I had been battling a knee injury off and on since I was 18 years old. When I turned 53 my knee injury once again came to visit me, but as I was getting older, each time I re-injured my knee the recovery period was longer, slower and more discouraging. I had always been a runner, not a marathoner (but I did successfully complete one triathlon which was a goal of mine), but a jogger or maybe even a shuffler. I loved getting up at 5:00 in the morning and bundling up in my winter duds and going out for my morning jog with my dogs. After my jog I would stretch on our front sidewalk with the snow piled up high on either side of the sidewalk. I always would gaze up at the constellation “Orion” and wish he would disappear under the horizon which would tell me of the coming of spring. These were great days – days that made me feel renewed and invigorated and gave me the energy to enjoy my lovely kindergarten students. The next knee injury came. This time I was told I had arthritis in my knee and that I could never run again and that I would need a knee replacement and they could put me on the list. I was devastated. My knee wasn’t healing, in fact it was starting to get worse and I was starting to drag my leg because it hurt to pick up my knee when going through a normal walking stride. Now I couldn’t even walk further than my car in a parking lot to the store. I was living this life for probably 3 years and no physiotherapist or massage or anything was helping it to improve.

One day at the lake my girlfriend and lake neighbour Nancy walked down to my cottage with a flyer. Nancy has always been a very fit person and has always embraced the philosophy of finding a way to heal oneself. Nancy is 9 years my senior and is just fabulously fit. What she handed me was a flyer to join a CrossFit group. The important part of the flyer, according to Nancy was the person who was running the class. Her name was Megan Maes and Nancy told me that she thought this class would help me to recover some strength in my knees and legs and my whole body generally. I don’t know what made me decide to sign up. Maybe I was just so sick and tired of my constant struggles with my body. I think what really sealed the deal for me was that Nancy assured me that Megan would keep me safe and that I wouldn’t get injured, and I would benefit from the experience. So, I signed up for one 12 week session. Classes ran twice a week. I arrived at the CrossFit gym and before I could even start thinking about how out of place I felt, Megan was there, shaking my hand and asking me a little bit about myself and the goals that I wanted to achieve and how she felt we could attain those goals. I could have hugged her. There was no doubt in her voice, no sideways glances at this overweight middle-aged woman standing in front of her. Megan did not waste time. Her warm ups reflected the

exercises that we would be working on during the hour workout. She taught how each movement should be executed. She was present and involved during every single class I have ever had with her. I have learned all the terms of CrossFit and the acid test was after 20 weeks of working out with Megan I went to Maui and I joined a CrossFit gym so I wouldn’t lose all that I had gained during my sessions with Megan. I was nervous about joining a gym where everyone looks like they are 17 years old and are the “beautiful” people of the world. I learned that the CrossFit community is awesome. Back to my story of Megan’s impact on my life. I am walking up to 3 miles a day, I can even run for short distances, something that I thought would never be a possibility for me. My arms have muscle definition, I like wearing sleeveless shirts once again. My overall health has improved both physically and mentally. Megan has created a community of kindness, encouragement, support and most importantly the desire to be the best one can be. Megan saved me spiritually, physically and mentally. She has brought me to a place in my life that I thought I would never see again, the fountain of youth. If you work hard Megan will get you there.

The following is a list of things that makes Megan an awesome CrossFit coach and person:

• Always a great warm up
• Inclusive – it is a place where I can bring my 22 and 24 year old children and we can work out together and all get a great workout.
• Attention to detail – Megan will make sure your form is always 100% correct
• Encouragement – you will always be pushed just as far as possible. Megan has more faith in what you can accomplish than you do yourself.
• Skill time is always fun and challenging. I like that the next day you can feel that your muscles have been worked out and it is a great feeling.
• Modification – any exercise in CrossFit can be modified to make it easier or to help you start off with small steps leading to a big accomplishment.

• One on one – Megan makes time at the end of class to answer questions and give ideas on how to move forward, stretch out certain troublesome muscles, and ideas for home workouts.
• Home workouts – I love my travel workouts that Megan made for me to keep me in shape while I am travelling. All I have to pack are a selection of bands.

• Challenge – Megan gives weekly challenges for at home. These challenges could be anything from diet, mindfulness, websites to visit, or home fitness.
• Megan`s knowledge base – it’s not all CrossFit. She is a very learned person and she is comfortable sharing her wealth of knowledge and ideas to inspire, inform and assist her clients to be the best they can be.
• Fun – I can’t wait to get to my CrossFit classes – It is a fabulous community.

I was recently invited out to join a volleyball group after not playing for 30 years. I enjoyed myself immensely. The only reason I was able to do this was the level of fitness I have achieved working with Megan.

Thank you Megan!