DONATE TO YOUR FAVORITE CHARITY A great way to rally your troops and show you care is by doing a fundraise or clothing drive for your favorite local charity. It’s the season of giving, after all! The best way to make your thank-you feel authentic is to genuinely be authentic. Yes, an unexpected gesture can reflect well on your gym and encourage clients to talk you up to their friends and family, but potential referrals should be a perk of giving back, not the main goal. Practice genuine gratitude this Thanksgiving, and it will be well-received.
A CORE OF TRUST
As Dave mentions on this month’s cover, the CrossFit community is defined by a sense of mutual support and passion. That’s why, for this edition, we wanted to shout out a box whose history and philosophy embodies this grassroots hustle. We sat down with Shane Arikian, founder of CrossFit Rapture, to find out how he went from teaching jiujitsu to owning a box with over 200 members and a strong sense of community. A dual-sport Division 1 athlete, Shane found himself missing competitive athletics after college. He was introduced to CrossFit indirectly through a friend. “Some buddies and I got together to play tennis,” Shane recalls. “One of them took his shirt off, and I remember asking, ‘What the &#@* have you been doing?’ The answer was CrossFit.” Soon enough, Shane showed up at his local box to give CrossFit a try. “My very first workout was Fight Gone Bad,” he says with a smile. “I was hooked.” Shane hit the gym almost every day from that point on, feeling more and more like his old college self. It wasn’t long before he decided to turn his passion into a career, founding CrossFit 2010. But as Shane would learn, “running a gym takes a lot more than buying a warehouse and workout equipment.” “I just kind of winged it,” Shane admits with a laugh. While he had to grapple with the logistical and managerial challenges of being a box owner on top of keeping his day job, Shane did have something he could use to his advantage: a strong core of friends and family. “My brother was fresh out of college at the time, so he became a coach from day one,” he explains. “It was nice to have someone I could trust.” These bonds of trust multiplied as time passed. In fact, many of CrossFit Rapture’s current coaches were some of Shane’s earliest members. Today, despite being over 200 strong, the Rapture community is still defined by tight-knit bonds. “It’s a nice little village,” Shane reflects. “We don’t just hang out at the gym.” Shane’s story serves as a reminder that the back-end elements of being a box owner can be learned so long as you have the foundations of a good community. To put it in his words, “Take advantage of the help you can get. Be good to your members.” Words to live by, Shane. HOW SHANE ARIKIAN BUILT CF RAPTURE INTO A VIBRANT COMMUNITY
These spicy, tangy carrots make a healthy Thanksgiving side that doesn’t skimp on flavor. Plus, you can do most of the work in advance and assemble the finished dish on the big day. CHIPOTLE-ROASTED CARROT SALAD
INGREDIENTS
• 30 small carrots (2–3
• 2 tablespoons
bunches), tops removed and carrots scrubbed
extra-virgin olive oil • 4 ounces watercress, stems trimmed • Plain Greek yogurt, for serving • Kosher salt and fresh
• 2 chipotle peppers in adobo, minced • 1 teaspoon adobo sauce from the chipotle can • 1 tablespoon molasses
ground pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 350 F. In a rimmed baking sheet, toss carrots with chipotle peppers, molasses, and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, and roast for 30–35 minutes. 2. Transfer carrots to a plate and let them cool completely. 3. Once cooled, toss carrots with adobo sauce. Lay across a platter, and top with watercress. 4. Serve alongside yogurt.
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