By Rachel Roth

When I decided to start Crossfit, I knew very little about it. But, what I did know, was that it would help me get stronger, as it did my teammate. I was a rower, freshly graduated from college, looking to take my rowing to the next level, and crossfit was meant to supplement my rowing workouts, and help me build up my strength. I started out going only a few times a week. But it didn’t take long before I was in the gym 6 days a week, never seeming able to get enough of crossfit. Now, two years later, it is basically my life.

I have always been an athlete at heart. I love to compete, both with others and myself. I love a challenge, and I love seeing how much better I can be from one day to the next; but I also love being a part of a team, and helping others reach their potential, as well as my own. After competing in several different sports over the years, crossfit seemed to combine the best of all worlds. From the minute I did my first wod at Crossfit Monarchy, I knew this was something I could love doing for the rest of my life.

And while crossfit has made me stronger, it has also done so much more for me. Being an extremely shy person, crossfit’s welcoming atmosphere really made me feel comfortable and at home. It’s helped me learn to open up and be more comfortable in my surroundings. It’s helped me grow, as an athlete and a person. And I continue to learn more about myself each day, whether it’s in the gym learning a new skill, or perfecting an old one; or its learning how to balance working, and training, and my friends and family. As clichéd as it sounds, crossfit has given me a place I can truly be myself, with people who are wonderful and supportive, and who inspire me to be better everyday.

The 2014 Open was challenging. I improved a lot from 2013, but it also exposed some more weaknesses that I plan on tackling in the coming year. I’ve been improving steadily over the past two years, but I know I still have so much more to give. I couldn’t be happier to be a part of the 3Sixty Athletics team. And I know with their support, and the support of my family at Crossfit Monarchy, who have been supporting me and inspiring me since the beginning, there will be big things to come in 2015, and I can’t wait to show what I can do.