Mission Statement:

     To be a platform of fitness inspiration for people from all walks of life and to create an environment that encourages building up others around you.

Our Values:

     We believe that everyone has potential, but not everyone has an opportunity. MyRootFit wants you to be aware of what makes YOU keep pushing. We want you to grow and learn with others. It does not matter where you are from, where you are now, but only where you want to be. We believe in you, we need you to believe in yourself.

What do I want to accomplish?

     MyRootFit was created to help you realize your true potential and show you how to guide yourself how to get there. We are greater than what we, or anyone else can imagine. Living a healthy and fit lifestyle is a choice, a choice that anyone can make. Decisions become easier when you have a purpose. Once you have decided on your long-term goal or your purpose for what you are doing, act short-term. It is a daunting task to motivate yourself to go to the gym or to go out on a run, but I assure you, it is far more difficult to look yourself in the mirror and think back to six months ago when you said you were going to start your fitness routine and wonder "...What if?" Every day counts, every meal counts, everything matters. Living a healthy and active lifestyle can be easy, but it is easier not to do it. What will you choose?

How did I get started?

        "If you think the way that you have always thought then your results will always stay the same. I never considered myself a runner, 3 miles was about my max before my shins started killing me. One day I decided I was going to run a half-marathon. I had very little physical training, but mentally prepared myself as best I could. It wasn't nearly as bad as I made it seem in my head when I first thought of it (the days after are a different story, but yeah). I got hooked and ran a few then I got in contact with Gateway for Cancer Research out of Chicago. They were one of the charities for the Chicago Half Marathon. I decided to try for my first fundraiser. My aunt lived in Chicago and her life was taken by breast cancer. I set out a lofty goal in a short time frame and 11 days later I raised $4,000 to be the top fundraiser. My whole outlook on life change during that race. I felt invincible. Failure? What was that? I decided during that race that any challenge I faced going forward would have only two possible outcomes, I would succeed or I would learn, there were no other options. 
 

     You see, running is my chance to clear my head and think. I thought about how proud my Aunt would be, how easy it was to raise $4,000 (I was making a molehill out of a mountain which I'll get back to), and how easy it was for me to make an impact on people's lives. One year later I moved to Rhode Island and I linked up with another charity, the National Mutiple Sclerosis Society, to run up 61 flights of stairs in the Hancock building in downtown Boston. I knew I could do it, whatever I decided "it" was. I set another goal of $4,000 and ended up being the top fundraiser again, raising $5,515. I had never been so full of motivation in my life. So, why no raise the stakes? 26.2 miles?

 

     Ok, so again, I was not a runner. Most people can get through a half if they train a few months. A full marathon just seems crazy. I toyed with the idea of doing the Chicago Marathon and another fundraiser along with it. This time my goal was $10,000. I planned to get $5,000 from local area Chicago businesses and $5,000 from my friends and family. My trip to Chicago yielded me $0 from businesses. I even offered to give them $100 if they'd just donate it under their business name so I could at least say I had one on board, but no one would help me. I set out to do the biggest fundraiser of my life and run twice as far as I ever had and my plan wasn't working. I work at a job where I stand 9 hours a day. I'd run 10+ miles then go to work or work then run 10+ miles and try to find time to go to the gym and sleep in between. It was physically and mentally exhausting. I wanted to quit.

 

    My Aunt was someone who did not quit, someone who welcomed challenges. What right did I have to give up on her? I couldn't, I had to push through. Six months of training later and multiple fundraising avenues and efforts, I ran 26.2 miles and raised $10,350 for Bright Pink out of Chicago; my greatest accomplishment to date.

 

     I share this story with you because YOU can do what I did, too. Tell yourself it is possible and your goal WILL become reality. Don't spend time worrying, just tackle it. There is nothing special about me, I just wouldn't give up. My Aunt kept me going, she was MyRootFit."

 

-Michael Brooks

Founder of MyRootFit