Over the echoes of metal bars being dropped on the floor, upbeat hip hop music blaring over the speakers and the drone of happy chatter, the weekly teenager session at Sandpoint CrossFit commenced. Spanning in age from 11 to 17, the group included junior bulldog athlete and dedicated CrossFit fan Olivia Tucker.

“If you want to get in good shape, [CrossFit] is definitely something you should try just because,” Tucker said. “People have no idea how hard it actually is!”

Tucker’s participation in the workout program reflects its nationwide rise in popularity spreading into the Sandpoint community. Known as “boxes” in the CrossFit community, its 13,000 affiliated gyms outnumber all of the Starbucks in the United States (according to CNBC).

CrossFit’s rise in popularity has been accredited to the outstanding results it offers as well as the team building aspects unique to its training style.

The program incorporates elements of high intensity interval training (HIIT) and functional weight lifting. Workouts emphasize variation and direct translation into everyday life.

Tucker turned to CrossFit during the summer per the recommendation of a neighbor and was immediately hooked.

“I like being able to push myself and do things that I didn’t think I could,” she said. “It’s very fun to work hard at things that pay off in the end.”

As a student athlete, Tucker attends the gym not only to gain strength, but for specialized training during the offseason.

Trainer Dan Chamberlain explained that SHS athletes from all programs including—but not limited to—football, swim, and basketball attend the gym.

“Adaptation towards getting better at your specific sport is going to be a lot higher from this type of training than you would get from the old, routine heavyweight lifting because we don’t just do weight training, we do weight training with functional movements,” Chamberlain said. “Every movement we have in here [can pertain] to your sport, so anyone who does CrossFit will be the best on the team.”

The CrossFit trend hasn’t only swept SHS students, however. Some teachers have acquired a taste for the high-intensity fitness regime as well.

Teacher Barbara Leedle is a dedicated CrossFit fan of three years.

“I went to CrossFit dreading it, but I ended up liking it,” she said.

During the summer, Leedle works out at the box up to six days a week.

“You can really measure your improvement and feel like you’re gaining strength, coordination and agility,” she said. “When I first started, I couldn’t do half the movements like pull ups or box jumps, but now I can.”

The program isn’t for the faint of heart.

“I think my face was purple for like an hour afterwards a certain workout,” Leedle said.

Whatever CrossFit’s secret is, it yields consistent praise from its constituents.

“I’m probably the strongest, most in shape, and healthiest as I’ve ever been in my life,” Leedle said. “I just feel more conscious of my physical being because of going there.”