Wow… July was a hot one! Hopefully August brings us a little relief from the heat.

All this hot weather got me thinking about a couple of old sayings:

“If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.”

“If you can’t run with the big dogs, stay on the porch.”

Whether it’s the summer heat, a tough workout, or the challenges life throws our way, those sayings all point to the same idea: growth happens when we’re willing to be uncomfortable.

That’s one of the things I love most about CrossFit.

Yes, CrossFit builds muscle. It helps people lose weight, get stronger, move better, and improve their cardiovascular fitness. But I believe one of its greatest benefits has nothing to do with your physique—it has everything to do with your mindset.

CrossFit builds mental resilience.

Every workout gives you an opportunity to practice staying calm under pressure, choosing discipline over comfort, and taking one more step when your mind is telling you to quit. You don’t build resilience by crushing one heroic workout. You build it one class at a time, one difficult rep at a time, and one decision to show up—even on the days you don’t feel like it.

That resilience doesn’t stay inside the gym.

It shows up when work gets stressful. It shows up when your kids keep you up all night. It shows up when life feels overwhelming, when things don’t go according to plan, or when you’re simply exhausted and still have responsibilities waiting for you.

The truth is, you’ve been training for those moments.

Every time you’ve finished a workout you didn’t think you could finish, you’ve proven you’re capable of more than you thought. Every time you’ve walked through the gym doors when it would’ve been easier to stay home, you’ve practiced discipline.

So here’s your reminder this month:

When life gets busy…
When you’re stressed…
When you’re tired…

Keep showing up.

Put your head down. Get to work. Take the next step.

You don’t have to be perfect—you just have to keep moving forward. That’s what resilient people do, and it’s exactly what we’re building here at Iron Cowboy.

Member of the Month

Erika Yagi Denham

Erika has been such a positive addition to our gym community. First off, thanks to Dan for marrying her and keeping her around! 😄

Erika is always a pleasure to coach. She comes to class with a great attitude, is incredibly coachable, picks up new movements quickly, and consistently puts in the work. One thing that has really stood out is her commitment to returning after having a baby. The postpartum journey isn’t always easy, but Erika has shown up, stayed patient, and continued to crush workouts while getting stronger every week.

We’re proud of the work you’ve put in, Erika. Keep it up!

Wes has been one of our dedicated 5:00 a.m. crew members for years and is one of our longest-standing members, dating back to the old gym. If you are new to 5 AM just know it may take a couple of workouts for you to understand that entire 5 AM group likes to poke fun at one another!

Wes has earned this recognition through his consistency, commitment, and grit. Over the years he’s battled not one, but two shoulder injuries. Instead of letting those setbacks keep him away, he’s continued showing up, doing the work, completing his physical therapy exercises on his own, and understanding that sometimes taking a step back is exactly what allows you to keep moving forward.

That’s maturity. That’s discipline. And that’s exactly the kind of mindset that leads to long-term success.

Keep setting the example, Wes!

Cycle Update

We have about 25 days left in our current training cycle before we change things up.

The goal of this cycle has never been perfection—it’s been consistency.

Summer is busy. Vacations happen. Kids go back to school. Hunting season starts before we know it. Life has a way of pulling us in a hundred different directions.

If you’ve missed a few workouts, don’t worry about making up for lost time. Just get back in the gym and keep stacking good days together. Consistency over the next few weeks will pay off as we head into the fall.

August Fun – BINGO!

That’s right… BINGO is back!

Throughout August you’ll have the chance to complete squares, earn BINGOs, and win prizes along the way.

Once you get your first BINGO, don’t stop there—see how many you can collect before the month is over.

It’s a fun way to stay active, try something new, and maybe even step a little outside your comfort zone.

Let’s make August another great month. We’ll see you in the gym!