Thinking CrossFit Was for Younger Guys
Carl has been doing CrossFit for about 10 years, but he still remembers when he wasn’t sure it was for him.
“I would pass a CrossFit gym always thinking this was a place for guys half my age.”
At the time, Carl was training at a traditional gym and had hit a bit of a fitness plateau. He was looking for a change and, in his words, “a good kick forward.”
Walking Through the Door
Eventually, he worked up the courage to walk through the door- and he hasn’t looked back since.
Carl joined Outlaw over three and a half years ago, after a fantastic 35-year career as an air traffic controller in Toronto. He originally retired during COVID in 2020, decided the timing wasn’t quite right, went back for another two years, and officially retired again in 2023.
These days, life looks a little different.
Training for Life Outside the Gym
His time is filled with CrossFit, pickleball, gardening, travel, the odd winery, and most importantly, time with his wife Doreen and their five grandchildren.
For Carl, training has never just been about what happens inside the gym.
Outlaw gave him the coaching he was looking for to improve his lifting technique and keep collecting small wins.
“I will be 65 next month and am so proud of some of the movements I can do.”
He’s also become comfortable with the fact that there may be some movements he never gets.
“Certain more advanced movements like muscle ups might never happen, and I am alright with that.”
What matters more is what his fitness allows him to do outside the gym.
Carl wants to be able to get down on the floor with his grandchildren, roughhouse with them, play soccer and explore nature together.
Those are the moments he trains for.
Fitness has also allowed Carl and Doreen to keep exploring the world together. He has hiked to Everest Base Camp and even managed to convince Doreen to travel with him to Tibet, although he admits that one “was not her first choice.”
“You cannot accomplish those things without some level of fitness.”
Fit at 65 and Still Exploring
As Carl gets ready to turn 65, his perspective on training is pretty simple.
Staying fit becomes even more important as you age.
And if someone is standing outside a CrossFit gym wondering whether they belong inside, Carl has some advice.
“Don’t fear that CrossFit gym door. It is a fitness program that, when scaled properly, is for every age and fitness level.”
Walking through that door all those years ago ended up becoming one of the most important moments in Carl’s fitness journey.