The Circle of Life

Coincidences can be a lot more than happenstance events. I am convinced of this. Especially since Molly died. In looking back through my life there are so many events and people and places that play directly into the outcomes of my life. 

We are all connected, the people, places, actions and events.

This is Tyler. 

Although this photo is from a year or two ago, I wore the same leggings yesterday when we worked out together. Tyler’s older sister Rachel was one of my first elite runners when I was coaching at Concord High School. 

He was 12 weeks old when I met him. 

A teeny tiny bundle of yummy perfection, he brought happiness into Rachel’s life. (His parents and other siblings too obviously.) Tim, Rachel’s father, would bring him to the indoor meets to watch her race. He was completely unfazed by the starters pistol. He would watch everyone and smile at all who engaged. 

I was working out one day at my local CrossFit gym about a year ago and Tyler came in. He was visiting his parents. I was, of course, overjoyed to see him. Not only was it a blast from the past, but he was a Cross Fitter!! Woot Woot!

I saw him again last week. I received a text message letting me know he was going to drop in to a class I was coaching. It took me a minute to figure out who “Tyler HW” was. We caught up after class. 

His Mum is sick.

Like families do when their loved ones are struggling, he shared the family visits and doctors’ appointments. Family time is always good, but when shadowed with illness and the inevitable process of life it can be emotional. 

He mentioned he was here for a week.

I often go the gym on Sunday mornings to workout. As I was getting ready, I thought to text him. I had dreamed about his Mum and they were on my mind. Not surprisingly, he agreed to join me at the gym. 

Weekend workouts in the CrossFit Community are often partner workouts. They are long, and they combine movements in a unique way. Yesterday’s workout did not disappoint. Rowing, push presses, toes to bar, burpee box jumps and the erg bike. Thirty-five minutes of torturous glory.

It was just what we needed.

One of the things I love most about CrossFit is how the workouts are community oriented. They are programmed for specific stimuli including muscular, cardiovascular and neurological. As such, the movements themselves are scalable, meaning a variety of movements can accomplish the same thing. 

What does this actually mean?

A woman in her sixties can work out with a man in his thirties, side by side, doing essentially the same thing and be equally challenged.

 Let me explain. 

Here is the workout we did. It is a partner workout so the movements, distances and repetitions are split evenly (or unevenly) between each participant. This was a “you go I go” workout so there were frequent rest periods. 

In 35 minutes complete the following:

1000M Row (we did 250M at a time)

Three Rounds of:

60 Push Press (I did 35 pounds, he did 75 pounds, alternating sets of ten)

60 Toes to Bar (I did kipping straight leg raises, he did T2B, alternating sets of ten)

20,40,60 Burpee Box Jumps (I had a lower box, sets of ten)

2000M Erg Bike (we did 500M at a time)

I am a relatively elite athlete for my age. I was able to perform most of these movements close to the prescribed workout. Had I been less able to do so there are several options I could use to meet the same stimulus. 

Why am I sharing all of these tedious details with you?

Because throughout the 35 minutes I was remembering baby Tyler, and toddler Tyler, and teenaged Tyler and gone to college Tyler. All those years, all those life experiences and changes. All the joys and the heartbreaks. We are a completely different generation, Tyler and Me. 

Yet for thirty-five minutes we were simply two CrossFit Athletes using their sport to alleviate some of life’s unpleasantries. We both exerted ourselves, we struggled equally, we felt better as the minutes ticked by. 

As we were getting ready to leave, he mentioned that he would be staying around for a month or so. While this makes me happy on a “yay I get to see Tyler” level, I know that the reality is not quite so optimistic. 

For all we know about life and death and all that lies between, we always seem woefully unprepared for it when it shows up. We know it is coming, but we push it out of our thoughts. 

I share this story because it illustrates what I love so much about CrossFit. This “sport” has saved me more than once. Some of my very best friends and most meaningful interactions come from my CrossFit experience. 

I share how classes feel like a sports practice, your classmates are like team members and you are there to support one another and give your own best effort. There is no wearing of earbuds or “parallel fitness” going on here. There is instruction, guidance, coaching and feedback. 

Community

So here it is, a rainy Monday, a day after my 24^th wedding anniversary with Kenny. As I begin this missive Jack is watching The Lion King. I am listening to Elton John sing “The Circle of Life. I am brought back to Rachel’s high school years when this movie was released and when Tyler was born. 

As I begin to write I think to myself, Of course I am!

We both rowed, that is a skill that is only differentiated by how fast you row.