Maggie La Rocque

“The community at CrossFit Morgantown is rare. For me, it was life-saving. …What I can say, however, is that the opportunity to find such a gift, while also taking care of fitness and health, is priceless.” 

How long have you been a member at CrossFit Morgantown?

I was a member of CrossFit Morgantown for a year while I lived in West Virginia, and I’m so excited to have re-joined virtually four days ago!

Why did you join?

Sean Leiseth (a member) was the first person I met at the box, and he was so welcoming, especially when I was so shy. He also lowered my fears about the level of fitness I had to reach when I first arrived. He introduced me to Jeff (CFM owner), who said that he and and his wife, Sarah, were the Morgantown welcoming committee and made me feel at home from the start. 

What do you love most about CFM? / What keeps you coming back each month?

I love and miss the community. There were so many days when I went to the box just because I knew I would see my people there. 

“I spent the year in my chaplain residency exploring my trauma history and, as I spent more time at CrossFit Morgantown, I began to connect to my body again. I began to learn that I could listen to it again and trust it, and that it could do way more than I had previously thought. That one thing—beginning to reconnect to my body—has given me increased confidence in far more areas of my life than just fitness. “

4)  What is your current occupation? And/or what are some hobbies, clubs, groups, or activities you participate in?   

I am a hospice chaplain, and I love cooking, photography, and hiking in our local park. 

5)  Who inspires you? 

So many people, but especially those who have taken the time to engage in personal growth (whether physical, emotional, spiritual, financial, etc.) and have the humility to encourage those around them to do the same and love those people whether they are ready for that growth or not. 

6)  How has improved fitness impacted your life? 

This doesn’t seem directly fitness-related, but it is one of the most unexpected gifts that has come out of a fitness journey that started at CrossFit Morgantown. I spent the year in my chaplain residency exploring my trauma history and, as I spent more time at CrossFit Morgantown, I began to connect to my body again. I began to learn that I could listen to it again and trust it, and that it could do way more than I had previously thought. That one thing—beginning to reconnect to my body—has given me increased confidence in far more areas of my life than just fitness. 

7)  What’s one thing – either fitness related or not – you learned in the last month?

This past month, I have learned that I deserve to have a self-care regimen for myself and it can have varying levels of intensity. Right now, those levels of self-care involve everyday self-care, sub-emergency, and emergency. And wherever I am that day, I get to take stock of what I need and give myself the grace to be there. 

8)  What would you say to someone you love to encourage them to try out CFM? 

The community at CrossFit Morgantown is rare. For me, it was life-saving. It may not be that way for everyone. What I can say, however, is that the opportunity to find such a gift, while also taking care of fitness and health, is priceless.