Justin Cotler

We went all out for Jaxson’s 6th birthday today. Homemade Oreo cake, brand new Nintendo Switch, Adventuredome Theme Park, his own Cyber Truck for the day (ok, I also had a lot of fun with that. 😂), and a sushi feast for dinner. And why the hell not?! You only turn 6 once!!!

Love you Jaxie Boy! Hope you loved your birthday!! 🎂🎉🥳

Happy birthday to Ash. It feels a little ironic writing this from a hospital bed while she’s at home doing what she always does holding everything together. Taking care of the kids, working two jobs, managing a full bathroom renovation, bringing me food and clothes, and somehow still showing up with patience and love. Her capacity is limitless. She’s the glue of this family, the steady hand when things feel chaotic, and the reason our home runs the way it does. I don’t say it enough, but I’m endlessly grateful for her, and so are our kids. We are unbelievably lucky to have her, and I’m even luckier to call her my wife. ❤️

My babygirl is 9 today. No one inspires or amazes me more than you, Ives. Loving a daughter as a dad is almost impossible to explain. It’s like your heart decided to live outside your body, walking around in the world with a smile, a laugh, and a mind of its own. You want to protect her from everything, but also let her chase everything. You’re strong because of her, softer because of her, and better because of her. Watching her grow isn’t just a privilege, it’s the greatest responsibility and the greatest joy I’ve ever known. Happy birthday Ivy. I love you!!

The launch of HWPO Individual has been nothing short of inspiring. From day one, we’ve heard stories of resilience, comebacks, and athletes fighting through obstacles most people never see.

The consultation calls have been nonstop, athletes from all over the world reaching out, hungry to work, hungry to level up, hungry to find out what they’re truly capable of with the right team behind them.

Behind the scenes, our HWPO coaches have been grinding. Programming, reviewing, adjusting, connecting. Every rep and every plan built with purpose. It takes the entire crew to make this machine move, and everyone is locked in on raising the standard.

The momentum is real. The hunger is real. And we’re just getting started.

What a weekend at the Rogue Invitational. My first major competition as part of the HWPO family — and man, it felt good to be part of a crew again. The support, the camaraderie, the coaches working together for the collective good of our athletes… we’re building something special, and it’s only going to get stronger from here.

Alex finishing second after everything she’s been through these past five months is nothing short of miraculous. Most people don’t understand the mental and physical toll her accident took. The pain, the uncertainty, the grind to get back. To already be on the podium, against a field this stacked, says everything you need to know about who she is and how dangerous she’s going to be in the future.

Manon is a warrior. Coaching her is an honor, and while the leaderboard didn’t reflect everything we wanted, the growth she’s made in the last several months is undeniable. Her discipline, grit, and heart make her an inspiration for all who get to be around her.

Events like Rogue remind me how lucky I am to do what I do — to coach, to learn, to grow alongside people who give everything they have. Couldn’t be prouder of this team.

10 years…

Ash asked me today, if I could choose, would I do it all again?

No hesitation. In a heartbeat.

Every laugh, every cry, every challenge, every memory… all of it, all over again, with her. ❤️

Vermont delivered on every level.

A week filled with hard work, great conversations, and even better people. Watching Alex grind alongside Mat and the HWPO crew was inspiring. Every detail mattered, every rep had purpose.

But what made it truly special were the moments outside of training, time with Mat, O’Keefe, and Sammy, dinners with the kids running around, laughs shared with the HWPO family and the incredible community at the gym.

It’s weeks like this that remind me why we do it. It’s not just about building athletes, it’s about building relationships, culture, and family.

Grateful for the work, the people, and the shared pursuit of something bigger. ❤️

I’m not gonna lie to you. This week was a tough one.

Alex was in a serious car accident. And while it could have been much worse, the reality is, the rest of her season is in jeopardy.

And honestly… it’s hit me hard.

Over the last 5 years, I’ve watched athlete after athlete I’ve coached be right there… on the verge.
Primed to do something special at the CrossFit Games, only for something out of their control, or a freak accident, to rip the rug out.

In 2021, Bethany and Kari got COVID and missed the Games. Both were potential podium finishers.

In 2023, it was Ricky, primed to win, with his shoulder injury.

And now, this season, it’s Alex.

And of course, on the personal side, my daughter Ivy’s battle with IGA Nephropathy has put life in real perspective.

You want to be mad at the world. You want to throw your hands up and say, “What the hell else?”

But here’s the truth. The brutal truth.

Life is just hard.

It’s hard stacked on hard stacked on hard.

And if you’re not good at the hard,
if you can’t endure it, learn from it, battle through it, you’re never gonna be around long enough to experience the good. The special moments that are so much more impactful because of the hard.

So this post isn’t about giving up.
It’s not about the setback.

It’s about how we respond.

It’s about how we keep showing up, heartbroken, tired, sad, angry, and still find a way to fight.

Because that’s what this life demands.
And that’s what we do.

So this week has been a good reminder. Handle the hard well. And that’s what I plan to do.

This past weekend at the Northern California Classic, two of the athletes I coach, Alex and Shannon, won their respective divisions.

For Alex, it means a return ticket to the CrossFit Games in August. Another step in what I believe is her journey to the very top of the sport.

But as proud as I am of the performances, what hit me harder was the vibe of the weekend.

It felt like old school CrossFit.
Outdoors. Gritty. Raw.
All about effort, community, and love for the process.

Were there hiccups? Yeah. But what outweighed all of it was the nostalgia, that “backyard throw down” feeling.

It reminded me of 2010 Regionals in a parking lot in Albany. Just athletes grinding and a community cheering for each other.

We’ve lost some of that.

And this weekend felt like a long-overdue reminder of what really matters.

What made it even more special personally, Ashley and the kids were with me.

They rarely get to travel with me to competitions, but this one allowed for it.
And for Ivy and Jax to experience this kind of CrossFit community firsthand? That meant everything.

I walked away from this weekend proud of the wins, but even more grateful for the why.

In May of last year, I got an email from a 13-year-old named Tahlia Vosaki.

She told me it had been her dream since she was 8 years old to compete at the CrossFit Games as a teen.

She didn’t ask for shortcuts. She asked for coaching.

And ever since that day, she’s shown up with discipline, heart, humility, grit, and desire…every single session.

This past weekend, Tahlia stood on top of the podium at the Torian Pro, her first major competition win.

And next up? The CrossFit Games.

She qualified in the 14–15-year-old division, and I could not be more proud of the work she’s done to get there.

Tahlia is everything that’s right about this sport.
Hard-working. Coachable. Grounded. No drama.

She’s earned every bit of this moment—and it’s just the beginning.

Let’s go, 👊🏻!!!