You Never Know Who's Watching You At OTF

What’s up, fellow Obsessives?

So I’m speaking on a panel for my day job later this week and we had an informational meeting among the panelists on Friday. The moderator was asking us about our interests away from our jobs and I mentioned that I was really into Orangetheory.

“I love Orangetheory!” said one of the panelists immediately.

“I do it too!” said the other.

Sn now we have something else to talk about on Tuesday and I might have two new subscribers to this newsletter.

OTF Obsessives … we’re everywhere.

Attending every workout during Hell Week was an experience of its own, but my lasting and most rewarding memory came during Wednesday’s workout.

I walked into the studio running on fumes and on the waitlist because I had switched my workout to later in the morning. It was my sixth day in a row.

The vibes, as the kids say, were not high.

By the time I got in, I had missed the warmup on the tread and I took my spot next to a woman maybe 10 years my senior.*

*Admittedly my judgment is probably off these days. I’m at that age where I want to believe I’m the same age or younger as everyone, but I’m also old enough to realize that is wishful thinking a lot of the time.

With no warmup time, I immediately got to it and tried to make up for lost distance. As the workout progressed, something happened. I really started to enjoy the challenge and started pushing harder and harder.

When it came time for the floor, I did the same.

I noticed that the woman next to me was also going all out.

When the hour was up, I looked like I had left it all out there.

The woman next to me did, too.

We exchanged a fist bump.

“I’m so glad I was next to you,” she said. “You really motivated and pushed me. That was a great workout.”

I was taken aback for a quick second, then quickly recovered.

“I’m so glad to hear that,” I said. “I wasn’t even sure I wanted to be here today and that made it completely worth it.”

I walked out of the studio with a smile on my face.

To be clear, that is the first time something like that has happened to me at OTF.

I’ve never thought of myself as a source of motivation at OTF.

In fact, it’s usually quite the opposite.

I look up to the members who I know are there even on the days I’m not.

I draw inspiration from those who are super fit and look like they’re on class 2,000.

I’m motivated by the ones who aren’t but were brave enough to join the studio and work their way through class No. 1.

But thanks to that woman, I saw everything in a new light.

Each of us has the ability to inspire someone when we walk into OTF each day. Each of us can push someone to a new speed on the tread or to the end of a tough floor block.

And they don’t even have to be a member of your studio.

Every time I head off to OTF or return from a tough workout, my young daughters can see the value of putting in work day after day.

My friends and co-workers can see the positive physical and mental impact it’s made on me.

People aren’t always going to tell you that, but it’s out there.

And when they do? What a privilege and a gift we have to be in this position.

OTF Obsessed is brought to you by Audible

Two great books I’d recommend for anyone who’s into Orangetheory: “Born To Run” by Christopher McDougall and “Atomic Habits” by James Clear

I’ve seen some scuttlebutt on the OTF Reddit and a few Facebook groups that benchmarks are being cut back. There’s only one this month and reportedly only one in December. I hope it’s just an end of the year thing, but I wanted to solicit your opinion for a future newsletter. Do you live for the benchmarks? Or could you do without them?

Let me know by hitting reply on this email?

There are no specialty workouts or benchmarks this week 🤔

• Congrats to my friend Jeff for hitting 1,400 last week! I should hit 700 sometime this week, which puts me exactly halfway behind him.

• Shoutout to Michelle, who hit class 200 in just over a year!

Have a milestone to share? Let me know!