It was the Kubis Klassic, 2019. The first time I walked into Summit Strength and Fitness. My (now) soon-to-be husband, Jonathan, brought me to Summit for Coach Kubis yearly bouldering competition. Backup a year, to 2018. The year after Summit opened. Jonathan found Summit Strength and Fitness through a simple Google search. He was new to the Madison area and was looking for a place where he could try new things while meeting new people. Summit did just that, and Jonathan never left! Once I was introduced, I never left either. Little did I know that later on I would say that summit brought out the best in me.
Summit gave me a mental escape
At the time, I was in the trenches of nursing school. Jonathan and I utilized Summit as a designated “us” time in the week that we knew we could spend together, uninterrupted by outside stressors. We looked forward to attending the strength class every Tuesday evening, challenging each other on different climbing problems and complaining about sore muscles and ripped hands.
Not only did Summit provide consistent quality time with Jonathan, but it also provided a mental break. Other areas of my life required major mental capacity, in which I was feeling the effects of burnout. Summit became a place where I didn’t need to be always thinking and planning. I did what felt good in my body at the moment and didn’t worry about much else. While my body always felt tired after a good workout, my mind experienced the exact opposite. This made it easy to schedule regular sessions at Summit and prioritize physical activity in my life. It simply made my life better.
Summit brought me community
You hear the word “community” quite often when describing Summit and that’s for good reason. Before Summit, I had never experienced the comfort and freedom a community can provide. Once you enter the doors of Summit, you know it is a safe space to be yourself and explore what you are capable of.
About 6 months after starting at Summit, COVID lockdown orders were placed and we weren’t able to train in person for the time being. Coach Kubi continued to hold Tuesday’s strength class via Zoom. Every Tuesday my 600 square foot apartment magically transformed into my gym. I did bear crawls and duck walks across my living room and tricep dips on my dining room chairs.
When lockdown orders were lifted, we were able to train in person again. Though everyone was struggling with the current situation the world was in, Coach Kubi always made sure Summit continued to be a positive space. It was summer and the mask mandate was still in place. I remember being in class when it was 90 degrees out, we were sweating and out of breath wanting nothing more than to be able to proceed without a mask. “It’s altitude training” Coach Kubi would say, taking the conditions and turning them in a positive light. So even though we struggled, we joked about how prepared everyone would be for our next high-altitude adventure.
Dogs at Summit
Not only will you meet a bunch of cool people at Summit, you’ll also meet a bunch of cool dogs! Summit is a very dog-friendly space. I mean, who wouldn’t want to pet a dog while doing a wall sit? Or getting puppy kisses while holding a plank? Some canine-loving makes the time go by faster. Summit brought the dog stoke for sure!
In 2021, Jonathan and I adopted a puppy, Forbie. Long before adopting Forbie, we dreamed about the time we could bring our dog to Summit to workout with us. We had a bucket list going for all the adventures we wanted to do with our dog. Naturally, if we wanted to bring Forbie along on our adventures, he had to be in good physical condition as well. So, one of our first stops with Forbie was Summit – and he loved it! A big open space and a bin full of tennis balls, what dog wouldn’t love that? Plus, being able to tire out your dog while getting a workout in, what human wouldn’t love that?
Summit brought me confidence
In 2021 I started training with Coach Kubi personally. This was shortly after I hiked my first 14er, Mount Belford. While that hike was one of the most rewarding experiences I have had, I knew that if I wanted to continue on that trajectory, I would need to acquire additional skills to ensure I was more prepared for the next hike.
In these training sessions, we mostly focused on strength and stability. Within months I noticed major changes within myself and gained confidence in all areas of my life. I started seeking out opportunities to challenge both my mind and body. That spring, I completed a 25k run with ease thanks to the work that was put in at Summit. Something I am still proud of to this day.
When I would talk to my coworkers about running or completing long hikes, a lot of people would ask me “How do you find that enjoyable, isn’t it hard?” The answer is yes, it is hard, I don’t necessarily enjoy being uncomfortable or sore or out of breath. It’s the feeling of accomplishment that comes after that makes the entire process worth it.
Just as someone is proud of their degree. Did they enjoy the entire schooling process? Probably not. I’m sure everyone can agree that college comes with a lot of frustration and stress. But they did it because they wanted the end outcome, a college degree. Physical achievements are no different. Confidence is built by setting a goal for yourself and completing it.
Summit brought me opportunity
At this point, I was feeling physically and mentally resilient. I had been working in healthcare for 6 years, working with chronically sick and disabled people. My first job as an RN was in the ICU. Being a nurse in the ICU and caring for very sick patients reframed my view of health. Health and mobility can often be taken for granted. Every day I worked with patients who were stuck in bed and wouldn’t be healthy for a very long time. This made preserving my health a top priority of mine.
I remember caring for a young woman, around 40 years old. She had a stroke, leaving her brain dead. She had a smaller stroke about 4 months prior which, at that time, her doctors recommended she increase her physical activity and transition from what had been a mostly processed diet to one with more whole foods. I remember standing next to her hospital bed as she passed away. Her husband and children stood next to me. Her husband said to me “she knew she had to start living healthier, she just kept saying she would start next week”.
I will never forget that patient or her family. It was at that moment that I felt defeated as a nurse. I couldn’t do anything to help that patient, it was too late. I started thinking about ways I could piggyback off my nursing degree to not just not help people who are ill, but prevent this illness in the first place. So, I reached out to Coach Kubi and Tess, learning about their educational pathway to training.
Personal Training at Summit
Within a year, I obtained my Personal Trainer Certification. I got my Sports Nutrition Specialist Certification not long after. I knew I wanted my focus in the fitness world to be geared towards an overall active lifestyle and overall longevity. With my personal experience of Summit Strength and Fitness positively impacting my life, it was a no-brainer to utilize my knowledge in the same setting. Summit brought me the opportunity to work next to the same people who inspired me and provided me with my foundation of health and fitness.
My bout of in-person training at Summit was unfortunately short-lived, as Jonathan and I had the opportunity to move outside of Madison. I am fortunate enough that even though there are 80 miles between us, I am still able to be a part of the Summit and have the support of the community.
Summit is a Second Home
I am eternally grateful for being introduced to Summit Strength and Fitness. With Summit, I have expanded my knowledge base, acquired lifelong skills, and met some of the coolest people I know. Summit brought a lot to the table for me outside of fitness and working out. There is no place quite like Summit, and that’s why people love it so much.