Despite our ups and downs, trials and errors, my mission will always be what it was from the moment I opened the doors to the first CrossFit affiliate in Canada 10 years ago: To help my coaches and all of our students live great lives.
This means that at 40, you’re the star of your Friday night hockey league. At 60, you don’t think twice about going on an 4-hour hike with your grandchildren. At 75, you’re still participating in the Sun Run. And at 90, you’re still living independently, doing housework and going for walks along the seawall. Training with us means staying out of the old-age home.
One of the reasons we’re able to do this is because we provide opportunity for our coaches. A happy business and happy coaches means happy clients and community. As an owner, I believe if you’re not making $150,000 a year and your coaches aren’t earning close to $75,000 you might as well go get a job that supports your family.
The other reason we’ve been able to do what we have is because of the rich, supportive community all you students have helped build—a great community to raise a family. Judging by all the babies and pregnant women roaming our facility these days, let’s hope we can pass the life lessons we’ve learned together, and the love for fitness, to our children. We would be absolutely nothing without the support of our students. Thank you.
Through the MadLab Group, we want to pass what we know about business and fitness to other gyms around the world: To help them create professional coaches, who have what our coaches have.
The other function of the Madlab group is to provide Madlab School and its clients (You) with an ever-improving user experience. We are developing a new website that is scheduled to go live this week. We are working on a Madlab School communication app that will keep you better connected with your coach and each other. The list goes on and on, but the idea is that with hundreds (maybe thousands) of gyms in our membership we can build tools that other gyms simply cannot afford.
It has been a long road, but I’m so proud of what we have built.
I’m currently in the process of selling shares of MadLab School of Fitness to some of our family: TBear, Sheppy, Andy, Dash and Eunice. With ownership comes a new sense of commitment that you as the end user needs and although we have always functioned as a profit sharing facility Our School will soon be a true co-op.
I am not going anywhere. I will retain a portion of the company and remain a consultant to MadLab School of Fitness as our current coaches take on ownership and management duties. Besides I can’t go anywhere, one of the reasons why I opened a gym was because I wanted a community to raise my children in. I need this community more than ever as I am set to become a Dad.
Finally, MadLab School of Fitness in Vancouver (MadLab’s Head Lab) has also become the accreditation body for all MadLab Group facilities (1, 2, 3 seals – Like the Michelin 3 star rating system) as well as coaches, of which there are currently 500 registered in the Professional Coach Diploma Program who will be coming to Vancouver to learn from us and write their graduation exams. You will start to see all kinds of strange creatures from around the globe wandering around with weird accents and clothing choices in the coming year. Stop them and say “Hi, I’m Clyde, they call me that because I am such a curious and playful animal…..look at my really long arms!!. Do you have a Madlab nick name yet”
This will become the next chapter of our story. I can’t wait.
Patty.
Warm Up: Coach Choice
Include Wrist Mobility
Strength/Skill:
A) Handstand Hold: Fingertips to Wall – Gather 4 Minutes
Get finger as close to the wall as possible.
Maintain PPT (Posterior Pelvic Tilt)
B1) 4×2 Overhead Squat
Do your best to not fail here.
Do not attempt more than 4 lifts above 90% of your 3RM
B2) 4×5/5 Side Over Arch
Ideally straight arm.
Focus on big stretch and contraction of the obliques>
Arch!
Conditioning:
30 Russian Swings 2p/1.5p
15 Burpees
24 Russian Swings
12 Burpees
18 Russian Swings
9 Burpees
Optional Finisher: 10 Minute OTM: 1 Rope Climb
That's certainly kind, but I surely couldn't say it without feeling like a douche.
They're long enough to reach around your huge belly, Patterson!
I know you like to think you've made me a better person since we met...well, I'm here to tell you....that you're right.
Thanks buddy.
Big Love,
Right Turn Clyde
Thanks IVAN (sorry caps lock stuck there......Makes you look powerful though)
I appreciate that Brother.
3 Years is not new..... You got a ML Nickname yet?
IVAN the good looking?
Thanks Patty for putting all this history into words. As a newish gym member it is so interesting to learn the path that got the gym to where it is today. I'm certainly a fitter person since I joined, but more importantly I'm happier too. I just wish I signed up earlier...