While at work, I heard a call come in of a 2 month old baby not breathing on the 8th floor of a hotel. I was two blocks away. I had just gone through a refresher course in CPR/AED training a week prior.  I was there in seconds.

I parked and ran into the lobby. I saw the elevators were high in the building near the top floors, so the only option was to find and sprint the stairs. I could not sit there and wait while a baby, that I could help, was not breathing. I was in a wool uniform with a vest, gear, and boots and I had been sitting down for a while. None of this matters at a time like this.  What matters is I flew up the stairs as fast as I could to put myself in a position to save a baby’s life.  While I was running up the stairs I had a very familiar feeling, like I had been there before.  I had been training for this moment for years thanks to my CrossFit training.  It was very clear to me why I had been doing what I had all this time. I was not only able to sprint up the stairs quickly, but I was able to stay calm and recover my breath quickly once I reached the destination.  This allowed me to be in position to save a life with poise.

The moral of the story is, CrossFit or fitness training is not always about you.  It’s about being ready and prepared to help others.  You do not know when that day or moment will hit you and you do not know who will depend on you.  All the training you are currently doing may one day become clear to you. In that moment, will you be ready? Remember, fitness is your greatest tool. The stronger the mind, the stronger the body.