CrossFit NorthWest Tucson

This is a very bittersweet post… I don’t normally post much on social media anymore but this is something I need to say to all of my family and friends all over the world. It’s just easier to put it out on one place to say what I need to say. Please know this, my heart is full. And the road to new beginnings and adventures is on the horizon...

March 24th, is the last day for CrossFit NorthWest Tucson. It was not an easy decision, but my beautiful mom and I have decided that we will close our gym. We talked and cried about this decision more times than we can count. But we both know...it is time. CrossFit NorthWest Tucson was one of the first CrossFit gyms in Tucson. We were a pioneer of taking the garage and backyard gyms into a facility that we called a Box. And for that...I will always be proud.

This has been the most bittersweet journey of my life. I have met some of the most amazing people who I know will be friends for life...friends who are now family. I have watched people fall in love...including me. I wouldn’t have met the love of my life had it not been for CFNWT. I’ve been to weddings, held so many babies, got to be the one of the first people to know of engagements or babies to be born. I’ve been on the journey with so many people to weight loss goals, fitness goals, pull up goals, competition goals, personal record accomplishments, and so many other amazing moments that I will hold as dear memories in my heart. The events, fundraisers, and competitions we’ve been to and have held in our own walls will be some of my favorite moments of all. Being the owner of CrossFit NorthWest Tucson for an entire decade is something I am so proud of. Without CrossFit, I wouldn’t have had an opportunity to cross paths with so many amazing and talented people from all over the world if even for just a day.

I don’t want anyone to feel sad or sorry for this decision. Of course, I will be sad that there will be many faces I won’t see on the regular but I want people to celebrate a beautiful 10 year journey. I want this to be a blessing of this chapter coming to a close...and pardon me and please don’t take this the wrong way, but...finally we, my mom and I, can close this chapter. This post is one of happiness to move on and to move forward. Someone messaged me, “life’s sweet don’t come without the sour”… and as much as I will focus on the sweet parts of this journey, many of you understand the bitter and the sour that was endured.

Many of you know that I went back to teaching. A decision I made last fall because I knew that a change needed to happen at our gym and being a mom of 3 amazing and beautiful daughters, I needed to make sure that I had my plan B in place. The best possible scenario happened because of the time we held on to the gym when there were many spots along the way when we should have closed our doors. Trust me, we knew the writing was on the wall. We were dealt a series of unfortunate events. But any moment sooner and the fate of our gym would be different. There was a reason that we fought as we did, until we did, and why we did regardless of how anyone felt about what was obviously happening. Some people were on the side of...don’t give up, fight for your dream, have faith it will all work out. Some people were on the side of...close the doors. We were caught somewhere in the middle. And it took all the days and all the tears and all the struggles for us to get to this point where we will walk away knowing we did all that we could for as long as we could. And most importantly, we know why and who we did it for.

I need to give the greatest shout out to the CFNWT coaches and members who stood and will stand by our sides until the very last day. You road this ship with us all the way to the end and that puts you all in such a place in my heart...loyalty, integrity, trust and strength you gave to our gym and faith in humanity you gave to me, personally. To all my friends and loved ones who lent me their shoulder to cry my tears on, lent me their ears to scream my frustrations and the brains to help me come up with an action plans for what’s next, I would not be here today without you. You know who you are...and I love you.

One of our coaches is going to start his own business, a Barbell Club and a CrossFit Gym inside our facility. We wish James Heirs, Murphy’s CrossFit gym and Murphy’s Barbell Club great success. We couldn’t be happier to hear of his plans and how he plans to keep a legacy of CFNWT in the walls of his new business.

My CrossFit days are not over. I will enjoy being on the other side of class now. I’m going to take a little time off for me but I look forward to seeing you in another fitness journey...

Love, Jennifer