CrossFit KGB : What's it like?

[Above: ALS Ice Bucket Challenge at CrossFit KGB]

CrossFit Kennebunk Goshin Bodyworks

Founder: Ben Vernon

CrossFit KGB is a place of acceptance. It is my second home, for some it is their home away from home. It is a place where we all escape to and connect with people who share in our same goals. We all come to the box to work hard. We know it’s going to hurt, but we also know we will recover. We strive to be, “BETTER THAN YESTERDAY,” as stated above the doorway. Every day we compete against each other and compare numbers on the whiteboard, but even more importantly we compete with ourselves. We track our one rep max numbers for our olympic and power lifts so that each time max day comes around we know the number to beat, and not our neighbor’s but our own. For some CrossFit is a hobby, for some a lifestyle, and for some a sport, but we all agree that CrossFit helps improve our quality of life by sustaining a healthy living.

When you walk into CrossFit KGB, the signature squeal of the door and bump of your foot hitting the wooden platform acting as a welcome mat, immediately draws eyes. While mobilizing in the middle of the open room, it’s hard not to be curious when you hear the familiar sound of someone walking in. It is rare for a person to pass in or out of that single door without a “hello” or “goodbye” from as least one person in the room. The owner and coaches make a point to talk to everyone as they pass by, whether it be a quick “Hey, good to see ya!,” or a longer conversation. The world-wide CrossFit community is known for this kind of friendliness and promoting inclusion among people of all ages and sizes who want to join the sport, and that is not neglected at KGB. The positive people that make up the atmosphere at this box is what attracts and influences people into coming back again.

While the box does have air conditioning in the summer, there is a constant musty and body odor smell that lingers. I believe once you attend classes regularly you get used to it. On nice days, the front door may be left open which welcomes in flies and other bugs to be swatted at in the following days to come. Dogs are constantly wondering through CrossFit KGB and most have been well trained by their owners to sit patiently while class is going on. However on rainy days, the added odor of wet dog begins to linger amongst all the other wonderful smells. With athletes fueling up before and after class, it is not uncommon to smell spaghetti while in the middle of a sufferable workout. On special occasions athletes are instructed to complete movements that require laying on the floor. Although Coach Allyson is seen vacuuming weekly, there still remains the layer of sweat, tears, chalk, dirt, and dog hair that we all accept to lay down in for a while. Even with all of the bumps and bruises this box wears, it still feels like home to every one of it’s members, and that is why we CrossFit at CrossFit KGB.

#fitness #CrossFit #Kennebunk #Maine #health