Bring A Friend Week was equal parts chaos, cardio, and community. And, honestly, it was a blast. For one whole week, members brought in friends, family, and unsuspecting coworkers to experience what we actually do in class (and why we keep coming back). The gym was busy, the energy was high, and the number of “Wait… how many reps is that?” questions was at an all-time high.
Here at CrossFit Renew, we aim to have BAF workouts be clearly designed to be on the more beginner-friendly side, while still tough enough that the regulars got a great workout in too. No one left without feeling accomplished (and extremely sweaty). Probably sore too. The best part was watching members turn into proud CrossFit parents, cheering on their friends through their first box jumps, first wall balls, and first “Why did I sign up for this?” moments. Seeing someone hit their first small win, whether it was finishing the workout or just surviving it, was a reminder of how intimidating and exciting CrossFit feels in the beginning, and just how quickly that initial intimidation can melt away.
There’s something special about suffering through a workout together. High-fives were flying, the music was hitting, and everyone felt like part of the group by the end of class. The vibe was supportive, encouraging, and just the right amount of unhinged in that “we’re all doing burpees together so this is fine” kind of way.
For the guests, we hope BAF Week was the perfect introduction to what makes this place different from a regular gym. Yes, it’s hard. Yes, you will question your life choices at some point during the WOD. But you’ll also get cheered on by people you just met and somehow leave in a better mood than when you walked in. A lot of first-timers came in nervous and left proud, and already talking about what they’d do differently “next time.”
And we do believe there is a "next time". We want all of those “just here to try it once” friends ended up signing up, because they were able to see what our members see every day: hard work, community, and growing into the best version of you. Turns out people in Austin like challenging themselves, making new friends, and doing burpees in a supportive environment (even if they complain about it loudly). We don't want BAF Week to just bring new faces into CrossFit Renew—we want it to add new members to the community, as that’s the best result we could ask for.