If you ask Merit why she keeps coming back to CrossFit Tundra in Grand Forks, she won’t start by talking about the workouts.
She’ll tell you about the people.
Like many adults balancing careers, family, and everyday responsibilities, Merit was looking for more than another gym. She wanted a place where she could become stronger, healthier, and part of a community that genuinely cared.
Today, CrossFit has become part of who she is.
Caring for Others Starts With Taking Care of Yourself
As a Family and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and clinical instructor at the University of North Dakota, Merit spends her days serving others.
Between work, raising a family, church, volunteering, and staying active, her schedule is packed. Yet despite having a gym membership and equipment at home, she never found a routine that truly stuck.
“I was feeling stuck. I had a gym membership and equipment at home, but just felt like something was missing. I wanted something different.”
Like many people searching for a gym in Grand Forks, she wasn’t simply looking for another workout. She wanted accountability, coaching, and a place where she felt she belonged.
More Than a CrossFit Gym
Merit’s first experience at CrossFit Tundra wasn’t defined by barbells or burpees.
It was defined by kindness.
“My first impression at Tundra was the absence of race. You just blend in.”
Coach Kat guided her patiently through Fundamentals, but what left the biggest impression came afterward.
Members noticed when she wasn’t there.
They welcomed her back.
They celebrated her progress.
“It was more than a gym. It was my new family whose intentions were to make me a stronger version of myself.”
Today, after her morning prayers, coming to Tundra has become a natural part of her day.
Becoming Stronger Instead of Smaller
Like many new members, Merit originally focused on the number on the scale.
Eventually, that changed.
“The moment it clicked was when I stopped thinking about my weight and just focused on becoming stronger.”
That shift transformed everything.
Instead of chasing weight loss, she started chasing strength.
Since joining CrossFit Tundra, Merit has:
- Built confidence in and out of the gym.
- Learned to hang from the pull-up bar and work toward kipping pull-ups.
- Returned to running after recovering from a broken ankle.
- Back squatted more weight than she ever imagined.
- Found energy and confidence that carried into every part of life.
As she puts it:
“This is not a gym. It has become part of my daily routine.”
A Community That Reaches Beyond Grand Forks
One of the most meaningful moments in Merit’s journey happened thousands of miles away.
While visiting London, she dropped into a local CrossFit affiliate.
Even on another continent, she immediately felt at home.
“Tundra has shown me that CrossFit is a family. I experienced this during my three-day stay in London. I fit in like a key in a lock.”
That experience reminded her that the CrossFit community extends far beyond the walls of one gym.
Her journey has even inspired family members across the United States and overseas to give CrossFit a try themselves.
Advice for Anyone Thinking About Trying CrossFit
Merit’s advice is simple.
Take the first step.
You don’t have to be fit.
You don’t have to know what you’re doing.
You just have to walk through the door.
The workouts will help you become stronger.
The people will keep you coming back.
Looking Ahead
Merit knows her story is still being written.
She isn’t chasing perfection.
She’s excited to continue becoming the healthiest version of herself.
“I look forward to this new woman, mother, and wife I will become.”
Thank you, Merit, for sharing your story and for bringing your positivity, grit, and encouragement to our community. We’re grateful you’re part of the CrossFit Tundra family.
Looking for a CrossFit Gym in Grand Forks?
Whether you’re just getting started or looking for a community that will support you every step of the way, we’d love to meet you.
At CrossFit Tundra, we coach the individual—not just the workout.
Schedule a free No Sweat Intro today and discover why so many people call Tundra home.