Because I’m a weirdo who genuinely loves/needs physical activity (I’m a big proponent of Type II Fun; for the last 11.5 years CrossFit (I know, and I’m sorry) and weightlifting† have been my Type II Fun of choice), I have a list of exercise-y and fitness-y things I want to try. Because I’m very bad at being a beginner (I have no confidence and do not wish to be perceived by anyone ever, especially when learning how to do a new thing), I haven’t yet tried any of the activities on this list. Because I don’t want to wither my life away being unconfident and stressmaxxing about not being perfect at things I’ve never done before, I’m posting this list here with the hope that doing so will kick-start my ass into getting the fuck on with it all already.

The activities on this list fall into one of two categories: those that I want to do just because/for fun, and those that I want to do to get better at the two sports I love the most, CrossFit and weightlifting.

†Whenever I refer to weightlifting, I’m always referring to the sport of weightlifting. The sport of weightlifting is also known as Olympic weightlifting and consists of two lifts: the snatch and the clean and jerk (it’s the jerk you see in the photo above). If you’re not training the Olympic lifts, you’re not weightlifting. You’re weight training or lifting weights. Not to be all pedantic and autistic about it or anything (this is one of the few things I’m extremely pedantic and autistic about).

* * *

Things I want to do just because/for fun

Archery. I’ve been obsessed with the idea of learning archery since sleep-away summer camp as a kid. I recently learned about a weekly outdoor archery meetup on one of the Portland subreddits. It’s free and beginners are welcome and, bonus, the organizer has extra equipment for and provides a lesson to first-timers. The main thing holding me back from doing this is my concern about how I might be treated as someone who still masks, even outdoors.

Backpacking. I like hiking. I like camping. I’m pretty sure I’d like combining the two. A few problems: I prefer to hike alone and feel like I’d prefer to backpack alone; I don’t have the knowledge, experience, skills, or equipment to backpack alone; I don’t have any friends who are into backpacking who I could do a backpacking trip or two with to learn from (and I’m not going with strangers!). One of these days…

Barre. I’m not actually sure that I’d enjoy this. I’m intrigued enough to want to try at least one class anyway.

Figure skating. Do I possess the balance, coordination, and grace for this? Absolutely not. Do I still want to try? Absolutely yes.

Hyrox. There’s a joke/diss that Hyrox is for CrossFitters who are bad at Olympic lifting and gymnastics (domains that make up at least 2/3 of CrossFit workouts) and, lol, that’s exactly the reason Hyrox appeals to me. I LOVE CrossFit and weightlifting and also I’m not very good at either (it’s the autism). I don’t want to “get into” Hyrox. I do think it’d be fun to do a Hyrox competition just because/for fun.

Orange Theory. I think an Orange Theory class would be so fun. That’s all.

Skateboarding. I mean, come on. How cool would it be to know how to skateboard?

Tennis. I’ve wanted to learn how to play tennis since I was four years old. The park at the end of the cul-de-sac we lived on had A BUNCH of tennis courts and many weekends it was full of kids taking lessons. For years, I begged my parents to sign me up. My dad refused. Decades later I still dream of knowing how to play tennis well enough to head to the park and hold my own.

* * *

Things I want to do to get better at CrossFit and weightlifting

Bouldering. Of all the activities on this list, this is the one that I most want to try (it feels to me like the exercise version of jigsaw puzzles, you know?). It’s also one of two activities on this list that I think has the potential to overtake/replace CrossFit and weightlifting for me. To be clear, I’m not looking to replace CrossFit or weightlifting—I’m looking to improve at both—and, based off about 43 seconds of exposure to it literally one time about a year and a half ago, I also think that there’s real potential for it to. Anyway, bouldering would help with grip strength and endurance, upper body and core strength, and hip mobility. So if I want to try it so badly why haven’t I? The thing that appeals to me about it (can do it alone) is also the thing holding me back from getting started (have no one to do it with). Do I contradict myself? Very well then, I contradict myself. I am large, I contain multitudes.

Calisthenics. Imagine having that solid of a mind/muscle connection and that much muscular strength and endurance, and joint strength and stability. A dream.

Kettlebells. A lot of the kettlebell workouts I see focus on unilateral work and emphasize joint stability and strength (and in a more controlled way than a lot of other activities), which I would really benefit from.

Pole dancing. There’s not a rhythmic or graceful bone in my body so there’s no potential for me to be good at this in any meaningful way. I do think it’d be a great way to build upper body and core strength that would transfer especially well to the gymnastics elements of CrossFit, which I desperately need help with.

Pilates. Like I said above re: calisthenics: Imagine having that solid of a mind/muscle connection and that much muscular strength and endurance, and joint strength and stability. A dream. (Imagine, too, having enough money to afford a monthly Pilates membership. If you think CrossFit is expensive look up how much Pilates costs. Holy FUCK.)

Rowing/sculling. Along with indoor bouldering, this is something I can see potentially overtaking/replacing CrossFit and weightlifting for me. Through CrossFit, I have lots of experience rowing on a row erg. I also have lots of room for improvement to become a stronger, faster, and more efficient and technically proficient rower. The good news is, I live near a stretch of a river that’s home to number of rowing clubs that offer beginner classes.

Swimming. Adding swimming to my training would greatly improve my overall fitness, as well as my performance in CrossFit (and running!) in particular. Can’t swim in a mask, though, and I don’t have access to a private pool so this one is on the back burner for the foreseeable future. 

* * *

Bonus! Things I used to do that I love and miss and want to start doing regularly again

Hiking. For mental illness reasons, I haven’t hiked since the close of the 2022 season. I had a few very intense and scary episodes on the trail that season and haven’t felt comfortable going back out since. I’ve started making a list (shocker) of Oregon and Washington hikes I want to do whenever I feel okay enough to get back out there.

Running. Before I was a CrossFitter and weightlifter, I was a runner. I LOVE running. For a long time—for years—I ran about seven miles a day, in all sorts of weather and through two pregnancies (right up till I gave birth!). I haven’t run regularly since mid-2020 and I miss it. A lot. Of everything on this list, this is the activity with the lowest barrier to entry for me. I already have everything I need to do it—apparel, shoes, knowledge, experience, miles and miles of roadway, (free) access to a track. I tried a few times during the summer to get back into it. I just… The thing is: (1) I’m so sick of wearing a mask all the goddamn time and (2) the safest way for me to run without wearing a mask is to get up super fucking early before the rest of the world which (a) wasn’t sustainable for me when I tried during the summer and (b) is a particularly not-safe time for me, a single woman, to run.

Spin class. When I joined a gym for the first time when I was 19, I immediately signed up for spin class and LOVED it. The intensity and music are extremely my shit (see also: CrossFit). Before running took over, this was my go-to workout. I’d love to regularly take a spin class two or three times a week just for fun. I have no interest in doing a spin class in a mask, though, so this one won’t be happening any time soon.