Years ago, as many of you know, I found my love for running. I ran multiple half marathons and even completed my first full marathon six months after my pacemaker surgery. But going from 0-100 so quickly took its toll on me as the time passed. My knee started giving me pain. Running wasn’t as fun for me anymore. I felt like all the progress I’d made was now undone after my surgery, and I just didn’t feel like starting back at the beginning. I was burned out from doing too much too fast, honestly.

As a single woman who does mostly everything (i.e. living, traveling, running, walking, etc.) alone, I became interested in self-defense courses. I wanted to know how to protect myself. To feel more confident and prepared, should anything happen. And as many other women can attest to– with the world we live in, unfortunately, this isn’t a far-fetched possibility.

Which brings me to the point of this post: It was back in late August 2018 when a new fitness studio opened near me, Level Red Boxing Pittsburgh, and I tried a boxing class. I can’t explain how instantly and fiercely I loved it! How badass it made me feel, how powerful, how stress-relieving the entire class was… Needless to say, I signed up for a membership that same day. I was looking to tone up and to release negative energy in the form of hitting a heavy bag. What I found, however, was a gym that became like a second home and friends that became fast family. Everyone welcomed me with open arms, and helped push me beyond limits I didn’t know I’d put on myself. Their mantra is “Strong at every level,” and I really did start to feel that way.

In December 2018, I was the first member to hit 100 classes (level yellow) in Pittsburgh and shortly after, in April 2019, I hit level red (200 classes). I hit 300 classes in September and am now nearly to 400!

Level Red Boxing began near my hometown in Erie, PA and has since opened in several states. Check out their website to see if there is a studio near you! While this is not self-defense, and it also isn’t solely boxing, it is a great mixture of cardio, boxing basics, and fun! They offer 30, 60, and 90 minute classes for all fitness levels, and the staff are always helpful. Instructors are motivating but not in-your-face, and exercises can be modified for those who need to do so.

See my membership spotlight below and what I’ve had to say about my experience:

Thanks for everything, LRB. Love you, fam ❤