I chucked myself in at the deep end with a session that included a workout that was used in the Crossfit Open in 2019 – it was hard work but it felt awesome! The coach was amazing and as well as being really encouraging, she taught me some really useful things about technique too. I pushed myself more than I probably would have done at home and left the gym feeling great! I’ve done six classes in the last two weeks – all different types of classes to ensure I’m working on all the elements and skills in Crossfit and I’ve loved every one. With a mix of strength, lifting, gymnastics and cardio over the classes, it’s been a really good exercise in working out where my weaknesses lie so I know what I need to work on.

However, it’s not just the coaching and equipment that I’m grateful for, it’s the people too! I had no idea how much I’d missed being around people during the pandemic and to start becoming part of a community of like-minded people with a shared interest in health and fitness has really given me a boost. I’m keen to meet as many coaches and members as I can in the lead up to my challenge in the hope that lots of people will want to get involved on the day but, more than that, I really want to get to know everyone and become part of the crowd at the gym. I had a feeling they were a lovely bunch of people before I signed up and it seems I wasn’t wrong!

Being around people who have similar goals and interests, who encourage you and make you feel part of a team are wonderful people to have in your life. Connecting with others is so good for mental and physical health with research suggesting that people who are socially connected are happier, healthier and live longer and that positive relationships can improve our sense of belonging and give us a purpose. When it comes to my challenge, my sense of purpose will not just be about fundraising but also about getting through the 24 hours with an awesome team of people who I certainly don’t want to let down – it will be amazing to smash this challenge together and feel proud of everyone that gets involved!

The thing I love about Crossfit is the community and inclusivity. It can be perceived as quite an elitist sport with images of people lifting heavy weights and doing impressive things on bars and rings but in reality, everything can be scaled back to suit your abilities and the buzz you get from working with other people and encouraging each other to get through workouts is awesome. When you feel like you can’t get that last rep or run those last few metres, having your team mates cheering you on makes all the difference.

I feel very fortunate to get to know the coaches and members of the gym I have joined – there is so much knowledge, experience, camaraderie and support and I will be soaking up every bit of advice, taking every opportunity to connect with people and working hard to make this challenge a success. Hopefully, I will even be able to call some of them my friends soon too!