Jason Larocque knows what it’s like to feel lonely. Anxious. Lacking social connection.
A former Division 1 baseball player, Larocque found himself in a tough place when his college career was over.
- “Sometimes, when athletics get taken away from you, you end up lonely and you miss that team dynamic,” he said, adding that anxiety also became a big challenge for him. “And when you’re anxious, you don’t take care of yourself.”
As a result, Larocque started gaining weight, which he kept on until he started CrossFit in 2016 and lost 60 pounds.
- “I have been through it all, and one of the things that I can share is things get better if you ask for help and you work on yourself, but if we don’t talk about things and we don’t share our struggles, then we do it by ourselves, and it’s just overwhelming,“ Larocque said.
Now, Larocque is a coach at CrossFit Variance Plus in Beverly, MA, and an Associate Principal at an all-boys middle school.
His 18 years of experience working with these middle-schoolers, combined with his own personal experiences, led him to recognize just how difficult it can be for many boys and men to share their struggles.
- “We often don’t allow men to be healthy with their emotions, and be vulnerable, and ask for help,” he said.
All of this is why Larocque decided to start raising money each November for Movember, the annual event best known as the month men grow out mustaches. It’s a time to raise awareness for mental and physical health challenges that are predominantly specific to men, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and suicide.
For those who question why we need to call attention to men in November at all, Larocque says this: “Men do have certain privileges, there’s no doubt, but we also have a lot of struggles and strains in our lives that go unnoticed.”
- “There are a whole host of men walking around each day with little to no help or resources because they just don’t know how to ask for it,” he said.
The Details
In the last three years, Larocque has raised $20,000 for Movember in various ways.
Two years ago, for example, he tackled 30 workouts in 30 days at 30 different gyms. Not only did people donate money, but what happened after the workouts only solidified why he is so passionate about the cause.
- “People would come up to me and say, ‘Thank you for doing this. My son committed suicide two years ago.’ Or, ‘Thank you for doing this. My father has PTSD and is addicted.’ Those people coming up to me, connecting to my story, was powerful,” he said.
Last year, Larocque designed a partner workout specifically for Movember, and this year, he’s hoping to attract as many gyms as possible to join him on November 19, International Men’s Day.
Coach Larocque’s Movember Workout
“Seek Help”
11 rounds for time:
- 19 calories (on a machine)
- 11 dual DB box walkovers (#50/#35 @24/20 inch)
- 11 burpees to a target
- Split the work up any way you want
Time Cap: 30 Minutes
Eight gyms, including HWPO, have committed to taking on “Seek Help” on November 19, but Larocque hopes to attract many more in the upcoming days.
The Big Picture
Larocque couldn’t be more thankful for CrossFit, not just for donating money to Movember each year but for its ability to help men with their physical and mental health.
- For him specifically, not only did CrossFit help him lose 60 pounds, it also was the impetus that helped him get off antidepressants and “feel a renewed energy and connection in my life,” he said.
He added: “CrossFit helps build fitness but also form relationships, and I think is a tremendous asset to men’s health.”
You can donate to Larocque’s Movember campaign here.
Featured image: @coachlarocque / Instagram
