A few days ago, I got a card from my coaches at Override CrossFit that stopped me in my tracks. It started with, “Dear Steve, you embody what it means to ‘chalk up’ no matter where you are… you put in the work, stay committed, stay moving, and show what consistency and grit really look like.”
That line hit me because it sums up exactly what I’ve found over the past 13 months at this gym: consistency and grit, yes – but also joy, play, and community.
Before COVID, the last big thing I did for myself, along with Kerry, was run the San Juan, Puerto Rico Tropikal Half Marathon on March 1, 2020 – just days before the world shut down. After that, I slowly let myself go. I told myself I was too busy, that I was pouring all my energy into growing 2-4-1 and focusing on other people’s health and wellness. Then one day, I woke up and realized I was preaching the power of play, movement, and self-care, but I wasn’t practicing it myself. It had gotten so bad, and I was in so much pain, I literally started to consider surgery for injuries I didn’t even have.
It took a good friend, someone who had fallen in love with CrossFit, to convince me to give it a try. I’m so glad she did, because it reminded me of something I’d forgotten: I needed to take my own advice and find something that moved me again. I now smile when I walk down stairs, because before I started working out again – I couldn’t do so without wincing at every step.
I never quite know what I’m going to get when I walk into CrossFit. It’s like 2-4-1 in that way. I love that every day is different, and that’s what makes it fun. There’s music blasting, a little chaos, a lot of laughter, and plenty of encouragement. The workouts themselves are serious, but the environment is light, playful, and supportive.
What I’ve come to love most is the way the coaches model what’s important about sport. They support each other openly, they correct each other without ego, and they cheer each other on just as much as they cheer on the people they coach. They jump into the workouts with us. They teach from within the play, not from the sidelines. That’s something we’ve always valued and expected from our coaches at 2-4-1… jump right into the play!
Another thing I appreciate is the idea of challenge by choice. In this gym, I’m competing only against myself, not the person lifting next to me. It’s about listening to my body and getting stronger, not adding one more plate just to prove I can. That mindset has kept me healthy and injury-free.
As a former Division I athlete, I used to walk into the weight room with my team and have no idea what I was doing. Truthfully, I was intimidated by it. At 58, I’m no longer afraid of the gym. I mix cardio with strength training, and for the first time in over a decade, I’m pretty much pain-free. That’s a gift I didn’t expect.
This isn’t a CrossFit commercial. It’s a reminder that the best thing you can do for yourself is to find what moves you. And stick with it!! I’ve seen people choose dance, hiking, yoga, pickleball, softball leagues, you name it. The common thread is choosing movement that feels good, building confidence in your body, and finding a setting where you feel valued.
At 2-4-1, our mission has always been about helping kids build the ability, confidence, and desire to be active for life. Joining this gym has been a daily reminder of why that matters. It’s inspiring to see people in their 20s working out alongside people approaching their 80s, all finding joy in building strength and moving their bodies.
And yes, don’t get me wrong, I still love to shoot hoops, play tennis, and jump into any game I can. But I can do those things better, and with less pain, because a good friend encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and join Override.
The card my coaches gave me ended with this: “Your transformation over the past 13 months has been incredible – not just physically but in how you carry yourself. You bring a calming, steady energy to the gym that lifts everyone up around you…PS, Life’s too short for just one sport. Love, your coaches.”
Life’s too short for just one sport (and just one exercise). They nailed it.
About Steve Boyle
Steve Boyle is a connector, collaborator, and tireless advocate for making youth sports more playful, inclusive, and developmentally sound. As Executive Director of 2-4-1 CARE, Inc. and Co-Founder of 2-4-1 Sports, Steve has helped lead a growing movement to reshape the youth sports experience—one that puts the joy of play and the whole child at the center. Grounded in his background as a school counselor and coach, Steve co-created the award-winning TOP Self™ platform, which uses sport as a vehicle for social-emotional learning. Under his collaborative leadership, 2-4-1 has grown from a single program in West Hartford, Connecticut to a global nonprofit impacting communities across North America and Africa. Steve’s influence extends beyond his own organization. He served as Advisory Board Chair for the National Association of Physical Literacy and as Global Lead for Athletics and Physical Literacy at Whittle School & Studios, shaping programming in Washington, D.C. and Shenzhen. Whether working with local partners or global networks, Steve brings humility, heart, and a belief in the power of teamwork to everything he does.