"The community is what it is all about. It keeps me coming back and pushes me to work and push myself harder everyday."
After setting a personal record of 3:42 in a marathon 11 years ago, runner Eugene Lee settled into a workout regimen consisting of three miles on the treadmill up to five times a week.
But over the years, he grew bored of the routine. He also felt slow and weak, and worse yet, he was starting to gain an unhealthy amount of weight.
Four years ago, a blood test revealed the negative effects Lee’s weight gain was having on his health. He needed to make a change. Shortly afterward, a relentless co-worker persuaded Lee to try CrossFit.
“So there I was, on a late June day in 2009 strolling into (CrossFit New England) for a free Saturday introductory class,” Lee says. “To be honest, I almost left before I started. That was by far the toughest workout I had ever done. Even the (200-meter) runs were hard, and I thought I was a runner. I came home and gave my wife a blow-by-blow of the entire session. She could tell I was hooked.”
During his first three months, Lee says he saw improvements. But it wasn’t until he modified his diet that things really started changing.
“We had our first paleo challenge, and thanks to two members who convinced me I could win if I tried, I went all in,” Lee says. “I saw tremendous gains physically and performance wise those next three months — now going on three years — due just to the change in my diet.”
His running also improved. Today, Lee runs five to seven races a year and bested his marathon time by more than 20 minutes, completing last year’s Chicago Marathon in 3:24.57.
“It drove my running friends crazy, but I literally ran one long run per week to train, and an extra short run one day per week in the last six weeks. They thought I was crazy to have such a low mileage base before the marathon and predicted I would hit a wall early in the race. I know runners universally hate CrossFit,” Lee says. “They say the bulk doesn't help, and that you need to run, run and run to race. I disagree and my experience has at least proven my running friends wrong.”
The 44-year-old impressed his doctor with a drop in blood pressure from 128/90 to 108/76 and a lower resting heart rate of 42 from 56. Lee’s physical appearance also underwent a dramatic change. He lost 50 pounds, gained muscle and says he is the lightest and leanest he has ever been. The transformation even had family members struggling to recognize him.
“I was picking up (my sister-in-law) from the airport, and hadn't seen her since I had started CrossFit,” Lee says. “I was waiting for her near baggage claim and went to say hi and she literally walked by me. I went up to her and she was just shocked. It was pretty funny. But I still see people who I haven't seen in years who won't recognize me.”
Faster, stronger and no longer bored, Lee says he feels fortunate to be able to train at CFNE.
“None of what I’ve accomplished could have been done without the environment that Ben (Bergeron) and the coaches have created at CFNE. From world-class athletes to weekend warriors like myself, the programming, coaching and supportive environment really works,” he says. “The community is what it is all about. It keeps me coming back and pushes me to work and push myself harder every day.”
