Customer of the MonthDecember

Will Dodgen

Will is living proof of the transformative power of CrossFit and the Terminus community. Get to know Will here, and make sure you say hello to him next time you're at the gym!

Q: How long have you been going to Terminus? What changes have you seen in yourself (physically or mentally) since beginning CrossFit?

So I’m coming up on 2 years at Terminus and honestly can’t believe how the time’s flown. I’ve seen countless changes in myself both mentally and physically. I first decided to come because I wanted to be coached, and knew my personal workout regime wasn’t pushing myself hard enough. I wanted to be challenged! After 2 years I can honestly say I’m in the best shape of my life. I’ve always been active and worked out a ton, playing sports and what not, but nothing has come close to how I feel when I look in the mirror from crossfit. I’ve never been a big guy and I’ve seen myself bulk more, my legs feel actually muscular, and my chest feels broader. I feel a lot of changes can seem small, but they are HUGE to me, and things I’ve been trying to improve on for years but never saw results until I came to Terminus. But also, my mental health has been the biggest improvement since joining the gym. I found myself in a sort of depression a few moments out of the last 2 years, and going to the gym was definitely the number one cure for my anxiety. I’d say physically and emotionally, Terminus has allowed me to become more of the person I want to be.

Q: How has Terminus helped you outside the gym? 

Dang I feel like I could ramble on about how Terminus has helped me outside the gym (Emotional regulation, confidence in who I am, friendships/relationships). But I’d have to say helping me deal with my anxiety has been the top one. There would be days I would feel like I was paralyzed by anxiety and I couldn’t accomplish anything, but I knew that if I just got to the gym, got myself in the building, my coaches would do the rest. In those times of anxiousness I’d leave the gym with a new sense of confidence and pride in who I was!

Q: Who inspires you at the gym, and how do they inspire you?

I have 2 answers to this… First off my roommates (Josh and Bryson) who attend regularly as well (and who I convinced to join Terminus haha). Every day I ask how they did in the workout, how it was, what was fun, what was hard, and we all celebrate our accomplishments and growth! I started before both of them but once they got in the gym they took OFF, and I definitely feel like some days I’m playing catch up to them but it’s all good competition! We push each other and celebrate each and every win or PR. They keep me coming back to the gym even when it’s hard. There have been multiple conversations with Bryson where I told him I wasn’t going, I felt lazy, anxious or just like I couldn’t do it. And he’d encourage me, and push me (sometimes drag me haha) to just show up, and I always came out better for it!
Second is the coaches, because honestly everyone of you is awesome and keeps me moving and inspired! (Yall should check out Sonya’s 1 on 1 classes, that will for sure inspire you)

Q: What is something that we may not know about you?

Me and Bryson actually have a few songs on spotify (Bryson has a lot more than me… he’s the talent honestly) that we have written together. It’s something we like to do every now and then, just hang out, drink and write music. Look Bryson Eller up on spotify!!!

Q: Any advice for someone considering trying Terminus for the first time? 

Just get in the building! It can seem daunting sometimes because of the high intensity. But ever since I’ve joined I’ve found that if I can just show up, my coaches will help me figure out the rest. The movements that might scare me, or the weight I don’t think I can lift, they got you! Also make some friends, because the community is by far the best part about Terminus. And bring your friends because working out with people you do life with is one of the best decisions you can make.
Also watch what you eat before a workout… stay away from spicy food.

Q: What are your top 3 memories at Terminus?

1) Sappy alert, but the car rides to and from the workouts with my roommate Bryson will always be special to me. Super fun to workout with some of your best friends.
2) Teaching the first ever Terminus “spin class.” Still waiting to be hired on a permanent basis! haha
3) Our first Terminus happy hour during COVID me Bryson and Sirena logged on together and we all had such a blast and felt like we connected with the community. We logged off so grateful for our gym and the support we had even through the pandemic!

Q: What’s your proudest accomplishment?

At the gym? Getting a muscle up. In life, I’m just proud of where I am in life and the people I’ve surrounded myself with. Community is everything.

Q: Moving forward, do you have any short term or long term training goals?

Nutrition for sure. I feel really good about going to the gym and where I’m at physically. But I think that the next step in my fitness journey is to stop eating out so much and cut back on eating… well whatever I want haha.

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