About Mike Vialpando

I first got into Crossfit in the midst of dark season of my life. Alcohol was a big priority at that time and as an ex-collegiate athlete, the need for some sort of competitive activity was needed. My first workout was Murph...painful. I went back a few more times but my life was no where near balanced and self-discipline was low.

After a short hiatus from Crossfit, I decided to give it another try see what happens. I immediately found that competitive fire I was looking for, being challenged each day with trying to conquer and master new skills I have never thought I'd ever do. My goal was to just keep showing up, and soon enough it became habitual...the showing up part that is.

Working at St. Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta for 10 yrs, I saw what disease looked like and I wanted to create something that helped get in front of it, so, I started a youth program, jump starting ,y coaching journey. I found myself researching and studying various fitness programs, and I saw there was a common theme which I heard my dad say as I was playing sports as a child...start with the basics. 

This whole fitness thing doesn't have to be complicated. The cool thing is you get to come as you are. There is no prerequisite. What Crossfit offers in fitness is adaptability towards progress. The only competition is you and no matter how advanced any athlete becomes, there is an endless amount of improvement to be made at any point in your life.

My hope here at The Forge is that people work on their strength on a couple levels, not just physically but mentally and emotionally as well. Humans are forever growing, never too old to learn something new, and thats what I want people to do, learn new things. Learn about themselves, their capabilities, their strengths, both known and unknown. How does one know their limits unless they are tested? I have seen so many athletes from the ages of 5 yrs old to 90 yrs (literally) come into a Crossfit gym and become stronger and more fit by doing the little things one day at a time. The only limits a person has are the ones they place on themselves.

We are one house with many rooms. We are a group of people with different skills, circumstances, and strengths. Life and Crossfit are parallels. For me, it's hard to do either solo. You can get by for a while on your own, but inevitably we desire community. When challenges in life or simply in a workout slow us down, those folks around us who encourage and cheer us on get us through those moments. When it's all said and done, we can look back at the things we have accomplished and know that each step forward, no matter how big or small, has played its part in who and where we are today. Crossfit has made me stronger mentally, physically, and emotionally. It's what drives me to serve the community locally and at large. I hope it can serve a purpose for you as well.

“Success is peace of mind that comes with the self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you were capable of becoming.”

- John Wooden