BTSCF Newsletter - December 2023
As we bid farewell to an incredible year, we find ourselves filled with gratitude for each and every one of you. Through the challenges, triumphs, and everyday journeys, we have seen remarkable progress and commitment.
This year was packed with immense growth, both as individuals and as a community. We have witnessed countless personal achievements, new PRs shattered, and goals surpassed. Be it conquering a new movement, surpassing weightlifting milestones, or simply finding a sense of inner strength, every moment has been a testament to your dedication and resilience.
As we embark on a new year, we are excited for fresh challenges and the opportunities to support and celebrate with you! Let's make 2024 our most incredible year yet!
Food, Toys, and Clothing
Over the last few weeks, we asked several times for help and the BTS Community showed up! Whether it was the food drive, the toy drive, or the clothing drive you all showed us what it truly means to come together. Thank you so much for helping us support great local organizations with all of your donations.
Annual BTSCF Holiday Party
We held our Annual Holiday Party and White Elephant Gift Exchange on December 16th. It was so great seeing everyone there, sharing great food, laughs, and the always fun gift exchange.
Bring A Friend Week
It’s that time of year when everyone makes their New Year’s resolutions and a focus on health and fitness is one that we hear about all of the time. As your friends and family look to kick off their fitness journey, we would love the opportunity to show them what we do.
Bring your friends in from 1/1 - 1/7. Friends can come in as many times as they’d like and don’t have to attend classes with you.
The CrossFit Open
The CrossFit Open is the first step toward crowning the champions of The CrossFit Games. The Open is for everyone and anyone who wants to try has a path to participate. Open Registration begins on January 9th. To register for The Open, you can go to The CrossFit Games website. Talk to a coach for more information about The Open.
Stay tuned for more details about our own internal competition during the open.
BTSCF Feature Athlete
Meet Robb Ruiz
When did you start CrossFitting?
March of 2016. I started Day 1 at BTSCF. I signed up for 12 months before the doors even opened. I thought I could do anything for 12 months. I am one of the last two founding members of BTS. (Rose is the other one).
What brought you to CrossFit?
In 2016, as I was intensively preparing for the New York City Marathon, I was also in the midst of a significant personal transformation. Following a successful gastric sleeve surgery in 2015, I had shed around 130 pounds. While running many miles weekly was a major part of my regimen, I felt the need to broaden my training approach, both for my personal development and to enhance my marathon performance.
What have you learned from doing CrossFit?
I've gained valuable insights. Of course, there's the physical fitness aspect – the understanding that we're all capable of overcoming challenges. But more importantly, I've discovered how this mental resilience applies both in and out of the gym. Whenever life throws tough situations my way, I find that the same mental strength that helps me push through one more rep in the gym also helps me take life one step at a time, helping me navigate through challenging periods.
What would you say to someone who is on the fence about starting CrossFit?
Just try it. And use my name as a referral, we get money. Also, the shoe and gear addiction is normal.
What do you like to do in your free time
Free time, interesting concept. I have two sons, Aiden and James. They book up my free time. Whatever they have going on, I have going on. However on the rare occasions that I have some free time for myself, I enjoy spending time with my Fiancé Lindsay. Love to travel with her and do just about everything with her.
What do you do for work and how has CrossFit impacted how you do your job?
My most important job title is Dad. I think that CrossFit has been able to keep me in shape and the ability to keep up with them. However, I am currently the Executive Director of Human Services. I work with a lot of people from all paths of life. What CrossFit has made me realize is how lucky I am do to this. There are some people who would give anything to have the opportunity to move their bodies the way we do, I never want to take it for granted.
We asked Robb some rapid fire questions, here’s what he had to say:
Q: What superpower would you give yourself?
A: The ability to see the WODs for the week.
Q: What's your favorite healthy food?
A: Donuts
Q: What's your favorite not so healthy food?
A: Donuts
Q: What TV Sitcom family or group would you be a member of?
A: I Love Lucy, clearly I would be Ricky
Q: If you were famous, what would you be famous for?
A: Ending poverty
Q: If you could write your own fortune cookie fortune, what would it say?
A: Your path is paved with endless possibilities. Embrace every opportunity with curiosity and courage.
Q: If you were a professional wrestler, what would you finishing move be called?
A: The Belly Laugh Body Slam
Q: Who do you look up to for inspiration at BTSCF?
A: This is where I am supposed to say Lindsay, right? Of course her! BUT I do admire the people who walk into those doors, not knowing how to do a single movement and come back day after day and see improvement and don’t give up.
Q: What is your favorite and least favorite movement?
A: My favorite movement is the power clean. My least favorite movement is the deadlift.
Q: What is the one thing you've done at BTSCF that your old self wouldn't ever believe?
A: A muscle up.
Q: Anything else you'd like to share?
A: BTSCF is far more than just a place to exercise; it's a sanctuary that transcends the mere physicality of its four walls. When I first moved to this area, I was a stranger in a sea of unknown faces, devoid of friends or familiar connections. It was at BTSCF that the true meaning of community first revealed itself to me, transforming a foreign place into a home.
But then, life, as unpredictable as it is, threw me into a whirlwind of turmoil. My world was turned upside down, plunging me into a period of profound darkness. During these bleak moments, I firmly believe that without BTSCF, I might not have found my way back.
In this journey, I found more than just strength and endurance. I found Lindsay, the love of my life, an encounter that might never have happened without BTSCF. Then there's Sean, my best friend, a beacon of support in my darkest hours. I can't imagine where I'd be without him. And there are Becky and Jimmy (Pop-pop), who became my family when I was farthest from my own.
I will never forget Heather, Regi, Rose, Mackenzie, Mary, Bonnie, Walt, Dee, and the countless others who stood by me, offering a shoulder and a kind word when I was lost in a shadowy space. Their unwavering support during my most vulnerable times is something I will carry with me forever.
To me, BTSCF is infinitely more than a place for lifting weights and doing burpees. It's a place where I found a family, a home, and a new beginning amidst the barbell and Echo Bike. It's a testament to the extraordinary power of human connection and the healing it brings.