New Year Reflections From Coach Jimmy

2025 was a whirlwind of a year. My baby girl turned 3, my dad’s health took a nasty turn to shitville, and I would be losing my job…

Well, kind of.

For 8 years, I had a role at Train. First as a part-time coach, then a full-time coach, and eventually becoming the Head Coach and Community Manager. Things sure can change fast. On August 1st, I became the owner of CrossFit Train.

When I heard the news that Brooke (our previous owner) was moving to California and wanted to sell the gym to me, you might be surprised by my initial response:

I couldn’t possibly afford it.
What the hell does ownership look like?
I’m too much of a people pleaser to be a boss.
I couldn’t fill Brooke’s shoes.
I was scared.

Real feelings, and all of them, in hindsight, were valid.

But yes, I was able to buy the gym. I still couldn’t really tell you what ownership looks like. I am still a people pleaser, and proud of it. I’ll never fill Brooke’s shoes, and that is okay. And fuck yeah, I’m scared every day.

To get over that fear, I remind myself of the incredible community I now get to lead. Not just a strong business built by one of my best friends, but a community built at its foundation by the best collective of people on Earth.

I’ll start with my staff.

It is hard to be a peer to someone who later becomes your boss. I was so worried the team would run for the hills, look for other opportunities, or just quit when Brooke left. After all, we grew so much under her, and everything we knew was built from the ground up, literally the ground of a garage in Berkeley Park, Brooke’s home garage. How could I live up to that standard for these guys? At the six-month point, the thing that reassures me most about the leap of faith I made into ownership is the trust I have from my staff. I am so grateful for Abby, Mike, and Emma, as well as our recent team additions, Matt and Taylor. On August 1, 2025, they dove right in with me like it was just another day. They were sad about the changes, for sure. But when I say Train is still thriving, it’s because of how strong this team is. And that is something I do not take for granted.

Our incredible members make up the rest of this “best collective on Earth.”

When we say we bring the right people into the gym, we truly mean it. We screen for this. We have people who are hungry, humble, and happy. People who cheer for others like they are family. People who show up for each other inside and outside of the gym like family. People who trust us to make them better movers and better humans. My best memories at Train, across my now nine-year journey, have always been watching people take what they’ve learned in the gym and apply it to real-life victories. Whether that’s climbing a mountain for the first time, completing a race, or simply showing up as a stronger parent for their families.

I believe the future of Train is strong as we continue to empower you to move better, feel stronger, and reach your goals both inside and outside of the gym.

My promise moving forward is to continue holding this standard and to remain my true, authentic self. For those of you who don’t know me well, that means being a family-first person who loves his wife and daughter more than pull-ups and power cleans, but who truly loves the pursuit of self-betterment through education in best health practices, social connection, and fitness (primarily CrossFit, mountain biking, and hiking). And I truly want to share every ounce of that with you. 

I care deeply about how you feel and value your feedback as we continue improving the community as a whole. I may be a “people pleaser,” but that label often overlooks the strength beneath it: a genuine capacity for empathy, collaboration, and making others feel seen. Qualities I truly believe are a powerful advantage, not a weakness.