Deadlifts.
19 Comments
March 5th, 2010 at 11:47 am
You guys ROCK!!! That is a wonderful thing you are doing to get involved with these boys. It actually brought tears to my eyes, it is so important to get out there and volunteer, and you guys are definitely going to make a huge impact on these kids lives if they get involved with Crossfit and have great role models like you guys. I’m interested in going to support the boys camp anytime you guys want us there.
March 5th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
I was there and it was truly awesome. I haven’t seen so many smiles on all the boys at the same time. [For those who don't know me, I work up there part time and have been a regular volunteer even longer. It's my favorite place in town--no offense, CFPC.] A couple of the staff said to me “It’s so fun to see them just be kids for a while.”
I think it would be great to have a group of CFPCers up there to cheer on each team of boys (and help them keep their count honest!). Or maybe even do the workout with them. I especially wonder how they’d react at having some “older women” kicking their butts! You can bet that would kick up their intensity, and/or would fatally distract their hormonally-overloaded brains. Either way it would be a hoot to watch.
March 5th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
It was a pretty emotional morning KJ. One of the smaller groups that I got to work with personally was 4 kids probably no older than 13 or 14. I told them that when they weren’t working out themselves, they had to cheer for their teammates. They didn’t really know what I meant and just ended up yelling at their teammates and getting in their faces to motivate them.
I stopped the whole group and told them that cheering meant encouraging, saying things like, “you can do it, you’re doing a great job.” etc. It was pretty heartbreaking to think that they’d probably never heard that themselves before.
At the end of the session, Eric told the kids that we were proud of them and thanked them for working so hard for us. The beaming looks of pride on their faces still gets me all choked up too.
We are going to be doing a lot with these boys KJ, heading up there to run them through workouts as well as talking to the directors of the camp to see if we can get some of them down at the gym from time to time if they’d done especially well – and in the future have something set up so that the kids that are interested get hooked up with a member of CPC in a big brother/sister type role so that they have a mentor/role model.
March 5th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
Awesome Awesome Awesome!!! Makes me very happy to know you guys are doing this!! Would love to be apart of it
March 5th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
Another thought. One kid asked me for the gym’s contact info, but he lives in Nipomo. If you know any CrossFitters in North County (mostly Lompoc or Santa Maria) that would be interested in doing similar work with LPBC, that would be a big plus, as the majority of the kids come from up North. On the other hand, there are plenty from South County and anybody who reads the local news knows they need some positive role models and activities down here too.
March 5th, 2010 at 1:42 pm
Wow guys!! That is so awesome to give back like that. You never know how far the ripples go when you touch someones life. I am sure these kids will never forget your encouraging words and the difficult workout you set up for them. Let us know how we can help or participate when you do it again!!
March 5th, 2010 at 1:43 pm
The guy that I brought to the Bring a Friend day is up in Santa Maria and does crossfit at a normal gym up there. I can ask him if he would be interested in helping out.
Great work that you guys are doing! Definitely keep the entire group updated with upcoming activities.
March 5th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
We know Brian Abellera, the owner of CrossFit 5-Cities in Santa Maria. He’s an FBI agent as well as a CF coach, I’m sure he’d be up for working with the camp in some capacity.
March 5th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
I would be happy to come next time and light a fire under thier little butts, practice cheering and hold them accountable in an empowering way! Really inspiring post guys, good work, and once again THANK YOU for digging your roots in Santa Barbara!
March 5th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
every time a young man learns to burpee an angel in Valhalla gets its wings. what an awesome thing to do guys, respect.
March 5th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
Thing of beauty Traver and Eric.
March 5th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Awww, they didn’t know how to cheer
Poor little fellahs! I’ll show ‘em! I’d love to be one of the “older women” kicking there butts. Fun times.
March 5th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Oh yes, and awesome awesome awesome that you guys did that. Proud of you!
March 5th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
Very cool experience for sure. I think we got as much out of them as they did out of us. It would be awesome to get a big crew.
Coach K, Coach S, and DJ KG will be on the roster next time!
March 5th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
Great story guys, I really look forward to what we can do in the future.
March 5th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Ditto what K8 said about roots. Very classy move, guys.
The Claw
March 5th, 2010 at 7:28 pm
Traver, Eric, and CPCers it is very cool to hear about your involvement in the community with the Los Prietos boy’s camp. Keep up the great work. You all are first class.
March 7th, 2010 at 9:35 am
Guys, this is really cool. I think the two of you could be re-writing Physical Education requirements for the state of California. Very impressive and both a class act.
March 8th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! I want to thank you guys SO much for going up to the Camp and working with these boys. What you are teaching them is absolutely priceless. I also got all teared up reading and thinking about how much they need all the help they can get. Thank you for understanding that the hand they were dealt is no their fault and for being so patient, understanding, inspiring and motivating for them. I LOVE your ideas Traver and feel such a sense of joy and appreciation for YOU and CFPC for working with these young men. I KNOW they loved it and got SO much out of it. Keep up the incredible work!!!!!!!!!! Thank you times a million. You are making a HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!