She Went Above And Beyond
“Are you celebrating the last level or preparing for the next one.”
– Tex McQuilken
Deep Squats (Thoughts)
Hi Tim,
Just finished a 10-day trek to Everest Base Camp—and without a doubt, it stands among the top three most challenging experiences of my life, both physically and mentally.
I’ve done my share of long hikes with steep elevation gains, but everything changes when you start at 10,000 ft and push toward 18,000 ft. At those heights, your body operates differently. Appetite fades, breathing becomes effortful, your mind slows down, and even simple tasks demand focus. The cold—often dropping to -15°C—cuts through layers, and comfort becomes a luxury. As the days go on, the lodges grow more basic, with no running water and limited electricity. You realize how important certain decisions are when you have to leave your room to pee and it is -15C outside😀.
By the final stretch, with oxygen levels hovering around 65-70%, even tying shoelaces left me breathless. And yet, once climbing 2500 ft over just 1.5 miles, it got done.
What made it truly unforgettable, though, was never just the challenge. It was the overwhelming beauty of the mountains—humbling, vast, and grounding all at once. It was the quiet resilience they demand and the perspective they offer. And it was the warmth and simplicity of the Nepali people, whose spirit and hospitality leave a lasting impression.
Not once did I think of turning back. Because somewhere along the way, it became a powerful reminder of how much further you can go, one step at a time.
– Kamini
Thank you, Kamini. See you in class.
Tim
What’s Going On
25% Discount for CrossFit Games Tickets
July 24-26 at SAP Center
We have 29 tickets available across 3 ranges.
These are for ALL ACCESS to ALL 3 Days.
Contact [email protected]
Here’s what’s left:
P1 (Finish Line) – 6 tickets – $600
P2 (Middle) – 7 tickets – $480
P3 (Start Line) – 16 tickets – $360
Overheard in Class:
“If it’s easy I’m probably doing it wrong.”
Timfluencing
CrossFit is deeply saddened to share that a legendary member of our CrossFit community, Rob Orlando, died on April 6, 2026, at the age of 50.
On Jan. 20, 2025, Orlando was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, affecting his lower jaw and lymph nodes in his neck. Just a day prior, he achieved a personal best powerlifting total, lifting 1,525 lb.Orlando was the longtime affiliate owner of CrossFit Hybrid Athletics, running the gym for 15 years. He achieved legendary lore as a strongman and athlete when pitted against some of CrossFit’s toughest workouts, where he would intentionally up the load. Orlando shared his passion with the rest of the community, creating the CrossFit Strongman specialty course, which introduced legions of CrossFit athletes around the world to Atlas stones and a myriad of techniques in service of variance in programming and “regularly learning and playing new sports.”
In 2009, Orlando made his CrossFit Games debut in the Individual division, qualifying three years in a row. He returned to the Games in 2016 in the Masters division.
Orlando was a true pillar of our community, and his kindness and dedication to CrossFit will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.
Tim’s Takeaway: This is a tough one. I’ve known about Rob since I started CFPA. We still have Farmer Carry Handles from his Strongman equipment company. I watched all his old videos and performances as they would get posted through CrossFit media. And I’m 50 years old, too. So this is a little tribute to Rob, his impact on my life and the lives in our gym as a result. It also reminds me of the following quote.
“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”
Thank you for your support.
I look forward to what we will do together.
