February 2026 Newsletter: New Coach, 2026 Open, and Further, Faster program
Marble City,
Thank you for such an incredible start to 2026. There are 36 members in the January Committed Club, 45 guests visited us during Bring a Friend Week, and at the time of typing this, our gym sits in the Top 100 of CrossFit gyms in America with CrossFit Open participation. Last month’s nutrition workshop also developed new habits in several members who are feeling, looking, and performing better than before and that’s worth celebrating!
Although January is often home to good habits and fresh starts, something about this momentum feels different to me. Our community is unique in the sense that we love to work hard and be great to each other. Let’s keep things rolling into February!
Clay
Overview
• February Member of the Month
• New Coach
• Elements Program
• Further, Faster Program
February Member of the Month
Jess Boyd
Name and Any Nicknames:
Jessica Boyd, but I go by Jess.
Where were you born and where did you grow up?
I was born in Knoxville but grew up in Athens, Tennessee. I moved back to Knoxville to attend UT and never left.
How long have you been CrossFitting and how did you find your way into Marble City?
Marble City is my first CrossFit experience, and I’ve been working out here for one year.
What keeps you coming back to Marble City?
It’s funny - I’ve always been active and prioritized working out, but I didn’t think something like CrossFit was for me. I was pretty intimidated. But Marble City coaches are so helpful at explaining everything and helping me figure out what to scale and what to push myself on, and now, I want to go as much as I can to work on new skills and push myself even more.
What does Marble City mean to you?
I’ve been thankful to make some new friends! There’s nothing that breaks the ice like surviving a bunch of shuttle runs or burpees together. Also, everyone is so nice and encouraging, and that means a lot.
How has the gym impacted your life?
I think I’ve surprised myself by what I’m able to do, and that’s pretty empowering.
Can you share a memorable experience or achievement from your time at Marble City?
One day last summer, we had a workout that seemed to be only sprints of some sort outside, and it was memorable to say the least. It was a really humid morning, and the workout felt like it took the whole hour, and it was honestly an achievement to complete it. Sometimes when I’m in the middle of a tough workout now, I remind myself that I can make it because I made it through that one. … Marble City is really fun, I promise.
What are your current fitness goals?
My goal is to do pull-ups without a band.
Program your dream workout:
Deadlifts, bench press, maybe the bike somewhere, but most importantly, absolutely no burpees or box jumps.
Favorite and least favorite lift?
Favorite: Deadlift. Least favorite: Snatch.
How do you spend your time outside of Marble City? Do you have any hobbies?
I like to bake, hang out with my dog and cheer on University of Tennessee athletics.
What are you currently recommending? (Books, movies, shows, food, etc)
I love reading/watching mysteries and thrillers, and I just watched the latest “Knives Out.” It was so good!
Any advice for new Marble City CrossFitters?
Keep going! You’ll surprise yourself. Also, maybe don’t read the workouts before you go to class, so you don’t talk yourself out of it.
Welcome Emme to the Coaching Staff!
Please join us in giving a warm welcome to our newest addition to the coaching staff at Marble City — Emme Griffith!
Many of you know Emme from taking morning classes with her and her willingness to partner with anyone that’s ready to have a good time on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Many of you don’t know that she’s a musical student at UTK and sings opera jaw-droppingly well. Be on the lookout for Emme during late morning classes at the gym!
New Intro Course: Elements
We are excited to introduce a course we’ve been developing over the winter. Elements is our new introductory program for new member onboarding. The course is intended to bring new members up to speed on the philosophy behind the CrossFit training program, our nutritional strategies, and Marble City’s class structure, while introducing the framework of the foundational movements of CrossFit.
The Elements Course consists of three individualized sessions that develop and structure each new athlete’s first 90 days at Marble City. New members are taught how to train CrossFit, plan rest days, achieve threshold training, create a sustainable nutrition plan, and they receive a personalized approach exclusive to their training goals.
Whether you have been in our gym for 2 months or 2 years, if this sounds like something you are interested in, reach out to your coaching staff. It is no coincidence that the few that have already completed this program during January 2026 are off to a flying start in class! It is never too late to refine the basics and renew the learning the process. All Bring a Friend Week participants were invited to enroll in the program and were sent a discount code. Contact a coach and we will gladly send it to you also!
Further, Faster Program
We have developed a new and exciting program for you that begins in February. We’re calling this program “Further, Faster” because that’s exactly where it will take you. The program is built for athletes who want direct coaching, faster progress, and real technical feedback—not guesswork.
How does it work? It’s simple. Choose a single movement you want the most development on. The 2026 is around the corner and you still have time to tackle the particular movements that can shift you up thousands of places on the leaderboard: Chest to Bar Pull-ups, Double Unders, Toes to Bar, Handstand Push-ups, Bar Muscle-ups, and Ring Muscle-ups. You’ll receive (3) 30-minute personal training sessions over a 4-week period, designed to dial in one specific skill and move it forward efficiently.
We start with an initial session where we watch how you move, break down your mechanics, and establish your true baseline. This isn’t just coaching cues—it’s a full movement analysis so we know exactly what to work on and why. But that’s not all!
From there, we design a custom 4-week program specifically around your skill for you to complete on your own. Every session has a purpose. You’ll know what you’re training, how it should feel, and what progress should look like. Each session on your program can be completed before or after your regular class and only needs 10-15 minutes to complete.
At the halfway point, we meet for the second time to reassess your movement, clean up technique, and adjust the plan if needed. This checkpoint keeps you on track and ensures we’re progressing exactly along the line we set from day one.
At the end of the four weeks, we finish with a final session to evaluate improvements, reinforce key technical points, and give you clear next steps moving forward.
Because this is personal coaching, you get far more detailed and technical feedback than you ever could in a class setting. Athletes learn the movement faster, understand it better, and retain it longer—because the program is built for them.
If you’re serious about improving a skill and want coaching that actually moves the needle, this is the fastest, most effective way to do it.
Receive 30% off if you register with a friend and perform the sessions together with a Buddy Pack.
*Note on the Buddy Pack: Members must choose the same single movement to develop and attend the private sessions together.
You can register through the app or by contacting Clay with the movement and/or person you want to train with!
