Bootcamp

It's been one year since Fernando passed and what better way to remember my friend then with his memorial workout...

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(From last year)
On June 12, Fernando Ramirez, one of my long-time members at our corporate site ACS, suddenly passed away from a heart attack. I've seen and talked to Ferndando every week for the past five years and the fact that I will not be able to see him again breaks my heart.

I started Blue J - now Gymparty because I wanted to do things differently. I wanted to create a strong community of support, I wanted to build real human connections. I wanted to humble the fitness industry and show that health and wellness is about true happiness that starts within. To make this happen, you have to be a certain kind of coach. Every day I get to spend with each person, I learn a little more about them. Week by week, I understand what they like, what they don't. Year by year, I understand what makes them happy, what makes them laugh. I know by heart what their PR lifts are, but I also know by heart how many kids they have, how long they've been married, where they grew up, and what they like to do on the weekends. My clients become my friends, who over time become my family. This part of the job is easy. This part of the job brings me complete and utter joy. The day Ferndano died, I questioned everything.

Fernando was a diehard Warriors and Raiders fan. For lunch, he would usually have a torta made by his wife. He had three daughters who he was so proud of. He had two dogs, but his husky was the most talkative. Fernando loved to dance. He was 53. He had so much more life to live, so much love to give, and so much laughter to spread. He was a man who I admired dearly because at the end of the day, he just wanted to take care of his family.

Fernando's heart attack happened a few hours after our workout. And although the doctor assured the family that the workout had nothing to do with his heart attack, the fact that it happened so closely after, absolutely wrecked me. The guilt I feel, no matter how illogically it may be, still eats at me.

I wrote this workout to honor my friend Fernando. I wrote this workout because I don't know what else to do with my grief. I wrote this workout because I know he would've complained about the running, but would've done it anyway.

Rest easy, mi amigo.