I was an active kid and a three-sport athlete throughout high school.  Back then, staying in shape was easy… I just played.  Heading into college, I wouldn’t say I put on the “freshman fifteen”, but fitness was all of a sudden a lot more focused on trying to look good for the summer than it was on being ready for athletic performance.  Unfortunately, that motivation didn’t last very long, and after graduating from college I effectively spent my 20′s getting out of shape.  Around the time my wife and I had our first daughter, I headed back to the gym and participated in the typical globo-gym experience… 3 days a week, a little weights, a little cardio, very little results.  This really came to light when I was chasing my daughter around on the floor and was getting winded.  I thought “wait a minute.  I go to the gym.  I work out.  I do the stuff I see on the magazines.  This isn’t supposed to happen.”  Since timing is everything it worked out well that around that time a friend happened to mention this crazy workout that another friend made him try.  He said to go check out crossfit.com.  I looked up the site that night, fumbled my way through my first CrossFit workout the next day, and I was immediately hooked.  Over the few years since then I started working out with a small group of friends, obtained my CrossFit certifications, and opened Champaign-Urbana’s first CrossFit affiliate.  I love this stuff.  I love what it can do for people.  I love seeing the look in someone’s eye when they “get it”… when they realize THIS is what they’ve been missing… that THIS is what real fitness is all about.