Today we’d like to introduce you to Rainy Robinson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Rainy. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
As a single mother born and raised in Florida, working full time in the medical field and part-time as a CrossFit Coach 9 years ago, I realized the best part of my day and week was gathering my kids to Coach a diverse group of goal-oriented individuals. I had my own goals of becoming a mediocre athlete, but my passion was more in helping others do what they never thought they could. There was a connection in every type of person, no matter the task.
From people that had never worked out in their entire lives, to postpartum moms, to deaf and disabled, to elite athletes; they all walked thru the doors to get uncomfortable together and celebrate their flaws with a common goal. We all want to be better versions of ourselves. Most people are scared of their true capacity. I sought out to be a full-time CrossFit coach and left the security and stability of the medical world with its shiny benefits and routine paychecks. My children are growing up in a CrossFit “Box” (the term we use for the gym), where everyone is their raw version of their selves.
We celebrate our failures because it drives us to focus on getter better through technique. We smash goals then make new ones. My children train with the athletes, and as a community I watched other parents help other children with schoolwork, while the kids helped the adults move better. It is an amazing experience to spectate. I moved to Texas in 2016 and began Coaching at CrossFit Chisholm Trail. It was a failing gym laden with debt and the reputation of low morale, but the community was still there hanging on. They wanted more experience and versatility. They wanted integrity.
I purchased the small business of CrossFit Chisholm Trail in May of 2017. Since then, it has been a daily effort to make it better in any way possible. We set goals to make a small change every week, and big change every month, and a huge bonus every quarter. The beauty is in change—something we all fear. In doing what is uncomfortable, the way our bodies are intended without injury, we grow. Growth spills out into every other area of our lives.
So our community of athletes leave these walls better spouses, employees, mothers and fathers, siblings, professionals, and children. They leave with confidence and self-awareness, and able to handle anything this world may lay on them. They know they have a place to go to where they can find release, and be nothing but their true selves. Inadvertently, they also find out they are competitive athletes that have the ability to win.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road has been anything BUT smooth. The financial aspect of owning and running a Crossfit gym is well-known to be set up for failure. There is barely a profit, so we had to dabble on that fine line of running a gym and running a business. The previous owners had an atrociously expensive lease at a location that allowed no room for growth. In order to profit after all overhead was paid out, we would need an excess of 130 members. The size alone could not facilitate more than 18 members attending one class at a time comfortably.
Along with many other hitches like being cornered between 2 bars and sharing the cigarette smoke inhalation and drunken bar fights that carried out into our storefront, it was very difficult to bring in new members, much less convince the alumni athletes that they can work thru it when we knew they deserved better. We moved to a new location in December 2017, and have been growing ever since. It is slow growth, but any growth is better than stagnancy or decline.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the CrossFit Chisholm Trail story. Tell us more about the business.
CrossFit Chisholm Trail is a gym for anyone. We follow the CrossFit methodology of constantly varied functional training, combining Metabolic Conditioning (cardio), Olympic and Power Lifting, and Gymnastics. These modalities all sound very complex and intimidating, but really we are teaching people how to move better, faster, lift objects with explosive power increasing strength and speed, and use their bodyweight in motion as an advantage rather than a crutch. Some days we have interval training, other days it’s high or long-term volume. Some days its slow and heavy. No day is ever the same.
We have all types of members, and our coaches are held to the highest standard of integrity. We do our own programming that is specifically mapped out for ideal progress. There are good and bad days. It is never easy. But we promise we won’t let you quit, and when you leave you’ll be excited to return for more.
Our community and coaching sets us apart. Get a group of people that would’ve never mingled in the schoolyards in a “Box” with some fun stuff written out on a whiteboard and a few coaches there to guide and push them (because we KNOW it can be done), and you see a tribe unfold. We witness relationships, a vast array of every emotion, families, and life lessons. Best of all, we always have fun even when it sucks!
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t think I have ever believed in luck. In my life and in this business, hard work has always been the only thing that brought on results and positive change. Not every decision made was the right one, but I work hard and make it right, or suffer the consequences and learn from it. Failure is never the end, but the beginning of “BETTER”.
Luck hasn’t brought my members in the doors, hasn’t helped them get off medications nor fight disease. It hasn’t paid any of the bills. Hard work is what we believe in and live by. The prize is always much more gratifying.
Pricing:
- Monthly membership ranges from $100-130
- Drop-ins per session $15
- Open Box/ Barbell Club $50/month
Contact Info:
- Address: 4016 Old Benbrook Rd Fort Worth, Tx 76116
- Website: www.crossfitchisholmtrail.com
- Phone: (817) 213-6266
- Email: rainy@crossfitchisholmtrail.com
- Instagram: @cfchisholmtrail
- Facebook: CrossFit Chisholm Trail
- Yelp: CrossFit Chisholm Trail
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
