March 29, 2012
My Recovery Program: Pat Sprague

Everyone has a different reason for doing CrossFit. For Pat Sprague of Cascade CrossFit in Washington state, CrossFit is about camaraderie and self-improvement.

“The beauty of it to me is that … there’s someone there to guide me, and I’m also in a classroom situation where there’s a bunch of other people doing it with you,” he says.
 
Sprague competed in the 45-49 Masters Division at the 2011 Reebok CrossFit Games, and though he couldn’t get a muscle-up in the fourth event, he was moved by all the other competitors who tried to coach him to his first one after they had completed the workout.
 
“I think the sport invites people that are humble, that are good people,” he says.
 
Sprague, a recovering alcoholic, loves the CrossFitter’s dedication to self-improvement, and he considers the sport of fitness an important part of his recovery.
 
“I have a disease that’s life or death, and this is part of my life, so I’m grateful,” he says. “I’m grateful for the sport and what it’s done for me and my family.”