Real Change CrossFit

We hope everyone has a RESTful Holiday! 🎄

You deserve it! ❤️😎

📸

😎🤘🏽

‘‘Twas the FIGHT before Christmas- PODIUM WINNERS 🏆

🥉 Scaled- & .love.it
🥈 Scaled- .bandy &
🥇 Scaled- & .thorpe

🥉RX- & Jesse Edwards
🥈RX- &
🥇RX- .chill &

‘Twas the FIGHT before Christmas 🎅🎄🥊

And it was exactly that! We hosted an in-house competition with several athletes competing for the first time or partnering with people they had never met or worked out with before.

Each team fought for the podium, but really, they fought to be the best teammate, athlete, and version of themselves…proving that their hard work really does pay off.

As the athletes hit the floor for Event 1, you could see the adrenaline kick-in, and the nerves settle as each team found their groove.

Event 2 was electric with new PRs and a literal race to the finish with heavy sandbags! But these first two events ultimately felt like a WOD you would see in class.

Event 3- the FINALE, demanded every bit of mental and physical strength, testing the limits and abilities of each athlete, and throwing strategy out the window. This workout left athletes laid out on the floor in a daze of confusion and pain, as spectators and judges applauded their hard work.

There was no doubt that we saved the best for last as everyone expressed their appreciation for all events and the programming. This event was one for the books, exemplifying what community is all about even when “fighting” for first place. 😉

A HUGE THANK YOU TO…

& for supplying equipment and people to help all day

Our sponsors: , , and

for taking time out of your day to take these amazing photos

ALL of our judges 🤩

Our member, Jesse Edwards, for wanting to put this event on for the community and playing a vital role in planning, programming, and set up.

Our Coach, Dominique (), for working with Jesse on programming, making the BEST athlete briefing video, and creating a fun space for our athletes to feel confident and prepared.

More photos to come… ❤️

🍂 NOVEMBER Member of the Month:

Miranda Graham 🍂

Miranda has been a member with us for almost 2 years! She seems quiet but really she is adventurous, bold, consistent, and has a sweet soul.

We are so proud of her journey and willingness to face her fears. It is a joy to coach Miranda and have her in our community! ☺️🤍

• How long have you been doing CrossFit?

🍁 On and off since 2019

•What do you like about Real Change CrossFit?

🍁 The community for sure. Everyone is so great and encouraging and fun to be around. I feel comfortable even when we’re doing something I’m not confident in - which is huge for me!

• What is your favorite and least favorite movement?

🍁 Favorite - deadlifts
Least Favorite - overhead squats

• What’s the “real change” you have seen since being here?

🍁Oh man so much! Just this year I’ve graduated to being able to do knees raises on the bar, 20” step ups and I’ve lost almost 50 pounds!

• Do you have a movement or goal you want to achieve in 2024?

🍁 My next goal is to conquer my fear of box jumps 🫣

Photo cred:

🍁 OCTOBER MEMBER OF THE MONTH 🍁

Charlie is one of the few OG members of Real Change and even though he is an open gym member, he can be convinced to complete a “CrossFit” workout from time to time. However, if you want an olympic lifting buddy, he is your man! Charlie embodies what the CrossFit community is about, encouraging others, building intentional relationships, and working on being better than the day before physically, mentally, and emotionally.

We can’t express our gratitude enough for his support over the years and his efforts to be a part of the community in and outside of the gym! 👏🏽💪🏽☺️

🍁 How long have you been doing CF?

I started CrossFit around 11 years ago in a gym that doesn’t exist any longer in west Nashville.  It was exactly what i wanted from exercise and a group class. The competitive aspect really drove me each class.

🍁 What do you like about Real Change CF?

There are many things i love about Real Change, but the main thing that keeps me coming back is the sense of community and how welcoming everyone is. I know i don’t participate in the classes, but i love seeing everyone developing friendships and encouraging each other in classes.

🍁 What is your favorite and least favorite movement?

My favorite movement is an Olympic movement—snatch. My least favorite movement is tough because there are many 😁, but burpees consistently are my least favorite.

🍁 What’s the “Real Change” you have seen since being here?

In the 9-10 years I’ve been at Real Change, I’ve noticed physical changes, but I’ve also noticed mental and emotional changes. This gym provides me such a great outlet for working out obviously, but it’s been great for my mental health as well. It’s so easy to clear my head once i walk in the door.

🍁 Do you have a movement or goal you want to achieve this year?

As far as goals for the future, I’ve been working towards lowering my body weight while also trying not lose too much overall strength. I’ve been trying to work on being a more balanced person in and outside of the gym, which can be difficult when it comes to diet, sleep, stress, etc.

💥JULY MEMBER OF THE MONTH💥

⭐️ Katie Carpenter ⭐️

Katie embodies what community is, with her outgoing, friendly, and kind personality! She always walks in the gym with great energy and a smile on her face, instantly putting you in a good mood. ☺️ She is a team player, motivating everyone around her, but has a competitive side and will always give 100% in her workouts!

More about Katie’s CF journey:

🎇 How long have you been doing CrossFit?

🎆 A little over 2 years

🎇 What do you like about Real Change CrossFit?

🎆 I love the COMMUNITY! Ever since Wyatt and I joined, we have felt so welcomed. Real Change is a special place 🙂

🎇 What’s your favorite/least favorite movement?

🎆 Favorite: Deadlifts & GHDs. Least favorite: WALL BALLS

🎇 What’s the “real change” you have seen since being here?

🎆 My motivation- Again, the community at Real Change holds me accountable & excites me to go to the gym. Someone is always pushing you, cheering you on, and believing in you to do your best!

🎇 Do you have a movement or goal you want to achieve this year?

🎆 DOUBLE UNDERS, haha and a BMU! I am shooting for the stars 🤪⭐️

we are so thankful you (and Wyatt) chose RCC as your community! 💜🤍

💥 JUNE MEMBER OF THE MONTH 💥

Brad Hunter 👏🏽💪🏽😎

Brad wears many hats, literally and figuratively. Along with being a member, he always volunteers his time to be a judge for the Open or local competitions. When requested, he doesn’t hesitate to teach our members tennis or put a match together for them to play. Every year, he makes goodie bags around Halloween and Christmas, for the members. He shows up to support his friends and fellow athletes for every competition. He never misses a chance to participate and dress up for holiday parties that we host (see 3rd slide). 😜 Lastly, he will be quick to listen and encourage you in your athletic journey.

Read about fitness journey…

How long have you been doing CrossFit?
🧢 I started in May 2019- first big workout I did that I remember was half Murph.

What do you like about Real Change CrossFit?
🧢 I like open gym, Saturday partner workouts, and meeting other folks who value their fitness.

What is your favorite and least favorite movement?
🧢 Favorite is toes-to-bar. Least favorite is thrusters.

What’s the “real change” you have seen since being here?
🧢 I teach and play tennis and I noticed fairly quickly my ability to change direction and move around the court got more explosive and balanced. Also I used to to work with a trainer doing Tabata assault bike sprints and one day I puked. Now, assault bike doesn’t make me puke 😁

Do you have a movement or goal you want to achieve this year?
🧢 I hurt my shoulder lifting too heavy and then re-injured it serving. So my goal is to rehab it and strengthen it and to be smarter about going too heavy under fatigue.

Brad has been an avid supporter of Real Change these past three years and we are so grateful to know him and to have him in our community! ☺️

Memorial Day 🇺🇸

This morning, we completed the Murph Hero workout in honor of Navy Lt Michael Murphy.

Today, we remember all the heroes who lost their lives fighting for our country.

“And if words cannot repay the debt we owe these men and women, surely with our actions we must strive to keep faith with them and with the vision that led them to battle and to final sacrifice."

🌼 MAY MEMBER OF THE MONTH

Fernanda Maruri 🌼

Fernanda is an open gym member but you will see her at our Saturday classes too! If you have seen, talked to, or worked out with her, you can most definitely agree that she is an inspiration in many ways. ❤️

She notices other members hard work and compliments them on their progress. She shows up to every competition that an RCC member is a part of, to cheer them on! She finished the Open last year, in the TOP 10%!! 🔥🔥

More about Fern…

❓How long have you been doing CrossFit?

🌻 6 years

❓What do you like about Real Change?

🌻 The people. They are friendly, positive, and cheer for each other

❓What is your favorite and least favorite movement?

🌻 Favorite: Ring dips. Least favorite: Thrusters & Wall balls

❓What is the “Real Change” you have seen since being here?

🌻 I’m in a better mood for the most part. (Brad may disagree 😏)

❓Do you have a movement or goal you want to achieve this year?

🌻 Skipping BMU’s and focusing on RMUs.

Fernanda is humble but fierce and we LOVE having her at Real Change! 💪🏽👏🏽

Just…WOW!! RCC showed up for this and we are just beaming with pride at our athletes and their incredible hard work! 🔥🔥🔥

Scaled teams:
Not only was this their first time ever competing, but & took 2nd place!!! 🙌🏽👏🏽💪🏽 they have been working extra hard and we love how Laurens face says it all in the second pic! 😆😍

& .chill - our dynamic duo! As britt mentioned in his story, the first competition they did, they came in last, but yesterday they got FIRST place!! They debated competing but we are so glad they did because what a story to tell of their growth and hard work! You can see how much fun they have together!🥇🙌🏽👏🏽

Intermediate team:
is a force to be reckoned with. She has been competing more in the past year and we have had the honor of watching her push and exceed her own expectations. 🥰 She partnered with .mj who says “why not” to a challenge and then absolutely dominates. He is an amazing example and inspiration in fitness and as a human!

RX team:
Check out post. We had a great time getting to know who is a coach at . Her husband competed with who you may know from the team and they ALSO took 1st place! 🥇👏🏽🙌🏽💪🏽

Thank you to all of our members that texted or showed up to support and cheer us on. Thank you for showing up to take pictures. We can’t wait to post them! And thank you for always capturing great pics/videos and being one of our biggest cheerleaders! 💙

We enjoyed being a part of a great community of athletes, spectators, and judges! It was a well run and great event! Thank you for having us ❤️