CrossFit Watertown, Oakville, CT

Clarification: CrossFit Watertown has ended, but there is still a thriving CrossFit affiliate in the same location in the Old Pin Shop! (Sorry for any confusion.) You can reach CrossFit Reload at 860-274-4441. Look for a new CrossFit Reload website in the future!

Coaching Mary and Dan and Steve and Mark during my last class at what was CrossFit Watertown.

Four years ago, we started working out in my garage — me and Mary. Melissa and others joined soon after. CrossFit Watertown was born. And, now, CrossFit Watertown has ended. It’s been an absolutely fantastic, thrilling, wonderful, sometimes heartbreaking, but always so worthwhile and full of love ride.

We birthed a bunch of affiliates from this place (CrossFit 203, CrossFit Nor’Easter, CrossFit Strongtown, CrossFit Reload and others) but much more importantly, we made better people. That was always the goal of CrossFit Watertown, right from the start: Community. If we only made better athletes, then we failed. We were trying to make better people. I think we succeeded. I think you guys succeeded. I’m proud of all of you, present and past members. You came in, you worked hard, and you gave everything you had, and then some. I loved watching you grow, and could not have loved this time more.

But, change is the only constant in our lives, and it’s time for this change. I coached my last class last night and in 10 days, I hop on a plane with my boys and we head to California, to start a new chapter in our lives. My work with CrossFit Headquarters will now be my sole job, but my focus will still be on building better people: that remains the same.

We’ve got a few things coming up on the schedule before I head off on the plane into the sunset (literally, we take off in the evening, ha!) so come on out and have some fun. Well, fun in that sick sort of way that we all enjoy at CrossFit.

Mon, July 4th: 9 am. We’re doing “Murph”: Run 1 mile, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats, run 1 mile. Come out and join us!

Sat, July 9th, 1pm: One class only that day. A team workout to say good-bye to someone (me!), then some meat on the grill and some libations. Everyone is welcome. Come on by.

So, that’s it! Thank you all. I couldn’t have asked for better companions on this journey. Amazing what a group of nutcases can accomplish with a pull-up bar, some kettlebells, and some bumpers. Thanks for letting me be the chief nutcase. I love you all.

Taylor doing burpees!

So, it’s a blog post — yesirree! Probably my penultimate one. (Yup, go look that word up. I’ll wait.)

Anyhow . . . this is my last week of coaching here at what was known as CrossFit Watertown and what is now known as CrossFit Reload. Look for new signage and all sorts of fun changes in the future with Jackie! (I’ll be in classes for the next few weeks, just not coaching anymore as I prepare to move.)

So, what do we have going on this week? More deliciousness. (Yes, read that as code for hard workouts and great results!) It’s a holiday weekend, so keep in mind that we will be closed on Sunday but OPEN on Monday. One class at 9am. “Murph”, per our 4th of July tradition here at CFW. It’s not an easy workout, but it’s do-able, and it is, of course, scalable — which means you do what you can do and that’s okay by us. Other places like to move around the workout, hold it on a different day so they don’t have to be in the gym on a holiday, but I’m old school and certain days have emotional significance. The Fourth of July is one.  So, even if I’m the only one, I’ll be here. If you want to join me, I’d love to have company.

In the meantime, enjoy your week! Work hard, be true, and go out of your way for the people you love. Life will reward you.

Jill, with so much love for CrossFit in her heart . . .

Here we are again. Just you and me and Jill. Like the good old days. Well, in my imagination. Or perhaps a child’s short tale.

Okay, so you’re reading this blog which means you want some INFO on CrossFit or CrossFit Watertown. Or both. Or none and you just got distracted on the Internet and you were really searching for a nice pair of leather pumps in a man’s size.

Anyhow, what’s on tap this week?

Free trial class at 9am on Sat!

Continuation of our 30-Day Paleo Challenge into a 60 Day Challenge! (With some checkpoints at 30 days to see how we’re doing.) Why? Because it feels good, because we feel better, because we want to make sure we get a firm hold on this new way of eating and living. If you’re only reading this blog (and not our private Facebook group) you’re only getting a glimpse into what’s really happening. But if you join us, that world will open up to you — and it’s pretty cool, I have to say.

In other news, the CrossFit Games Northeast Regionals are this weekend at Reebok World HQ in Canton, MA, so some of us will be traveling up there to cheer on the athletes and be inspired by some folks who are seriously fit! We’ll definitely be rooting for Melissa Reed from CrossFit 203, as well as a host of other fine athletes!

So, enjoy your week, enjoy your life, and enjoy the people in your life! It all goes by too fast, so grab on tight, and go chase something. Life is meant to be lived, not endured. Make it so.

Name: Chris Perugini

Age: 26

Occupation: Web Developer, Blogger

Sports besides CrossFit? Soccer

Which class you normally attend: 5:00 p.m.

Describe yourself in 3 words: I’m always learning.

What is CrossFit? CrossFit isn’t just a big space with some weights and rowers where people work out. CrossFit is a community where you get back what you put in. It’s the only gym where I’ve ever felt completely comfortable working out. At CrossFit Watertown, I’m not afraid to fail, make mistakes, and learn from them. I can’t say the same about anywhere else.

How long have you been CrossFitting? I started my 4th year of CrossFitting in March.

Favorite WOD or movement? Deadlifts

Least favorite WOD or movement? Wallball

Favorite Quote? It’s not CrossFit or workout-related, but it’s definitely my favorite: “Memory can change the shape of a room; it can change the color of a car. And memories can be distorted. They’re just an interpretation, they’re not a record, and they’re irrelevant if you have the facts.” – Leonard Shelby (Memento, 2000)

The Memorial Day gang, minus our man Tooner behind the camera!

It’s another wild, awesome, stupendous week at CrossFit Watertown! I’m headed off to far away parts for CFHQ work, so this could be your only blog post of the week. Don’t cry. Just hug yourself and rock silently. It’ll be okay. And, you know, we’ll always have Facebook.

Anyhow! What do you need to know for the week? That it will be hard. All the good things in life come from real work, not sitting on your butt. That it will be fun. Yup. It will be. You know it. Fun in a sick way and fun in just a plain old fun way. Can’t explain it better than that.

So, remember to stick to your Paleo guns! (Nice anachronism for ya, huh?) Eat right. Work right. Sleep right. Be kind. Be funny, if that’s your bag. Bring up the light in other people’s eyes and then watch your own life become a thing of wonder. It can happen; trust me, I know.

(And, when all else fails, call Jackie. Bug her, bother her, harass her, lean on her. She’s driving the bus now. Just keep your hands inside the windows. And stop those handstands in the aisle. Okay, maybe just one . . . or fifteen.)

Patti experiences her first “Power Cindy.”

Attention: We will have ONE class only at 9am on Monday, which is Memorial Day. It’s our fourth annual Trevor Win’E workout and it means you’ll be working in teams of 4. Read more about the workout and the man behind the name here.

What’s this mean to you? Show up early, because we’re starting sharply at 9am. Group warm-up and then right into the pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups, and squats.  (The parade in town starts at 10am and some of us need to get there to see our kids march in it.)

And if you’re thinking of sleeping in, or thinking that Memorial Day is just another holiday, I’m here to tell you that you’re wrong. Back in 2008, I wrote something about how I feel about Memorial Day, you can read an updated version here: “Silent Warriors.”

So, on Memorial Day, if you’ve got the heart and the guts, come on down to CFW and do work. We’ll be happy to see you.

Annette rows amid the new colors and the temporary whiteboard placement.

A blog post? Whooooot! It’s your lucky day! (Or, maybe you’re not that excited. I just like to pretend you are. It makes me happy and fills the hours of the day.)

So, what’s in store this week? Lots of cool stuff. You know where to find the Words of the Day (CrossFit Lisbeth) and you can find a hint of the WOD over on Facebook. So let’s move onto the stuff you need to know for this week:

1.) There’s a free class on Sat at 9am. If you want to try CrossFit, or you’re a member and you have a friend or loved one or somebody you really dislike that wants to try CrossFit, tell ‘em to give us a call or an email and sign up for the free Sat 9am class.

2.) We are closed on Sun BUT we are OPEN on Monday! Yeahhhh! It’s Memorial Day and we would not DREAM of missing out on the 4th annual CrossFit Watertown Memorial Day Workout! The WOD starts sharp at 9am, because the parade in town starts at 10am, so get here early and do the workout in honor of those who gave all for your freedom. (Don’t you dare sleep your lazy ass in bed that morning! Lots of troops sacrificed for you to lay under that blanket of freedom: the least you can do is remember them.)

3.) The Paleo Challenge continues and folks are reporting GREAT results! If you’re doing good, keep going! If you’re screwing up, stop! Life always affords you the opportunity to do better — so DO better! Make your next choice the best one you can. Toss away your excuses. Make the effort. Become the person you always wanted to be but were afraid to. Here’s your chance. NOW.

The original CFW wall-ball target, still on the wall in my garage.

First off, allow me to apologize for the infrequent blog postings of late. The CFW blog used to be a vibrant discussion forum and those days were fun! But things change, and our lively discussions now take place online in a different forum — our private Facebook group. It’s just a better format for everything, plus you can post photos of your food and ask specific questions, get more frequent updates, etc. Sure, it’s Facebook, but it’s handy.

The blog is still a valuable format, just the soul of it is in a bit of a transition, just like CrossFit Watertown.

When you come into the gym today, you’ll see the new paint on the walls. New colors, a new logo, a new name — all are part of the process of change. We’ll all get used to it.

What has not changed is that CFW is still a space where you can come and lift — lift weights, lift your spirits, lift your life. That will never change.

So, come on in today, take a look around, get high off the paint fumes, and imagine what the future will look like. Everything in this life is as bright as you make it. Be smart, choose wisely, work hard. Life can be fabulous.

(As always, Words of the Day over on CrossFit Lisbeth. Workout of the Day? Something delicious from the CrossFit Football program . . . )

Pete deadlifts during the 6am class.

You know what today is, right? The first day of our 30-day Paleo Challenge. The guidelines are in our private Facebook group, but basically eat real food for 30 days. Like the man Greg Glassman said years ago: “Eat meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch and no sugar. Keep intake to levels that will support exercise but not body fat.”

So, make sure to come on in today or tomorrow and get signed up, measured, x-rayed, fingerprinted and hugged. (Okay, we made some of that up. But not the hugging. It’s just that kind of day.)

Words of the Day are over on CrossFit Lisbeth. Workout of the Day is stuff that you need to do as a benchmark for the Paleo Challenge. Just suck it up and do it. Get in here. Start cutting the junk out of your diet and your life. You are not going to believe how much better you’re going to feel 30 days from now.