Who Is NEPA CrossFit? Amanda Morton- Endurance Coach CrossFit Endurance certified trainer Mary Stabinsky- Assistant Coach CrossFit Level 1 certified trainer Kyle Monaghan- Assistant Coach CrossFit Level 1 certified trainer Brennan Morton - Head Coach CrossFit Level 1 certified trainer CrossFit Endurance certified trainer Olympic Lift certified trainer Kettlebell Level 1 certified trainer ACE certified personal trainer AFPA certified personal trainer CPR certified NEPA CrossFit's Origin
I moved here with my wife for her job in the summer of 2008. Both of
us had just gotten out of the military and were eager to begin a new
life together. Quickly, I noticed a lack of genuine fitness in
Northeastern Pennsylvania. Sure there were gyms
but nothing that offered anything but the standard "lift solely to get
huge" philosophy. I wanted more and I wanted more for the people of
NEPA. NEPA CrossFit was
born out of my love for CrossFit and my love of teaching. Watching
someone grow both physically and mentally as they realize their true
potential is one of the most addicting things in the world. I make it
my mission every class to foster and pass on this love of elite fitness. After graduating with a bachelor's from the University of New Hampshire and before joining the United States Marine Corps, I traveled the country for a few months. In the Marines I had the privilege of becoming a Reconnaissance Marine, a special operations unit, and a sniper. I served two tours in Iraq as an assistant team leader and then a team leader. I was big into bodybuilding, often spending three to four hours a day at the gym. Foolishly I thought I was the pinnacle of fitness. After hearing a lot about CrossFit I decided to take the CrossFit challenge and see where I stacked up. I had high hopes of trouncing the Crossfitters and proving the dominance of bodybuilding. At this time I was a bit over two-hundred pounds at six feet tall. A lanky guy who could not have been more than one hundred and fifty pounds soaking wet positioned himself beside me. I decided that I would use this small, thin man as my judge as to how superior bodybuilding was. The WOD was Fran; 21-15-9 reps of 95 pound thrusters and pullups. I was confident that my ability to lift enormous amounts of weight would carry me through the workout with ease. I could not have been more wrong. Five minutes into the workout I thought I was going to pass out and I was only halfway done. Everything burned and my mouth tasted like an old penny. Wiping the sweat from my eyes I glanced at my competition to see how bad he was hurting. He was hurting but not close to how bad I was and worse, he was done. He finished in just over five minutes. Looking around I noticed a lot of people were beginning to finish. But how? I'm supposed to be STRONGER! When he finished my competition toweled off quickly and then came and stood beside me, most likely to gloat, I thought. "Come on, you can do it. Just a few more. Keep your heels down and push with your legs." He did not gloat. Instead he cheered me on and talked me through a better technique to finish up. He was not alone either. As more and more CrossFitters finished they began to crowd around those who had not and cheer them on. It was like some sort of fitness Utopia; no egos, no narcissism, only genuine good will toward each other when the competition was over. Of the forty people taking the CrossFit challenge the last three to finish were myself and the two other bodybuilders there that day. We doubled practically everyone's time. I was sold, as were my two bodybuilding friends. I had always told myself that if I found a better way to get fit I would not hesitate to go with it. CrossFit was the better way and I have not looked back since. I am thirty pound lighter, a whole lot faster, more able to endure, and most surprisingly, stronger than I ever was back in my bodybuilding days. XTERRA Triathlon  Iraq, second tour.  Call to schedule a free tour and demo. 570-579-3544 125 N. Wilkes Barre Blvd, Wilkes Barre PA (At the back of Fastenal and Sherwin Williams)
|