How Train Became Her Constant in Denver

I moved to Denver 8 years ago when I got a job with the fire department. (To the day actually. Fun fact: I got my anniversary email from work while I was writing this.)

Between the altitude and the intensity of academy and probation, that first year was pretty tough physically. I had worked to get in good shape before then, but I wanted to get better—to where things were less of a struggle instead of just being able to get through them.

CrossFit had been suggested to me, but I was always too intimidated to try it and worried about getting hurt. I found Train right after I got off probation, when I had more time to try it and was less afraid of getting hurt. It ended up being one of the best decisions.

The community was so welcoming even when I felt like I had no idea what I was doing. There was no pressure to be at a certain level. And there was understanding on the mornings I come off long shifts and I’m just there to get some movement in before I crash from exhaustion.

I love the functional movements and how so much directly translates to work. From lifting patients to throwing ladders, I’ve often said most of my job is just moving heavy things.

This gym and community have helped me through so many things throughout the years. At times I was busy with sports and making it in just enough to help stay in shape for those. Other times I was making it in more consistently and enjoying being able to hit PRs.

But the biggest times I’m thankful for are when I hit some low points and was struggling through injuries and knee surgery. Train continued to be the one consistent thing in my life.

For 2 months after my surgery I wasn’t allowed to bend my knee. I couldn’t play sports, which was most of my social life. I was off work and I couldn’t drive. I would have gone crazy being stuck in my house if it wasn’t for good friends like Tiff giving me a ride to the gym, being able to see all the friends here, and coaches being willing to find me something to do every day.

And no—my injuries have not been from CrossFit like I once feared. Just work and life. Instead, CrossFit has been the thing that has made me stronger and better able to recover from injuries.

So for me, CrossFit may have started as a way to get stronger for work, and while that is a nice result of it, Train is so much more than that for me now.

Megan Larson (aka Firefighter Megan)