FULL TRANSCRIPT

The Lead by Relentless - Episode 1 with Kristi Everson. Hosted by Katie Ward.

Lightly edited for readability from an automatic transcript.

Opening Highlights

Kristi Everson: People think they have to be of a certain experience level or strength level to come in here.

Katie Ward: I think you need to walk into a space and feel something, and there has to be something a little bit different.

Kristi Everson: They need a safe, trusted environment to grow.

Katie Ward: People feel like they you almost become like a therapist to them.

Kristi Everson: We care about our athletes. We want to be that safe place for them.

Katie Ward: Like you actually care about them beyond just what their max lift is.

Kristi Everson: We always tell people show up consistently and be intentional. The rest will follow. That's why when somebody walks in our door, we're making them comfortable. Yes.

Introducing Kristi Everson

Katie Ward: All right. Welcome to The Lead by Relentless. I'm Katie Ward and we're here with Kristi Everson. Welcome.

Kristi Everson: Thank you.

Katie Ward: So before we get rolling this the first episode. So my vision for this podcast is to sit down with people like Kristi, have conversations, people who are leading fitness communities. I'm very biased, but I think coaches, gym owners, trainers have such an ability to have influence on individuals in their community.

So I'm excited to hear what you have to say today and share some of those lessons with everybody.

Kristi Everson: Thank you for having me.

Katie Ward: All right. So Kristi, we're going to start nice and easy. If somebody does not know you. Tell us a little bit about yourself and then also a little bit about your gym here at Impact. If someone doesn't know Kristi, what should they know?

Kristi Everson: I grew up on Cape Cod. I've lived here for most of my life. I’ve had my kids here. I have worked numerous jobs and had numerous careers here. but when my daughter was six months old, I decided to go back to school and get my degree in exercise science. So for four years I took classes part time and, eventually graduated my degree while having more kids going through IVF.

It was a little bit of a crazy time in my life. I was working full time and eventually graduated and kind of fell into this career path.

Katie Ward: So what made you decide to get into exercise science? Was there something that did fitness play an important part of your background? Was it like your sport and athletic career that you're you know what, I want to make this switch at a time in my life where some people might think, okay, I've already decided what I want to do.

What was the, push to get you to into exercise science and eventually owning a gym?

Kristi Everson: So growing up I played volleyball. I focused on that sport only. I played very competitively when I was in middle school and high school, I traveled around the country with various teams. and I always had a passion for working out, strength and conditioning. I just kind of fell in love with the process through, being an athlete and experiencing those things myself.

So when I went to college, I decided to major in that, my second year of college, end up dropping out of school, and kind of doing life a little bit backwards. joining a working career field, having kids. doing all those things. And for about ten years, I just felt like something was missing and that my true passion, I kind of left behind when I dropped out.

So when I went back to school when I was 28, that's when I finished my exercise science degree.

Gym Culture, Hospitality, and Belonging

Katie Ward: Amazing. I love, the thought of having that passion within you and like having it sparked something and then going for it. I think a lot of people have that, and then they won't take the leap to do the thing because they're already have a career. My family's already just getting started. I need to commit to that.

But you can still commit to your family and hear that like Inner Spark. And I believe coaching is a calling. And we'll talk about that a little bit more maybe, but good for you for responding to that and eventually opening Impact. And so I want to transition to talking just about you, to talking about the gym that you've built, and then just kind of, gyms and the culture around gyms in general.

So I owned a gym for ten years. And because of that, I think people ask, people ask me all the time what is it that I should look for in a gym? And never am I giving them a list of equipment they should be looking for, or even am I saying. These are the certain credentials that your coach or trainer should have.

Sure, those things are important, but for me, if I'm advising someone on going to a gym, that's not my priorities. I think you need to walk into a space and feel something, and there has to be something a little bit different. Would you agree with that statement and or if so, what do you think? If someone was asking you, I need to find a gym.

What should they be looking for?

Kristi Everson: Hmm. So you and I have had. So many talks throughout the time we've known each other about kind of gym culture. What you're talking about when you say it's like that, it factor. Right? it's not as much about. Do they have the latest equipment or the newest training philosophies? It's more about what do you feel when you walk in the doors?

And I think what Ross and I have created here at Impact with Corey is, a sense of community. You walk in judgment free zone, whether you've been lifting forever or you're brand new to strength training, whether you're an adult, whether you're an athlete, you're comfortable when you walk in.

It's a positive environment. We're showing you the lifts. We're showing you what you're doing. It's a teaching environment. and then there's accountability and it's just fun. It's about having fun. It's about walking in. You see your people, it's your gym family. And I think that is what people look for in a gym.

it's your. What was that thing that you said, the third community or what was it?

Katie Ward: Yeah, like a third place.

Kristi Everson: So third place.

Katie Ward: I feel like a gym has this opportunity to be a third place. And so essentially what that means is you have your home in which you have responsibilities and requirements. Of course, your family, even if you love doing it, you have to take on a certain level of responsibility there and then. Most people have a work environment.

Again, they have a responsibility there. And there's this term it's called third place, where it's like you can just go and be comfortable and you don't have those responsibilities that you have other place. But it's like everybody knows your name. And there was one point that used to be, maybe it was a church or maybe it was a local bar or a deli, but we've lost some of that, I think, in society.

And so I really think a gym can be that third place for people where they can go. They can feel comfortable and it's but they don't have the responsibilities that they carry at other places.

Kristi Everson: Mhm. Yeah. You can go. You can do something for yourself. I think that's important to kind of step away from home life, work life, have something that you're doing for you, but also have people there that care about you. They want to help you.

Katie Ward: So energy like you're saying, it's like you got to have fun. There has to be like an energy and a vibe to it. At Impact your gym with Ross and Corey. How intentional are you guys about setting the culture and setting the tone, or is that something that's kind of happened organically just as time has gone on?

Kristi Everson: I'll speak for myself. And when I have a new client, whether it's my client or Corey's clients that come in, any new member in our gym. my first goal is introducing them to as many people as possible, making them feel comfortable. it's it's hospitality, it's basic hospitality. And I think that's kind of a lost art, especially with, social media and people just connecting online.

I think it's all about making people feel welcome. whether that's just hey, you can put your stuff in a locker when you come in, or do you need anything? You need a water, like something simple like that. But then I think, once you get the person in the door, my goal is I'm going to remember their name.

I'm going to ask them things about themselves. And then the next time they come in, I'm going to ask them follow up questions. So like I'm trying to remember oh my God, Katie, how was dinner at your grandma's house last Saturday? You know, like I'm trying to remember things about them.

Katie Ward: You actually care about them beyond just what their max lift is?

Kristi Everson: Yeah. you.

Katie Ward: Know, it's like the least important thing in some regards it's like we want to get you want to elevate people's like physical. But I think there's so much more that goes into like having that gym atmosphere that people want to keep coming back to.

Kristi Everson: Yeah. And I. Think. You know, when Ross and I opened the gym, our main goal was coaching athletes. And I think, when you're a kid, whether you're in middle school, high school, college, you're doing a ton of growing and you're who am I? What do I believe? Where like how do I fit in to my school friends gym? And I think for us, it's creating that positive environment where you're learning something that's healthy for yourself.

you're with like minded people. But also I think the most important thing is that builds confidence, you know? And that's something that's very important to us. and just having our kids, our athletes leave here with confidence in themselves just in general, in knowing what to do in a weight room.

Confidence in a community.

Katie Ward: 100%. I also think that there's a difference between like real, genuine earned confidence and this kind of like bravado that people will post on social media or whatever. And I think when you get anybody in a gym, but particularly like youth, and you give them an opportunity to do hard things and overcome it, they gain a real confidence from that they can go out into the world.

And then it's also like interacting with adults and coaches and being able to take coaching and respond to that. Like all of that, I think can build that real confidence as opposed to just I'm going to post on social media, me doing some bicep curls yeah, okay, cool. But have you really earned the confidence.

And I think your ability to do that in a setting like a gym where there's good coaches and trainers is huge.

Kristi Everson: Yeah.

Confidence and Strength Training for Young Athletes

Katie Ward: Cool. All right. Speaking of youth athletes, you guys do work with more general population adults. But I want to kind of stay focused on this youth athlete that we're talking about. So here is a quick encouraging stat. You ready in 2020. U.S. youth sports participation reached approximately 58% for children ages 6 to 17.

So basically, elementary through high school where 58% and that is rebounding from pre-pandemic numbers. So we lost a lot of participation in youth sports through the pandemic. And it's kind of bounced back, which for me, I'm pumped about because I feel that the things that we can learn and kids can learn through playing sports.

Sure, there's other ways they can learn that, but I think it's such a great place for kids to learn some of these lessons. Beyond that, I think for young women it's even more important. And getting these youth athletes, boys and girls into weight room is huge. It's so important. So I have kind of two questions about youth athletes, but for now, I want you to focus on just girls who play sports.

Okay. why do you think it's important for girls to get in a weight room and strength train from a physical perspective? And then the second part of the question is, how does that go beyond just the physical?

Kristi Everson: So I think first, like talking about going on beyond the physical, like we were saying, it teaches any kid specifically girls, to be confident in a world that there's so many things that girls are feeling self-conscious about body image, the way they act. and just being that adolescent age.

so I think, they're gaining confidence through doing hard things, like you said. and just experiencing new tasks. Different tasks they've never done, like a squat. They don't know how much weight they can lift. That's our job to help them figure that out or tell them. so they're doing hard things with guidance and a positive atmosphere that helps boost their self-esteem.

They feel good about themselves. You know, as far as a physical, obviously, we know being in a weight room, being in a strength and conditioning environment, girls are going to benefit in so many ways with their health. They're going to be healthy. They're going to build muscle. but I think, I love when girls are in the weight room.

And when I first meet them, they're super self-conscious. They don't know what they can lift. You can tell that they're not sure they don't feel great about their bodies and then pass like the three month mark of consistency. You know, you kind of look over and they're like flexing in the mirror a little bit.

And we love that. We love that. And that's where you can physically See them gaining confidence. Like on the outside, and they start to appreciate their bodies for what they can do in the weight room. And they love being strong. Yeah. And I think that's something that is so important. But they don't know outside of a weight room, outside of the guidance of a trusted coach, whoever that is.

Katie Ward: So and I think I do think it is turning. But historically most weight rooms at the high school level have been male dominated. And so it's hard for, I think, young girls to walk in there. I think there's a lot of people pushing to get more girls into weight training, but it's amazing. I think when they come to an atmosphere like this or there's plenty of other, great gyms who do it really well, who teach them how to do it so that they can build that confidence.

It's it's a thing of beauty. And I also think from the physical standpoint, it's huge. You know, as I've gotten older, I've really come to appreciate how important durability is. And for me, it's like 20 plus years of doing load bearing activity oh man, your bone density is great, but if we can get girls starting that earlier, they can kind of understand like it's going to help reduce injuries.

Like I'm building my confidence, but I'm building my body and like how important those things are, especially in a world where skinny is back in and it seems like that's kind of like the push. And so how do we how do we combat that? You know, as strong, confident women in our own right. is that, for me it's like how when I'm in here, I'm in an environment where there's young girls and women, it's like presenting yeah, like it's cool to be confident and to be strong and to be, happy with what your body can do, not just what it looks like.

But I think you guys do a great job of that here. And it's like the energy around like young girls and women like starting to realize hey, I can do this. It's pretty awesome.

Kristi Everson: Yeah. And I think to, you know what I say to not just female athletes, but all of our athletes that walk in the door. You know, Ross and I will ask them, what are your goals here? why are you coming to us? You know, do you have a goal to make a varsity team or, a skill specific goal? Or do you want to play in college or you know what?

Why are you here? Right. And so they kind of tell us their goals, and then we tell them, well, we'll help you with that. But we're teaching you skills for life. we want you to be able to walk into a gym anywhere at any age and be able to go in a squat rack or jump on a machine or, whatever. And we want to teach you these skills because thisn't just a, hey, I'm going to work out and make the varsity team.

And then after high school never work out again. this a lifestyle, right? So for us, it's more of like a holistic approach, even though we're helping them get to a short term goal.

Katie Ward: Yeah for sure. And I think like earlier you talked about hey this should be a fun environment. I think sometimes people think of like working out as it's a punishment. But if you can say, hey, like set that goal, let's work towards it and accomplish it. How fun is that? And then you want to bring that beyond your life as an athlete.

Because most people's athletic careers end at 18 or 22, and so how do you create for them hey, this something we want to do forever. And like you said, I think that's making it fun from the jump.

Kristi Everson: Yep.

Getting Started and Overcoming Gym Intimidation

Katie Ward: All right. Let's transition now to talking about just youth athletes because you work with, general population as well. So mostly in small group training. Correct.

Kristi Everson: Yeah. Private training. Yeah.

Katie Ward: All right. So fitness is a journey. I feel like I say this all the time. Everybody is at different levels of it. And so it's so easy to compare yourself to somebody who's further along. You're in a different state than you. But we're all kind of on the spectrum. And I think for somebody, for me it's like I've been lifting for 22 years.

But to go back to that position where somebody is newer to lifting, or maybe they've done cardio, but they've never like been to like what I would consider like a true weight room environment. What advice would you give to somebody who is kind of earlier on their journey, specifically with kind of like the more strength training aspect of things?

Kristi Everson: Mhm. So I think anybody. That starts with us, I look at it as a weekly timeline with a new client. Right. So if they're going to dedicate one, two, three, even four sessions a week to come into the gym and train, that's only four hours. That's only three hours a week. So there's all these buckets and training. And we talk about especially with the kids, going back to strength and conditioning, what are all of the buckets we need to fill for the kids in the time that we have them?

So when I have an adult or gen pop client Come in. You know, the biggest bang for the buck is going to be strength training. If I have them two days a week. Right. And we can advise them on. All right. Well, when you're not here, in your free time, you can go get your steps in. Go for a walk. If you like running we can advise you on that.

Like whatever other cardio aspect, whatever else they like to do to stay active. We can help support that outside of the gym. But when they're in here, and in any other gym, I think the best bang for your buck is going to be building muscle mass and bone density. so what we do and what we suggest for our gen pop clients is, three days a week of strength training, and that's what we're doing.

Katie Ward: What if somebody is, just nervous, intimidated? what advice would you give them as far as like not necessarily hey, this the reps and sets, but just to get them in the door to a gym environment that they could be intimidated by.

Kristi Everson: So yeah, I think, Ross and I, we look at our social media sometime and we're man, it's intimidating to look at that because I think, you see our athletes and some of our adults in here and they're lifting. And, we recognize that itself is intimidating. People think they have to be of a certain experience level or strength level to come in here.

but what we tell people and the beauty of semi-private training is we start where you start, wherever you're at, if you need to, just do the warmup when you come in and do a couple simple exercises, that's what we're doing. Like we're going to meet you where you need to be met. we're never going to give you something that you're not ready for.

we're going to talk you through every single exercise, and I think coupled with that, it's the culture. It's going back to what we're talking about. Do they feel the hospitality then when they walk in like that's why when somebody walks in our door, we're making them comfortable.

Katie Ward: Yeah, dude, I was just going to say that because I think that's everything. Meeting people where they're at and letting them know, hey, this I hate to use this word, but like a safe space, like you can come in and feel comfortable. And you've mentioned hospitality a few times. It's funny because I have listened to two books recently on hospitality because I think in, my desire to be part of and help lead communities, it is hospitality.

It's a hospitality industry, what you're doing. And so I also hear the it can be really intimidating. I owned a CrossFit gym for ten years. There's people doing muscle ups and handstand walking and like all of this stuff that people look at and they're there's no way. And so you're right, perception is reality.

How on your socials do you tell those stories of everyday people coming in? I had a woman who was [age unclear] who would come in five days a week and do what she could. Yeah, but I think that's that to me is like sometimes more inspirational than the person doing the 30 muscle ups. Right?

It's helping people to see that, hey, wherever you're at, let's come in here, you can be part of this community and we're going to help you get where you need to be.

Kristi Everson: Totally.

The Human Side of Coaching

Katie Ward: But it is tough because it's like you want to post that fun stuff where it's like people look like badasses, but there's a balance for sure. Kristi, we were talking recently. I feel like we've talked about this multiple times, how that when you're a coach sometimes and because you've created that environment that people feel so comfortable and they feel hey, I'm here for five days a week, right?

you see me at my highs. You see me and my lows. People feel like they you almost become like a therapist to them. People just share a lot of information with you. I know that this true because we've talked about it. I feel like you just hear all sorts of. And that's a gift, right? Like people are coming to you because they trust you and you've made them feel welcome.

But what? I guess I would say, do you like that part of being a coach? But how important is the role of being a good listener? Being. I hate to use the word therapist because I don't want to belittle the work that true therapists, but you know what I mean. Like people coming to you, whether they just want to share what's going on in their life or they're a lot of times asking you for advice because they look at you as somebody in their life who's stable, who understands them at their highs and lows.

Like what? How important is that role in coaching? You think.

Kristi Everson: So? I'll answer that in kind of two parts. And one part is my gen pop clientele. And then the other part is my athletes. Right. So with the gen pop, first of all, it's an honor that people would come to us, and trust us with certain things that they want to tell us. but second of all, I'm a people person, I obviously I care about helping an athlete or an adult reach their fitness goals, but I opened a gym for that community, for that positive environment, to give back and provide a place for people that adds value to their life.

Right. So to me, that part of the coaching is just as important as the programming or checking somebody's form or, whatever else, we have kind of a unique role in our athletes lives because we do have both types of clientele, adult and youth and high school and college. And for those athletes, they need a safe, trusted environment to grow, whatever that might look like.

so if an athlete comes to us and they have, with, struggles they might be facing in school or with home life or whatever it might be. Self-image. that is, like I said before, an honor, but also my highest responsibility.

Katie Ward: Amen.

Kristi Everson: And you know that is why Ross and I have this passion for our athletes. We care about our athletes. We want to be that safe place for them, and that's ultimately why we love coaching. Why I love coaching because you want to be that for somebody you want to be. Maybe what you didn't have growing up, or maybe what you did have.

Maybe you had a great coach and you want to be like that for somebody else. I think in life, adult clients, but more importantly, kids, it's hard, like figuring out how to fit in at school, how to fit in, so these kids come to us and they ask us advice or tell us things. And, it's it's an honor to be that for them.

Katie Ward: Yeah, I love that. So kind of staying on this role as coach as more than just like the X's and O's, I've always felt like as a coach or a trainer, personal trainer, somebody who's kind of leading the physical, you need to have the book part of it, like you need to know what you're talking about, right? But you also have to be in the trenches and have the experience.

Like you can read from a book how to squat, but have you seen a thousand people squat and help them? So, as a coach in general, there has to be those parts. And then there's also writing a good program and understanding like the actual structure of how that works. However, I feel like with AI, AI can write pretty decent programs, and I think in the next couple of years they're going to be able to write great programs, right?

That's not the important part of writing, right? yeah, it is important, but I think that there's other ways, like I could get a PDF. That's probably a great program, but that's not what coaching is. You know, reading something from a piece of paper and handing it to someone and walking away and having them do that, there's so much more.

And so you just kind of talked about this, but that human element, I think is so important. What do you think makes a great coach great. Is it the knowledge? Is it the hands on piece? Is it the programming? Is it the compassion like to you? What makes a coach great?

Kristi Everson: So I think. First of all, like people are coming to us for a service, right. They're looking to increase their vertical jump or their overall strength, or they have these specific goals, whether they're a gen pop or an athlete. And I think, you want to deliver results. You want to deliver data that is positive.

So I think there is an extent of you have to know what you're doing. Yes. Right. but to me, a great coach is somebody that cares. And I think that sounds simple, but when it comes down to it, a coach that doesn't really care about their people is not going to show hospitality. They're not going to have this environment that's positive and uplifting. Like things are going to fall through the cracks.

People aren't going to feel cared about or cared for. so I think it's that human element. I do also feel like one of the best qualities about a coach is their ability to adapt. So,

Katie Ward: Nothing ever goes to plan.

Kristi Everson: No, nothing ever goes to plan. you can write the best program in the world, and then one of your athletes walks in and they're oh, I twisted my ankle yesterday in a showcase. And you're okay, I guess we're not.

Katie Ward: In the morning with the kid or whatever.

Kristi Everson: Yeah, whatever it is. Whoever it is, nothing goes to plan. There's injuries. There's, whatever it is. And I think what makes a great coach and when I've told a bunch of our interns here is can you adapt to this situation? And that's, something personal, like my client Katie comes in with a pulled hamstring, or maybe we're really busy in the gym.

All the squat racks are being used, and you've got front squats on the board. What are you going to do? You know what I mean? what do you how are you adapting with your equipment, with your people, with, just situations. Is it raining outside? Okay. We're not doing [unclear] outside. So, are you flexible?

Yeah. I think that's also a critical piece.

Katie Ward: So funny because I think I'm not hating on like Instagram trainer, but you can tell or we can probably tell if somebody if you look at a program and it's never been tested in a real life facility or you're hearing somebody on Instagram who's a, I don't want to say trainer because I'm not trying to belittle them, but who hasn't had the experience of being in a weight room with 100 athletes or 20 athletes, or you have a group a team here and a mom over here and another person, and you're trying to manage all that, and your ability to adapt to that is huge.

Well, also getting results for the client, because, we've talked a lot about how important the human element is. But you're right, people are paying you for a service. And I've been an athlete my entire life. I want to feel good. I want to feel a good vibe in a gym. All of that sort of stuff, 100% is true.

But I also want to get on the field and be able to dominate. And I think my time in the weight room has allowed me to do that. And taking it seriously and having the accountability. Like you said, it's a judgment free zone, and I agree with that to a point. But also like you're holding standards, you're athletes.

And I think I think that's also important. And I know you do too. It's like we want you to be your best self. And that doesn't mean giving you the easy way out. And I see you as a coach do that. Like you hold people to that standard. How important is that piece of it?

Consistency, Intent, and Accountability

Kristi Everson: What Ross and I try to hit home with our well, with our adults too, but with our athletes is there intent behind whatever you're doing? And that's our standard. Like if you come in here and you're going through the motions and you're kind of doing stuff, and then you're wondering why, your sprint times aren't going down or your lifts aren't going up or whatever it is.

You aren't putting 100% effort. So I would say that's our highest standard in here is are you coming in? And are you treating this as just another day or whatever, or are you putting full intent, or are you being intentional about understanding the lift or form or, are you showing up with a positive attitude or a negative attitude?

Katie Ward: So it's attitude is everything. It's so important. And like I've always been a scrapper. And so I feel like the weight room is where the scrappers shine. And it's crazy to me. Like if somebody comes in maybe at a lower level physically or even on the field of play when it comes to like actual, like sport performance.

And they are the person who's coming to the gym with intent, with the energy, with the attitude, with the effort. You will see over time that person slowly kind of click up, and that person who is naturally gifted but is not putting the intent in. All of a sudden, that person who's like grinding in the weight room, they can surpass them.

And that to me is like that is that's why I love the weight room so much. Like it rewards that effort, that energy, the intent even if you're not the most, like maybe naturally gifted person.

Kristi Everson: We always tell people like show up consistently the.

Katie Ward: Most important.

Kristi Everson: Part and be intentional.

Katie Ward: That's it.

Kristi Everson: The rest will follow. Like you follow our program, you follow what we if you can show up consistently and if you can be intentional when you're here, things are going to happen, right?

Katie Ward: Showing up is the most important. Part.

Kristi Everson: For sure.

Community, Connection, and RUNCLUB

Katie Ward: Amazing. Okay. Love that. Let's talk a little bit about community and connection. So this has to do with teams. But just I'm talking just like community. As adults I feel like I've been really lucky throughout my entire life to be on great teams and be part of great communities, but that's not true for everybody.

I'm going to read you some stats. Are you ready?

Kristi Everson: I'm ready.

Katie Ward: I want to hear your reaction to these things. Okay, there's let's see. There's four stats. You ready?

Kristi Everson: Okay.

Katie Ward: Approximately 40 to 54% of US adults experience moderate to severe loneliness or social isolation. Nearly 70% of US adults gather with close friends or family only once or twice a month. So a few times a year. 70% of adults only gather with their friends. Like a few times a year. All right, next up.

Kristi Everson: That's sad.

Katie Ward: 57% of Americans do not belong to any clubs or community organizations. So more than half. And then finally, poor social connection increases the premature mortality risk by 29%. So basically, if you don't have social connections, you're more likely to die. It's an Impact comparable to smoking or obesity, which is wild to me.

So, Kristi, what is your reaction to these stats around community and connection and what, if anything, do you think being part of a fitness community like how does that relate to these things?

Kristi Everson: So it's I don't think it's surprising to hear those stats because with I feel like the development of social media, like people are at home and especially like you were saying, Covid.

Katie Ward: Like.

Kristi Everson: During Covid, I think we all kind of gained some habits of, we can't leave our house. Our only way to interact is through socials.

Katie Ward: Isn't it crazy? I feel like that. Like I've almost like blocked that time. From my head. Yeah, it's so weird. I never want to go back. But you never.

Kristi Everson: Want to go back. But, I think we all kind of, established some habits that perpetuated that. Kind of like staying home and thinking you're socializing, but you're not, right. And so I think when I think about our adult clientele and our athletes like kids now. You know, when we were in high school.

did we have instant messenger? Maybe not, I don't know, but maybe we had some type of chat, so it was just.

Katie Ward: Happening, right? I mean, I got a. Pink razor phone when I was. 16. Yeah. So most of and I'm 40. So most of my, formative years, we didn't have that right.

Kristi Everson: So I think now it's like that's the norm right. So kids are not and adults are not putting themselves out into communities because you don't have to.

Katie Ward: Yeah.

Kristi Everson: But then you get stats like that.

Katie Ward: I think that like real in-person communities are going to blow up in the next few years because I think people are craving it. I think that the kind of, like we were talking about youth athletes, like the rebound effect of okay, kids are getting back into sports after Covid. I think that adults like at some point you realize, hey, I'm kind of missing something. Okay.

Kristi Everson: So case in Point Run club.

Katie Ward: Yeah.

Kristi Everson: So Katie and I started a run club. Well, it kind of started selfishly because we were training for HYROX. And I'm I don't really want to do this alone, right? because I don't like running more than Katie. Probably. But, we started this run club in June, end of June of this summer, and by our second week, we had almost 40 people crazy.

And, I mean, it just kind of took we didn't really do anything, right. People just show. And I think it's back to what you were saying. You know, people are craving that community. I think kids are too. You know, we had a lot of kids come out. Some of my athletes came out. but I think, it's those little micro, communities that I think are so important for us, right?

Katie Ward: Yeah. And so, the whole idea behind this podcast, The Lead by Relentless, hosted by Katie Ward, myself, is sitting down and talking people with people who are leading fitness communities. Again, I'm biased because it's what I love, but I think a fitness community, whether that's a gym, whether that's a run club, whether that's a race, which I'm, that to me is how I'm trying to build community in this next evolution of my life is like putting on events for people is it's such a unique way where you can build community.

Because I also think, like we were talking about before, when people do hard things like physically, it puts your shields down. So I hesitate to say hey, when you suffer together, it forms these bonds. But because I think suffering is can be a loaded word. But it's true. When you do something hard and you're you're physically like pushing beyond maybe what you thought you could it is like kind of defensive layers come down.

And I think it allows you to start to have those conversations, to feel that community, people see you when you're not your best. You've done something challenging. And to me, that's the beauty of what you do and the community that you create. There's a million different types of community, but I think the fitness space has like this unique way to bring people together for sure.

Kristi Everson: For sure.

Katie Ward: And Run Club was like that. Like we had kind of people all over the place. Like we both posted about on socials and people kind of came out of the woodwork from like my past or current and it was fun.

Kristi Everson: And we called ourselves the non runners run club, which I think attracted more people.

Training Partners and Friendship

Katie Ward: Yeah, it was good. It was a good crew kind of staying in this land of like community and I guess like our friendship and relationship. well two things. One, I think when I say community, people might think, okay, you have to have 100 people or 50 people or 20 people, but a community can be five people. It can be three people.

It's that connection and that relationship that goes beyond just sitting in your house, isolated or even just like your family, right? You know, and building that. So, Kristi, we have our little community here within your gym, but also like our friendship. how is that impacted your life?

Like having a group of, strong, confident women to train with? Like Corey, who's a trainer here at Kristi's gym. he has commented. So Kristi myself had her in like a small group of women. We regularly trained together. We push each other. We don't let each other take the easy way out, which to me is a hallmark of good friendships.

Like if I'm slacking or I'm struggling, like I can let hey, I need to be pushed right now.

Kristi Everson: Yeah.

Katie Ward: Or I need you to back off. And I need that compassion. And I think as an adult, I feel really grateful to have friends that go beyond, the surface level and believe in me and know that belief comes with also a little push. You know, whether that be physically or hey, I'm starting a new podcast.

My biggest supporters, Kristi, Heather, the people who are like closest to me, which is not always true. Sometimes I think as an entrepreneur, that the people closest to you like almost sometimes or like want you to stay small. Or like aren't. Ready for you to grow. So kind of like an all around question here, but like to you in your personal life, like outside of being a coach or a trainer, like your own relationships. Like how important are those to you?

Kristi Everson: So it kind of all the way I'm going to answer this question, it kind of all starts with last summer. I was starting to kind of think about doing a HYROX, and I was going through a very challenging, time in my personal life, and I knew I needed something to, kind of pour into that was healthy.

That was a healthy use of my time. and so I decided to kind of learn more about HYROX. And actually, I had already met Heather at church a few times, and I saw her in the lobby one Sunday and I was hey. So, yeah, you lift weights, right? And she was yeah, I do. And I was she's from Virginia.

And I was all right, well, have you ever heard of HYROX? And she was nope. And I was well, I need a training partner, so you want to sign up with me? And she was I could be talked into that. So literally within like 24 hours, her and I signed up for HYROX Chicago, and we started training together a couple days a week and kind of getting to know each other.

And then, I distinctly remember being on a run with her, and she was talking about something. And it reminded me so much of you. And I was Heather, you got to meet this girl Katie. I'm you guys would be like fast friends. you have so much in common. And so.

Katie Ward: Can I. Interject. Here? Because this like a tangent. But Erik, my husband had actually worked on Heather's house, and he had come back to me before I even knew her and was you and her would get along. So yeah.

Kristi Everson: So Heather was actually away and you had just done your first Ironman. Full Ironman. And I feel like we were texting and you were hey, I'm driving back for my Ironman. I'm all sick. And you're are you working out tomorrow? And I'm dude, you're just driving back from your first Ironman.

Katie Ward: Gotta keep it rolling, baby.

Kristi Everson: So I was well, I'm gonna do a HYROX workout. if you want to do it. And you were yeah, I'm game. So I remember that day we were literally running in and out of the gym. It was pouring rain. We did like an hour long crazy workout. And this like two days after her first Ironman. And she's all right, so you and Heather do in Chicago.

And I was yeah. And you were all right, I'm gonna sign up too. Yeah. So from then on, we kind of the three of us became we call ourselves the gang. but this training partner group, I've gone through a very difficult, thing in my personal life during that time, Heather's experienced, personal things that she's gone.

You have. And I think the beauty of that little community for us, it's like our little gem kind of we were talking about is, yeah, we push each other. Yeah, we, hold each other accountable. But it's way more than that. Like faith comes into it. experiences come into it and just.

Katie Ward: Building businesses like it goes just beyond.

Kristi Everson: Yeah. Like we've all we all have business experience. So, there's just so many, Heather and I are moms. there's so many different things that I have relied on you and her for and then vice versa. And I think it is so important if you don't have, a training partner or a couple training partners that you get in into a community like that where you're building these friendships and community, but you're also doing something for your health and you're being held accountable.

And I think that is the beauty of, joining a facility or a gym.

Katie Ward: yeah. I've seen so many run clubs, come out of gyms that I've been a part of, whether I've owned or been members at like that. You know, if you're working out with somebody every morning at 530 in the morning for like years, you're probably going to start to have a relationship with them. And sometimes I've seen those like spawn into those like real, genuine friendships like we're talking about.

So just another reason for me, beyond just like the physical of getting involved in a gym, is that connection, that social like piece of like being what I would consider like a true community as opposed to like going online and just like tip tap in a way, like there's a place for that. But I just to me that doesn't sustain that, like truly like human need that I think that we have for connection.

Kristi Everson: Totally.

Closing Thoughts and Where to Find Kristi

Katie Ward: All right Kristi. Amazing. So we're going to wrap up here before we do that. Is there anything that we haven't talked about that you'd like to talk about, or is there anything like you would like people to know about you and what you do here.

Kristi Everson: We've talked about it this entire episode. I think the biggest thing for me and for, our facility here, but for me as a person to convey is, we care about people. We're in the people business. yes. We're going to help you reach your goals. But our goal for you is to help you develop physically, mentally, emotionally.

I mean, there's been so many amazing connections here, so many new friendships. so much growth personally. And, I was just talking with Corey about it yesterday. Just the change in him, the change in me, the change in some of our clients since we've been open. And it really is.

Katie Ward: You mean physical change or change beyond that?

Kristi Everson: we specifically were talking about emotional. Yeah. Spiritual. You know, beyond the physical. Yes. That's there and that's obviously what people are looking for. But I think, our mission here is to have a space for people to come and be a part of a community, And I think that's our ministry.

That's our mission. Right? Everything else is obviously important, and it's a bonus. But when you walk into these doors or if you have a conversation with Corey or Ross or me or you or anybody in here you're cared about, we want to help you grow in any way you want, and we're here for you.

Katie Ward: So I love that. Kristi, thanks so much, so much. Is there anywhere that people can find you on socials?

Kristi Everson: Yes. So our Instagram handle is IP Training, and then the number two website is iptraining2.com. And yeah.

Katie Ward: You rock. Thanks, girl.

Kristi Everson: Love you sis.