A quick email to talk about some upcoming gym news:
Friendsgiving - Friendsgiving is back on the calendar for the first time since 2019! This is one of our best events as a gym and we are really excited to bring it back. Come eat food and share conversation with our community. It’s also a great opportunity to bring family who may be wondering about this place where you spend so much of your free time. This will be potluck style, so it’s a chance to test drive that Thanksgiving recipe or share part of a special dish from your family or culture. We will also be enlisting babysitting in the youth gym (limited spots). Sign-ups for food and babysitting will be in the gym. See below for details:
Date: November 12, 2022 Time: 6:00 PM Location: Acuo Crossfit - 8545 152nd Ave NE, Redmond, WA 98052
Holiday Travel & Workouts - This is a time of year when many of us travel. Starting on November 14th, we will add a workout section that requires minimal space and equipment as a workout option for those of you who are traveling or find it difficult to make it into the gym. You will see it in your Triib app along with the published gym workouts (unless it’s a 6k row).
If you are travelling and find yourself in a position to do so, I ask that you consider leaving your membership in place during this season as our fixed costs don’t get a holiday break. That being said, we will absolutely honor hold requests if needed.
Here are the current highlights related to our hold policy:
- Holds may be placed on accounts for durations of 18 days or longer.
- Holds must have a known end date
- Holds must be requested in writing before the payment period in which it starts. Account credit may be given for retroactive holds. Send requests to rachel@acuocrossfit.com
- If an indefinite hold is placed, your membership price will move to current pricing upon return.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask in person or send us an email. Thanks again for being part of this community and see you in the gym!
Dan
Update: April 12, 2022 – Community Events Are Back!!!
Parking Notes
Our parking lot is being repaved on Friday, April 15. The gym will be open, but you will need to find parking on the street or in the parking lot in front of the Jaguar/Land Rover building (formerly Farmer Brothers Coffee). This parking restriction will run through the weekend to allow the new surface to harden/cure/whatever it's called.
The building with the address 8669 Willows Rd. is the Jaguar/Land Rover building.
Support for the Litvinenko family
As Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, we have chosen to support the Litvinenko family by given them money for them to use at their discretion to help their family and loved ones who are either still in Ukraine or have been displaced and are picking up the pieces and rebuilding their lives elsewhere. You can use the following link to support them: https://gofund.me/4c7d3a70
Upcoming Dates
Sunday, April 24 - 5pm: Learn about Rescue:Freedom I (dan) will be sharing pictures and stories from my involvement with Rescue:Freedom and sharing about the work they do fighting human trafficking. Snacks and drinks will be provided. RSVP HERE
Sunday, May 29 - 8pm: Memorial Day Observation Come out as a community to observe Memorial Day and to do a workout together to honor the sacrifice of the servicemen and women who gave their lives in service to the country. RSVP HERE
Saturday, June 18 - 10am-1pm: Juneteenth Celebration and BBQ Join a workout and celebration of Juneteenth. Workout will be at 10am with BBQ immediately following! Come ready to learn and have fun!
Friday, July 22 - 6:30pm: Kids Movie and Open Grill Movie TBD, but we will be pulling out the big screen, making popcorn and watching a movie in the gym. This will take the place of open gym for the evening.
Saturday, November 12 - 6pm: Friendsgiving Dinner An Acuo tradition that has been a long time in coming back. More details to come.
Amanda is moving
Amanda is moving. Tim and Eva also. They are moving to Eatonville where they found a home near her parents that doesn't cost $2.4M. No this isn't a joke. Yes, you should be sad.
Amanda has been a trainer at Acuo since March 2018. She could have easily been the owner of her own gym and we are so grateful for the time that she was at our gym. While she may be moving, she will still be on board with us as she is the head coach for our remote training program, Radial Home Fitness. While we are losing a trainer, the LoPrestos will still venture out to visit and workout with us from time to time.
In closing, here are a few words from Amanda:
Acuo! It's with sadness and excitement that I share my news about our family moving away! I told someone earlier that I barely remember my life before Acuo and it's true because it's just been the most memorable 3 years of my life! I’ve loved working out with you all and being part of this awesome community!
I looked up the stats and I've officially coached 3,775 classes since I started back in April 2018. I've made great friendships and had the opportunity to share my love of fitness with so many of you! You all are an inspiration to me too!!
We're excited to be moving across town from my family and it was definitely a God thing how it all came together.
I'll be continuing to work alongside Dan on Radial Home Fitness - our home workout program - so I'm sure you'll see me around every once in awhile! I will miss you all too much!
Amanda
Upcoming Dates and Announcements
Acuo Update: 8 June 2021 - The most important thing you'll read today.
Masks and Class Sizes Beginning on June 14, masks will no longer be required within the gym. That being said, continue to be aware of our members who are still taking precautions. The workout spaces nearest the garage door will be reserved for those still option to wear their masks - just make sure the coach of your class is aware when you come in.
Also on June 14, class sizes will be capped at 12 people per class (Currently 10). With this being the case, if you sign up for a class please do your best to make it to that class. If you need to cancel remember to do so earlier than 2 hours out so that someone else can use your spot. While it is helpful for our coaches for you to text and alert us that you will not be coming inside 2 hours, that doesn't allow someone else to use that spot.
Juneteenth Celebration Saturday, June 19, we will be holding a special workout and bbq in celebration of Juneteenth. We will hold normal adult classes at 9am and open gym from 10-11am. The Juneteenth WOD explanation will begin at 11:15 with equipment, spacing and heats sorted out at that time if needed. Immediately following the WOD, we will have a bbq. This will not be a potluck as we want to minimize the number of hands on food.
Night at the Ballpark with the Yorks Tuesday June 22, the 4:45 class will be the last class of the day. We will be closing a bit early and going to the Mariners - Rockies game. This outing will be in memory of Kendall York who was an avid Rockies fan. We will purchase a block of tickets in the vaccinated section of the stadium (they are requiring proof of vaccination for entry). If you'd like to attend you can sign up here. We will purchase the tickets ahead of time and send Justin and Sami to collect money from you at a later time.
As always, thanks so much for being part of our community. There are a lot of gyms that didn't make it and of those who are still open, many are struggling. Acuo is healthy because of the loyalty and support from all of our members. See you in the gym!
Dan, Cherise, Zion, and the rest of the team!
February 12 Schedule Update
We are hosting a blood drive this Friday, February 12, 2021. The class schedule will be as follows:
Adults: 6:15am 7:00am 8:00am (cap 6, meeting in the youth gym) 8:45am (cap 6, meeting in the youth gym) 4:45pm 5:30pm 6:15pm Open Gym
Youth schedule: Unchanged
Thanks to everyone who signed up to donate blood! We are so thankful for you all. See you all in the gym!
Dan
Challenge Winners and Gym Re-re-opening!
Challenge Winners
First up!!! Shutdown challenge winners (One free top or bottom from lululemon)!!! In no particular order: - Rachel Thompson - Todd Setcavage - Brielle LaSharr - Anna Litvinenko
Thanks to everyone for making the challenge a good one - Winners you will get an email with instruction shortly!
Gym Re-re-opening!!!
We are going to re-open (again) on Monday, January 11! Here’s how it’s going to work – and things are a bit different than last time, so READ IT!!!!
Classes will be capped at 8 people per class. You can RSVP for class 24 hours out.
You can cancel up to 2 hours out from class. This is a change – previously you could cancel at any time. Please do not no-show for a class.
If you are not dressed and ready to work out when the trainer of your class begins class, your spot may be given to someone on the waitlist.
Mask Stuff:
Wear a mask when you come in. Coaches and athletes will remain masked during the introduction and group stretching.
Once you are in your assigned workout area, you may elect to workout with or without your mask on.
Replace your mask during clean up and leaving the gym.
We will re-visit this policy as time goes on but want to maximize everyone’s comfort and safety.
The youth gym will operate at a cap of 5 people per class. Rachel will send a separate email to clarify policy pertaining to the youth gym.
If you travel outside of the state, we ask that you take 1 week off before returning to the gym. This rule applies to members, coaches, vaccinated, non-vaccinated, previously CV-19 positive, and all other categories of people. Yes, I know this is much too broad and isn’t rooted on a peer-reviewed medical journal or scientific study, but it’s the rule I (Dan) am setting for the time being. Thank you for respecting that.
Ok – that’s it for now as we want to keep things quick and simple. Thanks for your flexibility – things can and will change. Acuo is a pretty special community – at least I think so. If you agree with me, then please be part of protecting our space. Stay safe and we look forward to seeing many of you in the gym soon and others before too long!
Dan
Shutdown Challenge, Secret Santa, and other things…
December Updates and Announcements
So many things to write about... here we go...
First... it's been strange year for all of us. For some, it's been a year of exceptional hardship. If you fall in the latter category or know someone in our community who is in need, please send us an email at info@acuocrossfit.com. We believe that our community is special because we don't just say the things... we do them. So, whether it's help with food, gifts for littles, rides, housework, or anything else, please let us know.
If you didn't participate in the Acuo Shutdown Challenge and feel like you missed out, don't make your poor judgement a trend 🙂 We are doing an Acuo Secret Santagift exchange!!! All you need to do is sign up HERE. Then you'll get an email with a link to a short survey to fill out and instructions to follow. Nothing super extravagant - gift price ranges will be $15-30. The idea here is to stay connected with people in our community. SIGN UPS CLOSE Wednesday December 16 at 11:59PM.
We have a few things planned and would LOVE your participation in them.
Take a 60 second video answering 1 of the following and share it with danlao17@gmail.com via google or onedrive:
What was a surprising highlight of 2020?
What is something you're looking forward to in 2021?
How has your experience been with Acuo since March 15, 2020?
Send us an email with 3 goals. For each goal, also give us one practical way you will try to make that goal successful:
Fitness related
Quality of life (screen time, habits, work-life balance, etc.)
Relational - a goal with or involving a specific person.
Send emails to info@acuocrossfit.com
For everyone who was part of the Shutdown Challenge, we had a ton of fun planning and putting it on! Thanks for enduring the arduous process of inputting your scores in triib and a scoring system more complicated than a 6x6 Rubik's Cube. We have your participation trophies (embroidered beanies) at the gym and would love for you to come by and pick yours up from 9-11 any day. If you are unable or prefer not to come in, we'd be happy to mail it to you.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: We are hosting a blood drive on February 12, 2021. This will happen regardless of whether the gym is operating at that time or not. This blood drive is being held in support of Mary Lynn Moore (faithful ringleader of the 8:30am crew) who has courageously battling Leukemia since July.
Shutdown Challenge Results are in! We will draw 2 unique winners from each list (4 total). Each winner has won any single item from Lululemon in Totem Lake. Thanks to everyone for making this such a fun event!
OVERALL TOP 20LAST (HARD) WEEK TOP 20
If you're still reading this, thanks for sticking with me. Thanks to so many of you who have checked in on me and the gym in the past few weeks. Cherise and I are beyond grateful for the support and generosity that you all have shown over the past year. I applied for grants that the state has designated specifically for restaurants, fitness facilities, and music venues and hope to hear positive news from that soon. We will send out one more update before the end of the year but until then, thanks again for everything, stay safe, and stay connected!
With gratitude and hope,
Dan, Cherise, Zion, and the rest of the team!
Re-Opening Plan
We are re-opening!!! Here's what you need to know:
Register for class ahead of time via the Triib App.
If you are late, your spot will go to the next person on the waiting list.
Our programming and equipment set up will allow for physical distancing
We will no longer offer community shared chalk buckets
Workouts independent of classes are suspended until further notice
EQUIPMENT RETURN: Bring your equipment to the gym from 9am to 5pm Monday and Tuesday. DO NOT PUT AWAY BORROWED EQUIPMENT BEFORE TALKING TO DAN!!!
If you elected to hang onto equipment a bit longer, nothing has changed - keep working out safely at home and we'll see you soon!
We will send an email detailing the plan for the kids gym tomorrow (Monday).
We are all eager to be together again and to work out in community, but keeping each other safe and healthy is our highest priority. I'm sure that we will make mistakes or overlook details as we go, so I ask for patience in coming days and week. We will make decisions for classes beyond this week as the week goes on. Thanks for your support and have a great night!
Acuo Update – 14 June 2020
Have a coffee on us and a chance to win a $25 gift card to 5 Stones Coffee Company!
1. During each Core Strength or Mobility class, we will give out a "Word of the Day." Classes occur Monday-Friday at 12pm the link is HERE.
2. Email us by 9am Saturday (June 20) with the 5 words - use info@acuocrossfit.com.
3. Everyone who sends all 5 words will get a coffee on us from 5 Stones Coffee Company. We will draw 1 winner who will win a $25 gift card!
4. Don't be a cheater.
5. If you can't make the classes live, you can view them archived HERE.
6. Don't be a cheater. One submission per person.
Juneteenth - Remote Event
Join us at 5pm on June 19th as our gym gathers remotely to celebrate and observe Juneteenth. The event will start on Zoom (HERE) - Password: iron. This is the first gym event we have had since our closing in March and hope that you will make time to join us for this special night.
June 12 Zoom Call Replay
We had a Zoom call on Friday, June 12 discussing some of the recent changes within the larger CrossFit Community. If you are interested in watching the replay, you can do so here:
Memorial Day 2020 – Jack G. Hanson
Memorial Day 2020, we are remembering the sacrifice of Private First Class Jack G. Hanson - Sep 18, 1930 - June 7, 1951.
36,574 Americans gave their lives fighting in the Korean War. 145 were recipients of the Medal of Honor. When faced with numbers like that, it can be helpful to learn the story of a single individual. In doing so, stats become people and aid in our ability to appreciate the magnitude of their sacrifices.
Here is the citation for his Medal of Honor:
PFC Hanson, a machine gunner with the 1st Platoon, Company F, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an armed enemy of the United Nations. The company, in defensive positions on two strategic hills separated by a wide saddle, was ruthlessly attacked at approximately 0300 hours, the brunt of which centered on the approach to the divide within range of PFC Hanson's machine gun. In the initial phase of the action, 4 riflemen were wounded and evacuated and the numerically superior enemy, advancing under cover of darkness, infiltrated and posed an imminent threat to the security of the command post and weapons platoon. Upon orders to move to key terrain above and to the right of PFC Hanson's position, he voluntarily remained to provide protective fire for the withdrawal. Subsequent to the retiring elements fighting a rearguard action to the new location, it was learned that PFC Hanson's assistant gunner and 3 riflemen had been wounded and had crawled to safety, and that he was maintaining a lone-man defense. After the 1st Platoon reorganized, counterattacked, and resecured its original positions at approximately 0530 hours, PFC Hanson's body was found lying in front of his emplacement, his machine gun ammunition expended, his empty pistol in his right hand, and a machete with blood on the blade in his left hand, and approximately 22 enemy dead lay in the wake of his action. PFC Hanson's consummate valor, inspirational conduct, and willing self-sacrifice enabled the company to contain the enemy and regain the commanding ground, and reflect lasting glory on himself and the noble traditions of the military service.
The Workout
No music - allow your discomfort to to serve as a reminder that you're alive. No timecap - finish what you start. No scores - this workout is about remembrance and gratitude, not individual performance. *scale as needed and don't injure yourself
