Barbells, brews, being together
Published 10:55 am Thursday, September 13, 2018
Chase Brown, left, prepares to undertake the Bacon, Barbells and Brews event with Logan, Addison and Jennifer Tobias. (Photo by Emily Hollingsworth)
Jaren Hollandsworth, middle, stands with parents Lisa and Jeff, who participated in the Bacon, Barbells and Brews event with him. (Photo by Emily Hollingsworth)
Sarah Wilkins, Jared Lineberry and Krystle Forlines share fellowship and a few brews during the Bacon, Barbells and Brews event. (Photo by Emily Hollingsworth)
Chris and Aleana McClellan prepare to partner up on the Bacon, Barbells and Brews event, carrying weights on a 2-mile stretch of the High Bridge Trail. With them is their dog, Annie. (Photo by Emily Hollingsworth)
Terry Greene and Tara McDaniel take a short break after dragging a weight sled through the High Bridge Trail Sunday. (Photo by Emily Hollingsworth)
Between 40 to 50 people gathered at the portion of the High Bridge Trail behind Merk’s Place and prepared to carry barbells, kettle bells and drag weight sleds for the nearly 2-mile distance to Third Street Brewing Sunday. The event, organized by CrossFit High Bridge, looked to provide a somewhat different and somewhat fun way to introduce CrossFit to the wider community, while also dispelling some of the stereotypes related to the exercise program.
To view more photos of the event, click here.
Participants partnered up. For those carrying barbells across the High Bridge Trail, the partners would take turns carrying the barbell while the other checks their surroundings and makes sure the carrying partner is OK.
Participants were given instructions on proper posture and how to safely pick up and drop the weights.
Barbells, or weights attached to a long bar, ranged in weight from 65 with the heaviest being 135 pounds.
Participants also dragged weight sleds, or weights attached to a rope that people pulled.
Their end goal was Third Street Brewing, where participants enjoyed live music, beers and an assortment of treats made with bacon, including bacon-wrapped jalapenos and even a bacon-covered cake, made to celebrate the birthday of one of the CrossFit High Bridge members.
CrossFit High Bridge Founder Kimberly Mina said if anyone would have told her five years ago that she would not only start doing CrossFit, but also open a CrossFit studio of her own, she would have said there was no way.
She described herself as someone who did not exercise and did not know what a burpee was.
She didn’t enjoy her first experience with CrossFit, but was encouraged to give it a three-month trial.
Mina said she took the three months, and had not stopped.
“I wanted something that can bring the community together,” Mina said.
Most importantly, Mina said she hopes CrossFit High Bridge will dispel the misconception that only very fit people participate or benefit from CrossFit.
She said participants ranged in age from their 60s and 70s to her teenage son, who carried a barbell during the event.
Carolyn Babb, who is in her early 70s, participates with CrossFit High Bridge and carried weights with her daughter, Tonya Rowe, along High Bridge. She said the program has improved her health, bone strength and balance.
CrossFit is described as constantly varied functional movements performed at high intensity. Lucas Martin, a representative of CrossFit High Bridge, said the regimen is based on exercises that is meant to represent actions people might do on a daily basis. He equated some of the exercises to what people who work in construction may perform.
Mina said there are other CrossFit High Bridge participants who have been able to improve health issues such as sleep apnea through the program
