Local couple takes over CrossFit Paso Robles
Kerin Bennett stands in front of the white board that shows the workout of the day written out for the week at CrossFit Paso Robles. Photo by Heather Young
Kerin and Chad Bennett take over local box
Kerin and Chad Bennett have been members of CrossFit Paso Robles since they moved to the city a year ago and officially took over ownership on Oct. 1. Kerin said she got interested in CrossFit after she had her third child. As soon as she was cleared to exercise, she started going to CrossFit with a friend who recommended it.
“I never liked the regular gym because there’s no accountability. That’s what I liked about CrossFit — the accountability,” Kerin said. “I’m not an athlete, I never was. I don’t like exercise. I don’t like to be sweaty.”
Kerin Bennett demonstrates Olympic lifting that members learn in CrossFit. Kerin and her husband, Chad, take over ownership of CrossFit on Oct. 1. Photo by Heather Young
However, since first going with her girlfriend to the workouts, she fell in love with it and hasn’t looked back — that was four years ago. Since then, she became a CrossFit coach and coached at the box she and her husband used to belong to in Menifee, which is near Temecula. Chad moved to Paso Robles first when he got a job here as a crane operator. Because of school schedules for their three children who are now 4, 6 and 9, Kerin followed with the children in the summer. She said that he started going to the Paso Robles box and told her she’d love it. When she moved here, she started going as well and then started coaching.
The previous owner, Sonja Johnston, decided to sell, Kerin said, because she moved on with a different career. “So, it just kind of fell into our laps,” Kerin said.
Kerin and Chad both teach classes, along with two other coaches, Faith Jewell and Tyler Lane. Most classes are taught by one coach, but Kerin said if there is a new person, a second coach will be there to help teach him or her how to do the exercises, especially when doing Olympic lifting. Kerin added that as much as possible, they try to have two coaches at the class, one leading and the other working out with the class.
“We really promote eating well,” Kerin said. “This is a really positive, healthy place. CrossFit really encourages being fit, being healthy, that strong is more important than being a size 2.”
The box has about 30 members with an average of eight people in each class, though Kerin said there are typically fewer people in class during harvest and the California Mid-State Fair. The classes are held Monday at 8 a.m. and 5:30 and 6:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday at 6:30 and 8 a.m. and 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 9 a.m.
Kerin said what sets their CrossFit box apart is that they are very family friendly — kids are welcome to gather in the office while their parents work out, which is what the Bennetts’ children do, and have done for the last four years. Their son started sitting in the doorway in his car seat or stroller while his mom worked out at the CrossFit in Menifee.
CrossFit Paso Robles is located at 731 Paso Robles St. For more information, call their new phone number at (805) 769-4608 or go to www.crossfitpaso.com.
