240-230-7705

staff@tridentathleticsva.com

Open hours:

M-F 5am-8pm, Sat 8am-2pm, Sun Yoga 9am

BLOG

Blog posts

Rest Day

After School Family

April 06, 20242 min read

After School Family

Em. Danielle. AD. Chad. Jaimie. Jerome. Cole. SKim.TBattle. Scrat. Meegs. Fred.

nate hands

When I first climbed on the box to get through the bay door of the original Trident building, little did I know that these names, and many more, would become my after school family. I had no idea what I was getting myself into workout or people wise.

Before Trident, I worked out on my own at a Fitness First. The people there would look at me funny as I ran up and down the stairs from the weights to the treadmills to do my 400 or 800m runs from the CrossFit main site workouts. My times kind of sucked, as you can imagine. Then Em, a friend and coworker, told me about a CrossFit gym opening up and that I should go check it out. I did and haven’t looked back.

nate and the  crew

We all have our story about how and why we walked into a place, but what keeps us coming back? For me, it wasn’t just the workouts. It was that group of people that busting their butt day in and day out beside me. We celebrated personal bests. We commiserated after a brutal metcon or chipper. Hero WODS were days that we pushed each other more because of the meaning behind the workout. We learned about each other's jobs, families and, more importantly, what movements we all loved and hated in the gym. We hung out on the couches after workouts. We hit the bars on a Friday or Saturday night and certainly spent time whenever there was a Rally in the Alley or other Trident based festivity.

nate running

A lot of those names have left Trident over the years, moving away for jobs, families, new assignments, and the impact of Covid. But they are still the core of my Trident memories. They are still my after school family.

These days, I’m not in the box as much as I’d like, but I see the same type of community forming and it’s great to see. So if you’re new to Trident, or an old timer, introduce yourself to someone new. Write your name on the whiteboard. Give that fist bump or high five after a workout. Grab a new partner on a Saturday morning. Build your own morning, mid day or after work family. Just remember the Three Rules; have fun, be safe, and no hands on hips.

Coach Nate "Pres"

blog author image

Nate Pipke

Nate walked into Trident on the second day the gym opened and hasn’t left since. After a couple of years, Nate got his L1 certification and joined the coaching staff. As a teacher in “real life,” Nate loves working with his students and seeing those “light bulb moments” when understanding occurs. Finding those faces amid the sweat, grunts, groans, and pain of a Trident WOD is harder but just as rewarding. Trident is a family affair for Nate, as both his kids have grown up at the gym, attending CrossFit Kids classes.

Back to Blog

CRUSH YOUR GOALS

The coaches at Trident Athletics are here to help guide you on your fitness and nutrition journey. Feel better and be amazed by your results

Connect With Us

Trident Athletics

410 Calvert AVe

Alexandria Va, 22301

240-230-7705

staff@tridentathleticsva.com

Copyright ©2023 All rights reserved