One Year On
I know there was a WOD today, but indulge me. It was October 1 a year ago that we moved into our space and officially set up shop as Crossfit Tacoma. I thought I’d use this post to reflect on the year gone by and look ahead.
Lisa and I moved from Thailand to Tacoma on June 1 of last year. I finished my level one in late July and was affiliated by early August. I put together a blog and let people know that I would be leading a workout every evening in Titlow park. It was about a week and a half before anyone showed up. Little by little more people joined us. Toward the end of the month Jan came by with Amy in tow, hoping she might like this Crossfit thing he’d been talking about. We moved from Titlow to my in-laws’ garage just up the hill. There we stayed for September.
Finding space was tough. There is a lot of available industrial space in Tacoma, just not any place you’d want to be. I was originally looking a lot around the Nalley Valley area and contemplating something in Lakewood. I found our current space on Craigslist. It was bigger than I wanted or thought I could afford, but the ad sounded desperate enough to look a little deeper. The landlord was willing to install bathrooms and new windows, and I didn’t have to commit to a 10 year lease like everyone else was asking.
In the early days, I was nervous about committing to anything more than a couple of months out because I wasn’t sure if we’d be around. When we made the move into the new space we had 10 official members, but in reality several of those were sympathetic family.
One morning a couple of guys passing by stopped in to see what we had going on. One, Tom K., decided to come back. He later told me about a friend of his who was a reporter with the TNT, Dan Voelpel. Dan came in, met Lisa and I and wrote a great article. I have to admit, that article probably made us. It drove enough early growth that we reached a critical mass quickly. Several of you with us now came in after reading it. In fact, we still have people coming by saying they read about us in the paper.
Fast forward several months and pull-up bars later. It turned out that Amy did like Crossfit and she and Lisa got certified. Finally I had a break in my 14 hour days. It really wasn’t until January that I had an opportunity to step back and look at the gym comprehensively. In February, two couples came in together saying they just moved to the area, and one guy, Leon, talked about his desire to start a gym in Tacoma. Not long after that, I hired him. Better to have him working for us than against us. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
In April Leon and I went to LA to meet with some other gym owners and learn about how they run things. We came back with our heads full of ideas and hope. We changed a lot of how we do things. We started to move to automatic payments, we had been collecting checks and cash every month which meant we overlooked people, lost track of things, and had wads of money sitting in the back room. We started screening inquirers by having them meet and talk to us before joining. We started to address our policies, procedures, and lack thereof.
I’m pleased to say that after a year of being alive, we continue to grow and get better at what we do. We have over 90 members. We have a vibrant and positive community of people who gather almost daily to work hard together. People grow close when they suffer and strive with each other, and this community of people is what I’m most grateful for. I love watching people learn new things, to see that “aha!” moment when the pieces fall into place. I love the respect and support people show for each other.
Second only to that, I love to watch people get stronger, fitter, and be able to do things that were previously impossible. I enjoy hearing about the improvements you’ve seen in your lives as a result of your accomplishments in the gym.
As a teacher when a parent or student thanked me for helping them I always felt the praise was inappropriate. The student was the one who applied herself and did the extra work, the praise belongs to her. In the same way I can’t help but feel proud for you, for the work you’ve put in, for the strength of will you display, for the strides you’ve made. I’m thankful that you came here and shared that with us.
Looking ahead
This may go against most business advice which argues that profit maximization is the foremost purpose of a business, but I’ve decided to cap membership at 150. This is for a couple of reasons. With a limited number of members, we can raise the average knowledge and skill base of who we have. We coaches will get to know our athletes better. There is something called the Rule of 150 which applies to social networks. You can follow the link to read about it, but the bottom line is that by not trying to grow indefinitely, we can protect the integrity of the community.
In keeping with prioritizing quality, we want to improve the abilities and knowledge of our people. Having certified people plan and teach Saturday classes and assist in regular weekday classes will prove to be an important way we get better as a group.
We will continue to look for ways to get special training for our members. For example, we are planning two clinics this Fall. One, in collaboration with PLU, will involve an exhaustive class on rowing, followed by a chance to get into boats and row around American Lake. Another, in the earlier stages, is to take over a gymnastics gym and get hands on training to improve what we already do, and learn the things we don’t.
In the next year I hope to start a Crossfit Kids program. I’d like to be the first Olympic weightlifting club in Tacoma. I plan to send a team to the Affiliate Cup competition at the Crossfit Games next year. We’re working on hosting a competition in November. And most importantly, we are working every week to improve the quality of instruction, the quality of service, and the quality of your training.
Thank you everyone who is a part of this, it is more than any one person. I look forward to seeing what this amazing (and remarkably funny) group of people makes happen.
Morgan,
You are a man of few words, most of the time. Today there was a short essay, but of course it made me cry, again. I thank you and Lisa and all the other trainers for what you do. You all have become like a family to me and Eden. In the midst of a divorce you helped Pat, and I maintain a connection, and me maintain a “happy place”. I don’t think you all realize what you did for me, in particular. I also feel like I have a team, my own little Tacoma Crossfit team. Thank you for what you do. You are a coach, a mentor, and a friend.
Congratulations! You have created something remarkable and you ought to be very proud. I enjoyed reading the story from your perspective. Thank you for the awesome workouts (I have never been this fit) and the great community. I feel a sense of loyatly to Crossfit Tacoma…kind of like being part of a tean, I guess.
It would be nice to be in a park every once in awhile. I wouldn’t have to mop up my sweat there…….
Keep your dreams and goals.
M&L
I’m so proud of you both, and your team. You are absolutley inspiring and really what the ‘American Dream’ is all about.
Congratulations.
Jaclyn
Thank you to Morgan and Lisa for letting me be a part of all of this. When we were planning the move here, I thought I would open Crossfit Tacoma, but a few months before the move I noticed that someone beat me to it, so I became an internet stalker. I would read the blog everyday to see what kind of competition I was dealing with. My mindset quickly shifted from thinking how I could do this better to thinking that I can’t wait to join this gym. The space looked perfect, Morgan’s programming was intelligent and well thought out and he seemed to genuinely care about all of the members.
I had a glimmer of hope that I would join the gym at a time when he was ready to take on a new coach. I couldn’t have imagined things working out better than they did for me. I’ve been here for only 8 months but it feels like I’ve always been here. Much has happened in the past year, but we are still only beginning. I’m excited for what lies ahead.
M and L, your desision has blessed all of us and will continue to bless even more. I believe everyone wants to do something meaningfull with thier lives and you two are doing just that. You both have created a little community within the crossfit community that I consider my second family. I can’t wait to see what this next year brings everyone as we all grow into a stronger team, with you both leading the way. Thanks for taking a chance and following your dreams! Now enough with the thrusters already!
Happy 1st Birthday CFT! You are a dream come true!
Happy Birthday Emily!
Happy Birthday Andrea!
Brianne, thanks for being my spouse when Morgan is gone!
Jason, go to http://www.lisamonet.blogspot.com for more pics of Xave (scroll down to the bottom of the page). I call it “Anne Geddes meets CrossFit.”
Leon, we could not have had such a successful year if it weren’t for YOU! And our marriage thanks you. : )
Amanda and I are so thankful for the community that we are apart of at CrossFit Tacoma.
After four years of being a “trainer” it is nice to have someone watch and make me better. I appreciate all the members of CF Tacoma, who are receptive and open minded. The community has been built with everyone putting down their ego and striving toward the same goal…improving yourself physically and mentally.
I am looking forward to year two.
I didn’t know what I was looking for, but I knew that I had found it after stumbling across CFT early last December. Since then I have been challenged and inspired by everyone I’ve met and “suffered” with here, but I try to remember that it’s not suffering if you like it! Thank you all so much for putting so much heart and work into what had become such an awesome new community. It’s been fun to see us continue to change and grow stronger everyday both as a gym and individually. Tom’s right, I’m happy to be a part of the team!
Congratulations on your 1st year! Leon, Amy, and Morgan: Thank you for all the support, advice, and coaching. I know I am getting strong and better because of your guidance.
I feel so grateful and blessed to be part of the community of CF Tacoma. Thanks for all that you do!
Congragulation on year 1 I am sure there will be many more to come. I was never one to enjoy exersize but after my first week in the gym ( and begining to walk again with out crying ) I was hooked, the community and the trainers are definitly what keeps my coming back. Thanks to all of you, Morgan, Lisa, Leon, Amy, and now Joeseph…….
the first time the WOD was a 2k row Morgan gave Jason and I a quick tutorial on rowing and then told us to start out a little fast and then settle in to a tempo. Well, I was trying to race Jason and started way too fast and was gassed by the 300m mark.
I stopped rowing and let go. Morgan told me to keep going. I said I couldn’t and he said there was no quitting and to pick it up and go. I didn’t know that I was allowed to do anything but what the trainer told me to do.
So I picked up the oar-or-whatever-it-is-called and started rowing. I’ll let Jason finish the rest of the story about who won. I knew then that it would be hard to do this CrossFit stuff but I also knew I was hooked.
the testament of this gym will always be the changed lives and the close community it has forged.
i am proud and honored to be numbered among you all.
thanks morgan and lisa for taking a tremendous risk in starting Crossfit Tacoma.
Morgan, Lisa, Leon – congratulations to you! What an outstanding organization and group of people you’ve put together and Jo Ann & I are grateful to be a part of it.
Best of luck going forward!
I still remember when Matt first found out about Crossfit. It was over a year and a half ago and I thought it was just some “fad” he was testing out on his clients! Next thing I know, he was putting me through Cindy: you want me to do WHAT, and HOW many times?!? When he put a pull-up bar in our garage, I thought he was nuts: our garage is going to come crashing down because you want to do some kipping thing out here!!
Fast forward a few months, November 2008, and there we were walking into Crossfit Tacoma on a Saturday morning. I had done a few more WOD’s and was starting to catch a glimpse of what it was all about. Needless to say, that first day at CF Tacoma I officially drank the kool-aid and became hooked. Looking back, I must acknowledge that it wasn’t the WOD that day that made the impression on me. It was the first impression of Morgan and Lisa that lingered with me. Here was a unique, loving couple that were passionate about opening this gym and boy did their excitement show! It was from my conversation with them at breakfast that I knew these were special people ready to make a difference in the lives of people in downtown Tacoma.
It’s hard for me to express what CF Tacoma means to me. Not a day goes by that I’m not grateful for being a part of such a supportive and challenging community. CF Tacoma has opened up a whole new dimension of physical and mental training that I never knew was in myself. I love that it truly is a second home to me. I love that Matt and I can workout together and challenge one another (even though he challenges me so much that I don’t like him very much in the middle of the WOD!) I love that I can call up any one of the girls to hang out on the weekend. I love that we all suffer through the pain and toughness together and along with that comes mutual understanding and respect regardless of time, weight, or ability.
Morgan, Lisa….what you’ve done here in Tacoma is beyond measure, beyond words. Thank you, thank you for all the time, effort, and energy you’ve put into this creation. It truly is more than a gym: it’s a community and a home. Its a place that brings wonderful people together for a unique purpose. I’m proud and honored to be part of it. I’m pumped to see what this next year holds!
Yikes…didn’t mean to write a book!
Thank you everyone for your wonderful comments. It means a lot to me. I think the best thing for everyone to do now is come into the gym more often and try harder. Much love.
I NEVER would have imagined me where I am today back on that first day in August with Morgan & Lisa. I could hardly do sit-ups, push-ups were a joke. Thank goodness there wasn’t a pull-up bar! To say that you have affected change would be the understatement of the year. It’s not just your facility but your encouragement (both quiet & loud) and motivation to continue pushing one’s self farther than ever thought possible. That’s what keeps us coming back. Thank you for the opportunity it be a part of it. It is a joy working with all of you.
Morgan, Lisa & Leon,
Well done.You’ve changed lives. Also,you got a lot of balls to open a business in a middle of a rececssion, you proved everybody wrong, good job. You changed my life, I wanted something different but didn’t know what I wanted. I’ve been running and swimming at the YMCA for over 10-years and I was gaining weight. I didn’t understand it. I decided to give Crossfit try, why not, I wasn’t getting in shape at the Y. Now I’m hooked. As I’m walking, I look around to find place to do pull ups or handstand push-ups. One night I was working late in my Seattle office and caught the last train home. As the train was pulling in the Tacoma station, I was sitting alone and above me was the hand rail. I stood up, grabbed the and did some pull ups in my business suit. Help me, I’m a Crossfit Junkie. Thanks Morgan, Lisa and Leon.
Congtrats Morgan and Lisa! Can’t wait to see what is in store for all of us next! You guys are two of the sweetest and most driven people that I have ever met. Thank you for letting me be a part of this journey called CF Tacoma!
Here is to many more years to come. When is the class photo…might as well document the community that CF Tacoma has formed.
Thanks Morgan, Leon and recently introduced Lisa.
thats so awesome that you guys had your anniversary! see you guys soon
I think I may be the last to read this blog and realize that it’s Crossfit Tacoma’s one-year anniversary, but just wanted to say congratulations and also thank you for all of the on-going education and encouragement. Morgan and Lisa, you two have really built something amazing, through your hired staff, creative programs, and of course grueling WODs! It’s a lot more than just a gym though, it’s a true support system, and I really appreciate everything you’ve done for all of us thus far. Can’t wait to see how CFTacoma evolves over the years ahead, and I’m proud and excited to be a part of it!