Blogs

Congrats to Rishey Macker for receiving August Athlete of the Month! Rishey started at 12 Labours in 2023 after turning 40 and deciding to live a healthier life. Close friends inspired Rishey to try something new. Even after being extremely sore and wanting to quit he stuck with it and began to see results and improve as the months passed. Rishey attends the 6:30pm class and enjoys burpees and shuttle runs. He recently was able to complete a workout with 2 miles of running and his main goal is to be healthy and pain free. In his free time he is a Chief Electrical Engineer, enjoys hiking, sports and spending time with his family and friends "Give it a shot and stick with it, it doesn't matter what your fitness level is. I always thought you already had to be in great shape to even start CrossFit, but that is not the case." Congrats Rishey!

We’re excited to celebrate John Putshi as 12 Labours’ Athlete of the Month! When John joined in the fall of 2024, his goal was simple: get back in shape and stay consistent. Like many of us, he struggled with finding a routine that stuck—until his coworker, Len, introduced him to 12 Labours. At first, it wasn’t easy. John remembers being so sore he could barely get up the stairs. But with consistency, support, and dedication, things started to click. Now, he’s a regular at the 9AM classes Monday–Friday, and he’s tackling movements he never thought possible. His favorites? Snatches and clean & jerks. His biggest recent accomplishment? Rope climbs! John’s journey has been nothing short of inspiring. In just six months, he has already lost 70 pounds, with a larger goal of losing 120 pounds total. Along the way, he’s setting new challenges—like learning handstand walks. “I love the positive atmosphere. There is support, motivation, and encouragement from both coaches and fellow athletes,” John says. Outside the gym, John is happiest by the water—whether it’s snorkeling, kayaking, diving, or just relaxing at the beach. When asked for advice for someone thinking about trying CrossFit, he keeps it simple: “Try it for a month and see how you feel. The pressure of coming up with a daily workout is lifted, and the coaches will work with you based on where you’re at in your fitness journey.” John’s success is a reminder of what’s possible with consistency, courage, and community. We are proud to have him as part of the 12 Labours family. Congratulations, John! Keep climbing, lifting, and inspiring.

We’ve got two great ways for you to share the 12 Labours experience this September! 1. Bring a Friend Week – September 1–6 From September 1–6, bring a friend, family member, or co-worker to any of our classes — totally free** We all know the benefits of being part of 12 Labours: getting stronger, moving better, learning new skills, and being part of an amazing community. This week, you get to share that with the people you care about. How it works: Arrive 10 minutes before class with your guest. Have them scan the QR code at the gym to fill out the waiver and use promo code ANNAPOLIS or COLUMBIA (depending on location). Introduce them to the coach. Work out together and have fun! 2. 12 Labours Referral Program – Relaunch Bring a Friend Week will kick off our 12L Referral Program, which rewards you when someone you refer signs up for a new Unlimited Membership. Here ’s the deal: Invite a friend to join 12 Labours. When they sign up for a new Unlimited membership, you get 50% off your next month’s membership. There’s no limit — refer as many friends as you want and keep earning those discounts. It’s a win-win: your friends get fitter, and you save money while training together. Mark your calendar for September 1–6 and start inviting your crew. Let’s pack the gym with new faces, high energy, and big PRs! ** Please note: the 6:30 pm class in Columbia is excluded from Bring a Friend Week.

We’re excited to welcome Coach Nicole Sarao to the 12 Labours team in Annapolis! Starting today, she’s officially stepping into the coaching role and bringing her energy, expertise, and passion for fitness to our community. About Coach Nicole Originally from Sandyston, NJ, Nicole is a CF L1 Trainer and former D1 Track & Field athlete. She’s also a Nuclear Surface Warfare Officer in the Navy, currently stationed in Annapolis, MD, where she teaches at the Naval Academy. Nicole joined 12 Labours as a member in January 2025, and after months of dedication, she’s now coaching. Her journey into coaching is driven by a deep passion for helping people unlock their full potential. Why She Coaches For Nicole, coaching is all about empowering athletes. “I love helping people reach goals they didn’t think were possible,” she says. Whether it’s a small cue or a big breakthrough, Nicole believes in the power of guidance and encouragement to help people grow. Favorite Movements & WOD Nicole’s favorite movements are Front Squats and Double Unders—two powerful moves that challenge both strength and coordination. Her favorite WOD? Annie, a fast-paced workout that never fails to push her limits. Memorable 12 Labours Moment Nicole’s most memorable experience at 12 Labours was completing Murph in 2025 for the first time. “The community support made it unforgettable,” she recalls, describing how athletes cheered each other on during the tough workout. Outside the Gym Outside of coaching, Nicole loves hiking, photography, and baking. She’s also a huge fan of Mamma Mia, a movie she can watch over and over again. We’re thrilled to have Coach Nicole on board and can’t wait for all of you to experience her coaching. Join us in giving her a warm welcome as she kicks off this exciting new chapter at 12 Labours! 💥 Welcome, Coach Nicole!

🎉 July Athlete of the Month: Treasure Robinson! Please join us in congratulating Treasure Robinson, our July Athlete of the Month! Treasure first joined 12 Labours not long after her husband, Coach Shawn, came on board in 2022. With his encouragement, she returned to fitness post-pregnancy with the goal of rebuilding her confidence and strength—and she’s been crushing it ever since. You can usually catch Treasure holding it down at the 5:30pm or 6:30pm classes, though she’ll occasionally surprise us with a 6am drop-in! Her favorite movements include Toes-to-Bar (T2B) and Handstand Push-Ups (HSPU), and she recently celebrated a huge milestone—her first Bar Muscle-Up (BMU)! Currently, she’s focused on continuing to build her aerobic capacity and fine-tuning her gymnastics. “The supportive atmosphere and knowledgeable coaches make all the difference! I especially love the friendly competitions with my peers—they challenge me to exceed my goals while keeping the experience fun and memorable.” Treasure brings positivity, consistency, and drive to every class, and we’re lucky to have her in our community. Way to go, Treasure—keep crushing it! 💪🔥

The 12 Labours Special Olympics program is more than just a CrossFit class. This program provides unique opportunities for individuals with special needs to maintain, gain, and challenge their mental and physical capabilities. Through our targeted skills and programming, we strive to improve and assist in their lifelong battle for increased and long-lasting independence. Over the past 3 years, our program has focused on increasing each athlete's strength, endurance, coordination, cardio, and neuromuscular performance. All of our athletes have made great strides in each area. The coaches and members have celebrated new PRs; ranging from independent sit-ups to lifting very impressive barbell numbers. The Columbia district has recently implemented performance tracking for each athlete's Olympic lifts (Squats, Power Cleans, Snatches, and Deadlifts) and introduced some higher-level skills. The athletes have surpassed our expectations with their abilities in new skills such as wall walks and jumping rope! The past 2 years, the Columbia class members have completed the CrossFit Open workouts as a group in the beginning of the year and have demonstrated an increase in independence and improvement in their skills. They again stepped up to the challenge of and exceeded expectations in the Community Cup. As the athletes continue to demonstrate overall improvement and capability with new skills; we will continue to introduce additional higher-level skills. Several of the athletes have turned their sights to officially competing in the Open workouts as individuals next year. Come check them out on Monday and Wednesday nights at the Columbia District. We look forward to continuing our work with these amazing athletes and are excited for the continued success yet to come! - Elizabeth Gilbert M.S. CCC-SLP, CF-L1, ATA

We’re excited to highlight Wade as our Athlete of the Month! Wade joined 12 Labours in early 2025 after some convincing from longtime member Dillon Posten. At first, CrossFit felt a bit intimidating — new movements, a new environment — but the community quickly made him feel at home. He credits the Foundations course with Mel for helping him get up to speed and build confidence early on. These days, you’ll catch Wade at either the 5:30 AM or 4:30 PM classes, throwing down in Olympic lifts and long workouts — two of his favorites. His current goal is to master double unders, and long-term, he’s eyeing his first CrossFit competition. He recently completed a Hyrox event in May and has another lined up in September, which he says he couldn’t have done without 12 Labours. What Wade loves most? “Easy — the people.” The support from coaches and members alike keeps him motivated. His advice to anyone on the fence about starting: “Just do it. There’s something for everyone, and the coaches will help you scale anything so you can succeed safely.” Outside the gym, Wade is a project manager, a proud dad to his son Jett, and spends his free time riding motocross, mountain biking, snowboarding, hunting, or filming with his camera. His personal motto, courtesy of a doctor after a major injury? “Motion is lotion.” Congrats, Wade — we’re lucky to have you in the 12L crew!

Congrats to Nick Hinnerschitz for receiving AOTM at the Columbia District! Nick started CrossFit in September 2024 as a guest of Mark Sam Chee during bring a friend week. He was hooked after the week included rope climbs, snatches and split jerks even though he left with a nasty rope burn and the realization that he had no idea how to perform Olympic lifts correctly. Nick is a regular 6amer and loves strict gymnastics movements, deadlifts and GHD sit ups. When he first started he struggled to kick up to the wall and now can do HSPU! "What I love most about 12L is the people. It’s a very supportive environment where the coaches provide excellent instruction tailored to the needs of the athletes and the friendly competition during WODs brings out the best in people." Nick has seen changes in himself that he never expected and now is in the best shape of his life. He is excited to get stronger and continuously improve - especially on Olympic lifts. Congrats Nick!

12 Labours CrossFit is hiring an assistant manager with potential to be a full-time position. We are looking for a trainer with experience coaching group classes and personal clients in a 1-1 setting. This position will include coaching classes, meeting with potential new members, personal training and operational duties. Requirements: - Must hold a CrossFit L-1 Certificate - A minimum of 1 year experience coaching group classes - Flexibility during the week and available to work weekends if needed - Team player with an outgoing personality Compensation: - Hourly pay dependent on experience - Potential to be a full-time position Location: 12 Labours CrossFit, Columbia District 9017 Red Branch Rd. Suite A Columbia, MD 21045 To apply please click the link here