Leaders Spotlight : Jinglei Liu
In our 10th year of sweating and connecting we are sharing stories from our dedicated and passionate volunteers.
Introducing Jinglei L, who volunteers with FitFam Beijing, Jinglei never expected to join a 6am workout with the FitFam Beijing community in 2020 and now 6 years later FitFam is deeply rooted in his life.
Tell us about yourself
I'm from FitFam Beijing, and this is my 6th year with the community. I first knew of FitFam on a Saturday morning in 2020, while doing a HIlT workout at Qingfeng Park. Back then, I never imagined I would become a member, nor did I expect FitFam to become such an irreplaceable part of my life. I'm not a very social person, so I only joined the FitFam WeChat group with no real intention of taking part in the workouts- especially since they started at 6 a.m. , the venues were also quite far from where I lived. But one day, on June 30th, encouraged by Kevin, I joined my first FitFam workout at Junwangfu Square, and that's how my journey with FitFam began.
Your first FitFam workout
I felt great after my first FitFam workout. The relaxed fitness vibe and the upbeat, enthusiastic members made me want to keep coming back. I rarely talk to strangers and suffer from social anxiety- even now. For a long time, I would finish my workout and head straight home without chatting much. But as I gradually got to know other participants, I started joining them for coffee after workouts. I still stay quiet most of the time, though. The relaxed fitness vibe and the upbeat. enthusiastic members made me want to keep coming back.
The FitFam Impact
Years after joining FitFam, I'm still an introvert at heart, but I've become more proactive- I now help initiate things and organize activities for FitFam. I love cooking and often invite friends over for dinner. I also learned to make cheesecake from Cindy and enjoy baking it for everyone to share. At work, I take the initiative to organize team activities during my free time; something I never would have done before. Many people don't believe me when I tell them I'm an introvert. Thanks to Dima, I started signing up for various events, from half marathons to full marathons, domestic and overseas races, from 5km Spartan Sprints to the 50km Spartan Ultra, from 50km to 100km to 168km trail runs, as well as this year's hugely popular Hyrox. I'm not a fast runner, but my goal has never been to beat others. My only goal is to challenge myself and push past my own limits.
Becoming a FitFam leader?
In September, Sarah invited me to support her and co-lead a Friday workout and I gradually became an official team leader. As I integrated deeper into the community, I opened up more, started greeting and initiating conversations more easily and even enjoyed the ‘Connect aspect’ of FitFam at FitFam social gatherings.
Why become a FitFam leader?
Before you join FitFam, you may think we are a peculiar group who get up at 6 a.m. to work out before heading to work. Getting up early is tough, and working out outdoors with a crowd feels even harder at first. But once you start, you will discover FitFam’s unique charm, gain inner healing, powerful motivation and endless passion and warmth. First of all, I don't think I am the best example and I still have plenty to improve on, when leading workouts. Being a team leader means more than just leading a workout, you need to design thoughtful workout programs, check weather conditions for safety and connect with participants and fellow leaders. All the hard work is totally worthwhile seeing everyone’s post workout sweaty smiles.
Favorite Sweat and Connect moments
At FitFam, we have so many unforgettable memories. We sweated together, enjoyed lovely birthday surprises after workout, and relaxed over coffee together afterward. We cheered each other on at the start of races and waited for one another at the finish line. We stayed by each other's sides through bad days, offered sincere support in tough times, and felt sad and reluctant to part ways. These precious moments are simply endless.
Anything else you would like to share?
Many people have asked me why I have stayed with FitFam for so long. To be honest, I really don't know. I only wanted to try something new in my free time at first, but now Fitfam has long been deeply rooted in my life. Joining Fitfam is my best decision I have ever made. Become a better person. Joining FitFam Is my best decision have ever made. Lastly, I want to say to everyone: always stretch after running, always stretch after daily workouts, and always stretch after races.
