Prison Fit. RunFast. Frienday. DriveFit. Spark Plug’s Story. Mobland. TWA 4.21.25

PRISON FIT: CROSSFIT AT SAN QUENTIN – A DIFFERENT PATH… On Thursday last week I visited the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center (formerly San Quentin Prison, est. 1852). I was invited by my friend and fellow Affiliate owner, Derek Diaz. Derek is working with San Quentin officials to help implement a CrossFit training program and potentially a licensed CrossFit Affiliate inside the prison. On this particular day, Derek, Wes Piatt (CF Seminar Staff & Affiliate owner) and I were asked to help run and score a CrossFit competition event in the main prison yard. The experience was incredible for all of us and included an extreme range of emotions including, anxiety, fear, excitement, humility, sadness, admiration, awe, hope and love.

No Negotiating for Hostages. Getting into San Quentin is not an easy task (ironically). Weeks prior to visiting we submitted to a background check and given instructions for entry. Obviously, no phones or recording devices of any kind were permitted. Upon entry and prior to walking through multiple locking, steel gates with guards behind bullet-proof protective glass enclosures, our IDs were verified and the rules restated. These extensive and necessary procedures heightened our awareness of the dangers of our visit and the importance of being cautious and vigilant. However, it was the last question posed to each of us before entry that raised the hairs on my neck and made me question my decision to participate: “Craig, San Quentin has a firm policy to NOT negotiate for hostages in the event of capture by prisoners. Do you understand this policy and agree to enter our facility? You must verbally state your agreement.” Immediately after our verbal agreements, Derek, Wes and I walked through multiple gates, hearing the loud clangs as they shut behind us, and entered the prison suddenly very quiet as we contemplated the seriousness of our situation.

Aromas 2007. Our tensions eased as we were greeted by multiple prison officials, guards and prisoners who were very friendly and eager to talk to us about CrossFit and their event planned for the day. And, once we made our way through the prison buildings and into the main yard, we were awestruck by the very large number of prisoners gathered in the main exercise yard. We could see the CrossFit competition set up on the large basketball court in the distance with quite a lot of people gathered around. But, we also noticed the many prisoners on the field playing an organized soccer game, and several prisoners playing tennis on the fenced in court, some playing handball against a large building wall, and many prisoners simply working out on the bodyweight structures around the yard (pull up and dip bars, push up rails, and other devices). Others were gathered in groups watching the activities and joining in periodically. I turned to Wes Piatt and said: “Aromas 2007” and he laughed and said “I was thinking the same thing!” The entire scene was a sign of hope.

The Magic of CrossFit The CrossFit competition lasted for 2 hours and consisted of 1 workout, a 20 minute AMRAP, team relay race that included:
10 “Thumbs Up” Push Ups (Hand release, arms out, thumbs up, push up!!)

• 25′ Medball Lunges
• 10 Medball Thrusters
• 25′ Medball Lunges
• 10 Burpees
• 25′ Medball Lunges
• 25′ out & back Frog Jumps
• Suicide Sprints (25′, 50′, 75′, 100′ intervals x 2!)

More than 50 inmates and staff participated on teams of 4. Each teammate had to complete the entire sequence (2-4mins) before tagging the next teammate to go. Once the races started, the excitement went through the roof. Everyone gave it their all. Every race was more fun than the last and the camaraderie was amazing to watch – teams cheering and encouraging their athletes as they raced through the course. Athletes were exhausted at the end of their turns – but peeled themselves off the ground to cheer for their team. And even better, other prisoners from around the yard were drawn in to watch and cheer – several asking to participate on a team! This was the magic of CrossFit. For 2+ hours, we all forgot who we were and where we were and connected with each other in a truly meaningful way – accomplishing a tough physical task together as one.

CrossFit San Quentin? After the competition, we met with Prison officials to talk about an onsite L1 Certification for their coaches and staff and eventually, affiliation. CrossFit classes are becoming very popular among the inmates and represents a meaningful connection with the outside world and a potential career opportunity after rehabilitation. We committed to bringing the idea to CFHQ and helping with the process.

The Right Path. I had conversations with many inmates during the day at San Quentin. One conversation hit me hard and provided me valuable perspective on life – and how fortunate I am to have chosen the path that I did. After the competition a very nice 50ish year old, very fit man, shook my hand and introduced himself: “My name is ‘Spark Plug’. I just want to thank you very much for being here and for helping us keep CrossFit going. I love it. It’s part of my daily routine.” His friend then jokingly added: “yah, he got 130 years to work on it.” Spark Plug saw the shock on my face. He quickly added: “I went down the wrong path in my 20’s.” He then gave me the quick version of his “path” – he was a passionate surfer living in Southern California and turned to robbing banks for income. He was arrested multiple times, and continued on the path for several years on before he was finally apprehended – and given a life sentence. His story is the stuff of movies but it is also a source of regret for this man. After our visit I found a podcast where he tells it in his words. It’s incredibly powerful and a lesson for our children: decisions in life are a path to your future. Stay on the right path.

Hope. Finally, I was once again blown away by the magic of CrossFit. For many inmates at San Quentin, CrossFit has created an awesome community of inmates and staff training together, it is making them healthy and fit, and most of all, CrossFit is creating hope for a better future. Derek, Wes and I look forward to helping launch an onsite affiliate for inmates and staff.

#itsup2us