Eat. Sleep. Move. Think. Connect.

Every single day — without fail — we engage with these five factors. When we approach them with intention, we improve. We set goals, build habits, aim for consistency, and on paper, the formula works.

But real life isn’t lived on paper.

There are potholes. Detours. Busy seasons. And sometimes full-blown snowstorms that stop us in our tracks. In those moments, the most important thing we can do is focus on what’s within our control.

That’s what 2025 asked of us.
And that’s exactly what 2026 is calling us to refine.

Your Health Is an Investment

The time you invest in your health today compounds over time — whether you feel it day to day or not. Some weeks, the return is obvious. Other times, progress requires patience, trust, and a long-term lens.

CrossFit places a lot of value on observable and measurable progress, but that progress doesn’t look the same for everyone.

If your goal is longevity — staying strong, mobile, and capable as you age — training 1–3 days per week with quality movement and sustainable intensity might be exactly right.

If your goal is recreational sport or the occasional competition, you may train more often, push intensity strategically, and layer in performance goals.

If you’re training to compete, the margins matter. Recovery, fueling, mindset, and connection become non-negotiable.

Different paths. Same destination.

The long-term goal remains the same: increasing capacity across broad time and modal domains — not just to be fit in the gym, but to build a body and mindset that support a long, capable, and fulfilling life.

Health vs. Performance: Not Either/Or

Performance simply asks more of the Five Factors.

Fueling enough to recover — without excess.
Sleeping to support both training and life demands.
Listening to your body and adjusting when needed — more warm-up, fewer reps, lighter loads, or sometimes an active recovery day.
Accepting that not every day is a PR day.
Staying connected so the pursuit of excellence doesn’t become isolation.

Health is the foundation. Performance is a layer you can add — or remove — depending on the season you’re in.

And seasons will change.

Staying Focused on the Long Game

We all benefit from a Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal — a BHAG.

Maybe it’s traveling freely in your 60s and 70s.
Keeping up with your kids.
Staying independent well into your 80s and 90s.

The checkpoints along the way — lifting heavier, moving better, showing up consistently — help keep us on course.

We train so that life’s demands feel lighter:

Farmer carries make hauling patio stones easier.
Deadlifts make snow shoveling less daunting.
Step-overs make moving furniture safer.

The goal isn’t survival.
The goal is thriving.

My BHAG — and Why CFCL Exists

My BHAG is simple, but bold:
To make fitness so engaging, supportive, and meaningful that people realize it’s not a phase — it’s a forever thing.

To do that, I need to live what I coach.
I need to stay healthy enough to lead.
I need to keep learning.
And I need to help create a space where people feel safe, welcomed, challenged, and connected.

At CFCL, that looks like:

Coaches who genuinely want to coach
Programming that is effective and fun
Schedules that fit real life
Events that bring people together
A culture where members feel like they belong

When people feel like part of the family, they stay long enough for real change to happen.

A Look Back at 2025: Growth, Change, and Community

2025 was a year of evolution at CrossFit CL.

Programming & Structure

A major shift from CompTrain to HWPO to better serve our diverse community
More intentional volume, smarter intensity, and recovery-focused Sweat days
Integrated CrossFit and Weightlifting programming with seasonal peaks and tapers
Continued refinement of hybrid classes and the weightlifting program

Schedule & Coaching

Adjustments to morning and evening classes
The return of a consistent Sunday Bootcamp
Kids program updates to support both newer athletes and those looking to compete
Expansion of Virtual classes — mornings, evenings, and Sundays starting in 2026 — plus the creation of an on-demand library
Strong Foundations programs every 6–8 weeks
A coaching team that continues to grow, collaborate, and lead with care

Community Highlights
2025 reminded us that CFCL is more than workouts.

The CrossFit Open — tackled together, with 32+ athletes advancing to Quarterfinals and beyond
The launch of Summer and Winter Leagues to support consistency during harder seasons
Learn to Lift sessions, competitions, records broken, and national- and international-level representation
Community events beyond the gym — runs, game nights, BBQs, potlucks, and shared experiences
Member Appreciation Week — celebrating the people who make this place what it is
The continued evolution of the RUNble into a true hybrid challenge of fitness, grit, and connection

Each class, event, and shared moment reinforced the same truth: connection is the multiplier.

Elevating the Game in 2026

Consistency is the bridge between where you are and where you want to be.

Every nudge you feel from us — signing up, showing up, volunteering, competing, connecting — is about making it easier to come back next time. And hopefully, making you look forward to it.

As we move into 2026, the focus is clear:

Sustainable progress
Intentional training
Stronger connections
Long-term health over short-term hype

Health is wealth.
And we’re here to help you build it — one workout, one habit, one connection at a time.

Here’s to playing the long game.
Together.

Playing the Long Game: A Look Back at 2025 & a Vision for 2026