July Athlete of the Month: Jim Gehle!

If Clark Kent has his telephone booth, Jim Gehle has 3001 Bridgeway, because our July “Athlete of the Month” has a way of stepping through our doors and becoming a superhero. Where most people merely survive the grind of daily CrossFit workouts, Jim embraces it; rare is a day when he doesn’t come to CrossFit! Always ready for whatever crazy challenges the whiteboard might pose on any given day, Jim impresses us this month with his increasingly heavy lifts, effortless gymnastics movements and speedy WOD times. But even beyond class workouts, you can always find Jim putting in extra work at open gym and before or after class on his quest for better fitness — there is nothing this guy doesn’t want to improve on. He has the gains to show for it and is truly a leader in the CS community! Congratulations, Jim!

CS: When and why did you get into CrossFit?
Jim: I started CrossFit in 2011 while in Kandahar, Afghanistan. My construction office had a new OIC (Officer in Charge) rotate in, and he was the driving force behind my involvement in CrossFit. We set up a box inside of our compound on Kandahar Airfield and had equipment flown in. I really enjoyed the intensity and variety of the workouts, some of which lasted over two hours or involved wearing our body armor or gas masks during the workout for “fun.” It was a great way to relieve stress at the end of the day and build camaraderie. Upon returning to the U.S. and moving to California, one of the first things I sought out was a CrossFit gym. I came across CrossFit Sausalito and found a tight-knit community similar to what I had experienced in Afghanistan, and I have been here ever since. I love the community and friendships made here.

CS: What is your favorite thing about coming to a CrossFit class?
Jim: My favorite thing about coming to a CrossFit class is being a part of the community there. I enjoy the group workouts and encouragement, the physical challenge of trying to make a fast time, a new PR or to improve in some way, and the feeling that we are all working together to accomplish the same thing.

CS: What do you attribute your success at the gym to?
Jim: For me, success in the gym is improving without injury, which I attribute to the outstanding coaching, programming and community at Crossfit Sausalito. Making the change from 3 days a week to 5-6 days a week has also made a significant difference for me over the last 18 months.