May is here, and we’ve got some fun things coming up. But before we dive into the newsletter, I wanted to share something personal.

As many of you know, we said goodbye to Kota last month.

Even though we knew it was coming, it was incredibly hard. She was with us from day one of starting this gym, and in many ways, it feels like the closing of a chapter. I’m deeply grateful for the last ten years we had with her, and for the amount of time I was able to spend alongside her each day.

Part of why I wanted to mention it here is simply to say thank you.

Thank you for being patient over the years with me bringing the dogs to the gym. Thank you for every scratch behind the ears, every belly rub, and every moment of kindness you showed her. Those things mattered.

I know not everyone is a “dog person,” but I also know many of you understand how much a good dog can brighten a day and become part of a community.

Kota was part of Iron Cowboy’s story, and in many ways, she belonged a little bit to all of us.

So before we move on to what’s ahead in May, I just wanted to acknowledge that, and say thank you.

Members of the month

We’re recognizing two people this month.

First is Dawayne Palmer — no relation to me 😉, so this isn’t biased.

Dawayne immediately came to mind because he has been a steady presence here for a long time. If you know our 6AM crew, you know Dawayne is almost always there, putting in the work.

What stands out most isn’t just his consistency, though — it’s his mindset.

Dawayne has shown a real commitment to doing what he can, instead of stressing over what he can’t.

After dealing with an injury that required surgery, the road back to full effort in workouts has not been easy. But it hasn’t slowed him down. He continues to show up, adapt, and keep moving forward.

I admire that determination, and honestly, I believe if more people adopted that mindset, they’d be far closer to reaching their health and fitness goals.

Our second recognition goes to Mike Willmore.

Mike has been a member before, and what brought him to mind this month is something many people struggle to do — coming back.

For whatever reason, when people step away from CrossFit, it can be incredibly hard to return. Maybe it’s because we know the work is hard. Maybe it’s because we’re not where we used to be physically. Maybe it’s fear of judgment.

I could probably make an argument against all of those excuses…

But what I respect about Mike is he looked in the mirror and said, I need to get back in there and take control of my health.

And more importantly — he didn’t just say it. He acted on it.

He’s been putting in the work in the mornings and getting after it.

Mike, I hope to see you keep crushing it.

Both of these guys represent something we value deeply here: consistency, humility, and the willingness to keep showing up.

MAY UPCOMING EVENTS

Memorial Day Murph – Monday, May 25th – 8 AM – NOON (come in early, and enjoy the rest of the day) – Closed the rest of the day.

Girls-Only Kids Class Starts in June

We’re excited to launch a Girls-Only Kids Class this June, led by Coach Ryli, for girls ages 9–14.

This is such an impressionable age for young women, and we want to help create an environment where they learn that it’s cool to be strong, it’s cool to be capable, and confidence can be built through movement.

One thing we love about this format is that in an all-girls class, no one has to feel shy or self-conscious about trying something new or working out in front of others. The goal is to create a supportive space where girls can build strength, athleticism, and self-belief.

If you know a young athlete — or a girl who could benefit from a little more confidence and encouragement — send them our way. We’d love to have them join us.

Coach Development Corner

I’m heading to South Carolina this month to attend Sorinex Summer Strong, and I’m fired up for it.

It’s two full days of speakers, coaches, and performance minds sharing ideas — the kind of event that feels like drinking from a fire hose in the best possible way.

I always believe good coaching means staying a student, continuing to learn, and sharpening the craft. Events like this are a chance to gather new ideas, challenge old ones, and come back better.

I’m excited not just to soak it in, but to bring that energy and knowledge back to share with our coaches and members here at Iron Cowboy.

That’s one of the commitments we have as a gym: keep learning, keep improving, and keep raising the standard.

Til next month – CP