We just finished our pulling cycle. Longtime member Emily @emmmmm120 was working on her pull-ups. On re-test day, she set a PR, getting 3 sets of 5 in a row (the most she’d done before was 2!). In her own words, here’s a little about Emily and her CFH journey. Thanks, Emily! We’re so grateful you’re part of our community!
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I’d done CrossFit where we lived before, but it hadn’t really stuck. So when we moved to Baltimore I found CFH and thought, “Well, it’s the closest gym to my house, and I can walk there—I hope I like it.”
It was an instant success. I felt good in any class I went to. All the coaches were amazing, and I never felt like I had to pick and choose. And crucially, I always felt safe, and like I could go at my own speed. I never felt pressured to keep up with anyone else or embarrassed when I couldn’t.
I felt healthy, strong, and good about myself. That feeling has never left, even as I’ve taken time off—to have two children and also during the pandemic. I’ve returned to CrossFit Federal Hill 3 times in the last 5 years, and each time it was the best decision I could’ve made for my physical and mental health.
I’m only able to come 2 days a week, but even that has been enough to see real progress. For example, when I started, I was doing seated barbell pull-ups, and they were incredibly hard! Just sitting on the ground, moving my butt one foot—or less!—off the ground, while everybody else was flying around the rig. I looked at them and thought, “I’ll never do that.” But I made a decision to trust the coaches and to do what they told me.
I’ll never forget the day I got my first pull-up. I was struggling, and Coach Ryan came over and told me to keep my eyes straight ahead—to stop looking down—and it worked! And the other day I got 3 sets of 5 in a row—that feeling of progress is priceless.
I’m sure there are lots of great gyms in Baltimore, but Industry Athletics is an exception. The coaches demonstrate incredible expertise, and they clearly care about each person in the community and our progress. I can’t rave or gush enough about how much I love it there. I always feel taken care of, looked out for, celebrated, and encouraged. I feel so lucky to be part of the CrossFit Federal Hill community!