In London one of the coaches called me a ‘CrossFit Tourist’. It made me think about how much CF has shaped my approach to travel. Admittedly I would never consider traveling without planning my drop-ins to the Crossfit boxes along my itinerary. Typically an email to the head coach is enough while some gyms insist on scheduling drop-ins in their system or signing up for daily membership. So that is how I am now a punchcard member in half a dozen boxes around the world…
Crossfit gyms are rarely located next to our offices, clients or popular tourist sights so by definition I get to meet more interesting people, fascinating parts of cities and countries I would otherwise never get to see. I made friends around the globe with people who had to sweat alongside me, shared my interests and sometimes had the best tips in local (paleo) foods. I simply would never know so much about diverse cultures if it was not for local CF athletes.
‘CrossFit Tourism’ took me to the mountain highlands of Hawaii, to Juhu Beach and the real inner city of Bombay, the largest condo complex in Hong Kong, the most fun Art Center in Munich, the real Irish quarter of Boston, the greatest city box in New York, the levees of New Orleans, the Sea Soldiers of Singapore and so much more.
I count on these journeys to keep shaping how I think of this amazing new world full of friendly, healthy, happy and athletic people.
