by: Jeremy Thiel

In 2005 the fitness industry was changing. I could sense it and was and I was ready to get involved. The kettlebell community was growing rapidly on the net and a lot of heavy hitters were in the Dragon Door circle. At that time, I was searching. Searching for something that was for “me”. I loved kettlbells but also loved running, triathlons and lifting heavy weights. Kettlebell centric training didn’t completely fulfill my desire for multiple domains of fitness. When I found CrossFit, I immediately knew it was for me. The sport of fitness seemed to couple all the modes of training with the opportunity of a new growing community. After 6 years of amazing growth, I want to highlight some of my personal watershed moments within Crossfit.

1. Summer of 2005: I was introduced to Crossfit via an email from my life long friend Lance Cantu (current Crossfit HQ training staff) while on deployment as a US Marines. I remember that first email so clearly, Lance had sent me a CrossFit manifesto written by Greg Glassman – Fitness in a 100 words. Nutrition – Lean meat, vegetables, fruit, seeds nuts little starches no sugar…  I was intrigued but didn’t completely understand the Crossfit.com website. That November, in Golden Colorado, after reviewing the Level 1 certification (which was a three day 2 WOD’s a day weekend packed with content) I quickly decided that I was ALL IN! Back then, all of the Crossfit celebs attended the certs. Coach Glassman, Coach Rut, Coach Burguner, Annie Sacamoto Nicole Carrol Eva T, Dan John, Greg Amudson, Josh Everett, Tony Budding. It was a beautiful and amazing time in the history of Crossfit. I knew that Crossfit was going to take the world by storm and I wanted to be apart of the revolution!
2. Fall of 2006: I received a call from Scot Zagarino, founder of Sports Grants and the Fight Gone Bad fundraiser event. He asked Crossfit Central to host the FGB I in Austin, Tx. Carey and I had been an affiliate for 11 months and had only run outdoor Boot Camps up to this point. Hosting FGB I was going to be an adventure for us and we were up to it! We hosted the event at Busby’s personal training studio where Carey trained her private clients. We had 35 people come out and raised $3,500.00. It was exciting to come together as a community and raise money for a cause. We were inexperienced at the time, but Carey and I didn’t question hosting the event. We felt then, as we do now, that it is was our responsibility as a part of the Crossfit community.
3. Summer of 2007: The first annual Crossfit Games were posted online. Crossfit Central Head Trainer, Michael Gregory and I registered online, booked our flights and were ready for an adventure! The weekend would be one that would forever change my life. Competitors James Fitzgerald, Chris Spealer, Josh Everett, Peter Edged(spelling), AFT, Russ Green, were all in attendance. You ever have those moments, where in a split second your entire perception change? That split second for me that changed everything was right before the final Total James, Josh and AFT were getting ready to deadlift and getting physiqued up. I was thinking “holly crap these guys are serious”. I went there to have fun and they were there to WIN. I left the 2007 games with my sights set on winning the 2008 Crossfit Games.
4. Summer of 2011: The Crossfit games moved from The Ranch in Aromas  to The Home Depot Center in Los Angalos and signed a 10 year contract with Reebok. My wife, Lisa Bender Thiel, Sister, Carey Kepler, Lindsey Smith, close family friend, are competing in the Crossfit Games as professional athletes. SICFIT is a platinum sponsor of the Crossfit Games and hosting SICNights (the unofficial after party of the Crossfit Game). There were over 1000+ in attendance at the after party. The crossfit games had grown up and was getting ready to reach the masses when aired in September via a series on ESPN 2. Watching the fist airing on ESPN2 left me in tears realizing what I had been apart of building from the early days.
5. Fall 2011: Trinity Training Systems LLC reaches 900 members with 4 Crossfit affiliates in the Austin Metro area Crossfit Central, Crossfit Central ATX, Red Black Crossfit, Trigger Point Crossfit and Relentless Boot Camps. The success has brought leadership development to the forefront of our affiliate business training system, Garage Gym Blueprint. GGBP has trained over 60+ affiliates across the country. Such success leads us to our first International business training seminar with Real Biz Europe. A team of 7 travel to Crossfit Clitheroe in England to teach 30+ affiliates from all across Europe about our experience in running successful Crossfit Affiliates and creating the Global Voice of a community.
6. Fall 2011: Fight Gone Bad 6 has reached new heights in fundraising. The goal was to raise  3 million dollars in funds raised for Special operation warriors, Crossfit non profit, and Patriot Camps for wounded warriors. Crossfit Central joined 13+ affiliates with 400 participants in the Crossfit Community to raise over $85,000 for the collective cause. Greta Scott Zagarino founders of Sports Grants have chosen Austin Tx and Crossfit Central to host FGB6. The event attracts National News and NBC aires the recap 5 days after highlighting Major Dan Blackman who raised $15,000 while being deployed in Iraq. Once again the community has outdone itself. but knew more is possible.

In six years Crossfit has become a global fitness phenomenon. I am proud to be apart of amazing community that has the ability to change the face of the planet. In six years an amazing amount of momentum has been created. More then ever before Crossfit Central is committed and dedicated to creating excellence in leadership in the community. Our commitment is to empower crossfit leaders all around the globe with tools to step up and lead.

That is all.

JT