Chloe's courage, humor, humility, and charity represent the qualities that truly make our community special.
Q: How long have you been going to Terminus? What changes have you seen in yourself (physically or mentally) since joining?
At the start of 2019 I was diagnosed with a blood cancer and it knocked me sideways. Overnight pretty much everything changed for me. I spent 2019 trying to understand what it meant, getting used to the medication that knocked me out and added to my growing fatigue. My ‘ah ha’ moment came this time last year in 2020 when I realized I needed to get active and fit again if this body was going to deal with my illness and get me through the next 30 years or so. I knew of Terminus as I regularly drove past the gym so I contacted Ben and set up an intro lesson. I have been coming 3-4 times a week almost regularly since then. This is the most committed I’ve ever been to a place and to my health and the changes are noticeable. While I’ll never lift the heaviest, I’m lifting heavier and heavier each time. I’ll never be the fastest but I push myself to finish within time. I’ll never be the most flexible but my squats are pretty deep, and I’ll never like burpees but I do them. Terminus has made me want to get better for myself and that is a new feeling for me.
Q: How has your journey at Terminus helped you outside the gym?
Getting physically stronger means I can now do things I enjoy without getting tired too quickly. I remember the first time I kept up with my husband in unloading 30 bags of mulch. I matched him bag for bag up the driveway. Before Terminus I would not have been able to have moved more than about 4 without having to quit. That was one of my proudest moments, knowing that getting strong meant I could live life. It’s helped me in other ways too, I’m more comfortable in my body, I like the way it is slowly changing shape and showing the world what it can do.
Q: Who inspires you at the gym, and how do they inspire you?
Everyone who turns up regardless of all the other family, work and mental pressures that we all face. The 7am and 8am classes, these are full of fun, kind and talented people (who also bring a slightly world-weary sarcasm
Q: How would you describe what it’s like to be a part of Terminus?
I am part of a group of people who don’t necessarily take themselves seriously but take their fitness very seriously and that means people are open and friendly and supportive of each other’s goals and are always happy for someone else’s success.
Q: Tell us about your first day of class at Terminus.
Patrick and squats. Bear in mind I had not exercised in almost 2 years, I was the original ‘couch to cross-fit’ candidate. I couldn’t walk the next day but I remember that I loved the class, Patrick and the others made it so welcoming (and it is scary turning up unfit to Cross-Fit)
Q: What is something that we may not know about you?
I have lived and worked on 4 continents, and I became an American citizen in April
Q: What are your top 3 memories or proudest moments in CrossFit?
Hitting triple digits for a back squat. Shaving 40secs off a 2km row the second time I did it and having enough grip strength to finally be able to hang off the bar
Q: Moving forward, do you have any short term or long term goals in the gym?
Yes lots! Now I can hang from the bar, I want to work on pull ups – it’s the old lack of upper body strength for me. If this time next year I can execute some decent looking pull ups I will be over the moon.