Marin Bast: Built by Work Ethic, Driven by Purpose

Some athletes grow into their work ethic. Others seem to be wired with it from the start. Marin Bast falls into the second category. Her journey with Gifford Fitness began through softball with Minnesota Force, where Nick Gifford helped lead team conditioning and pitcher and catcher strength sessions. When the training season ended, Marin did not want to stop.

She wanted more.

“I loved the encouraging atmosphere that Gifford provided me… and things just took off from there.”

That decision to keep going marked the beginning of something much bigger than offseason conditioning.

When Results Become Real

Marin realized she wanted to take training seriously when she saw it transfer directly onto the softball field. She was faster. She was hitting harder. Her performance was changing in measurable ways.

“From my speed to my ability to hit the ball harder, I knew it was paying off and worth my time and effort.”

The physical improvements mattered. But so did how it made her feel. Stronger. More confident. More prepared. That combination is powerful for any athlete. For Marin, it became fuel.

Learning from Those Who Came Before

From her very first day in the gym, Marin was watching. She remembers attempting a 15-pound back squat and glancing over to see Stella Kiemele lifting 200 pounds with ease. That moment stuck with her.

“From that moment, I knew Stella was someone to watch and learn from.”

She studied Stella’s focus and intensity. Hard work was not loud. It was consistent.

In more recent years, Ava Roberts (left) became another source of inspiration. Ava’s positivity showed Marin that elite effort and joy can coexist.

“Even the hardest training sessions can be fun and filled with joy, laughter, and happiness.”

Those examples helped shape who Marin is becoming inside the gym.

The Lions Club Mentality

For Marin, being part of The Lions Club represents commitment and competition. It means surrounding yourself with athletes who share similar goals and expectations. It also means raising your own standard. She became the first athlete to consistently train multiple hours per day, multiple days per week. That kind of commitment does not happen by accident.

“From the very beginning, my parents have told me that working hard will get me further than anything else in life. They were right.”

Her motivation is simple: challenge herself daily and see how far she can go.

A Day in the Life

Marin’s training schedule would exhaust most adults. She wakes up at 5:00 a.m. to practice lifting technique. High school softball practice follows at 6:00 a.m. After school, she heads to Force practice for hitting, defense, or catching. Then she walks over to Gifford for two more hours of training.

Dinner and homework happen on the way home. If there is still time and energy left, she squeezes in additional technique work before bed.

It is not glamorous. It is disciplined.

On hard days, she keeps things simple.

“I focus on my goals and ask myself, ‘What would the athletes I look up to do?’”

Discovering Weightlifting

Weightlifting entered Marin’s life almost as a joke. Nick Gifford mentioned she could become a National-level lifter. Soon after, it was no longer a joke.

She competed in her first meet, qualified for Nationals, and everything accelerated from there.

What draws her in is the strategy and technical precision. Choosing attempts. Executing the snatch with exact timing and control. The sport demands both patience and aggression.

Weightlifting also taught her resilience.

At Nationals, she missed a clean and jerk that would have earned her bronze in the total. Instead of letting that moment define her negatively, she used it.

At her next meet, she made that same lift as her opener.

“Staying resilient isn’t always easy, but it has been a big point in my journey so far.”

Translating Strength to Softball

The carryover to softball has been dramatic. Since committing to weightlifting, her exit velocity has jumped more than 20 miles per hour. Her consistency at the plate has improved. As a catcher, her power and endurance have elevated.

Strength is not just about numbers on a bar. It is about performance when it matters.

Eyes on the Future

Marin’s early goal was simple: step onto the varsity field at STMA. That goal still matters, but her vision has expanded. Now she aims to compete at a high collegiate level.

“What excites me most about collegiate sports is knowing all my hard work will have paid off.”

Redefining Strength

One of Marin’s proudest moments came standing on the National podium for the snatch with a bronze medal around her neck. It was proof that taking risks leads to growth.

But medals are not her only measure of strength.

“Being strong means having the mental power to keep going when there are obstacles in your way.”

To her, strength is showing up again after failure. It is maintaining a positive attitude when things do not go as planned.

Beyond the Platform

In school, Marin gravitates toward math and physical education. Outside of training, she enjoys reading, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family.

When “God’s Country” by Blake Shelton starts playing, she feels unstoppable.

She describes herself as hard-working, disciplined, and prepared. With one small exception.

She once forgot her food on a lifting meet day.

And while most people at the gym see her as relentlessly structured, they might not know that she does not even have a gym at home. When she needs technique work, she moves her kitchen table out of the way and practices lifts in her kitchen.

No excuses. Just intention.

1,000 Classes and Just Getting Started

Very few athletes reach 1,000 classes. Even fewer do it at Marin’s age.

One thousand early mornings.
One thousand decisions to show up.
One thousand days of choosing discipline over convenience.

For Marin, the number is not about attendance. It represents something deeper.

“To me, 1,000 classes means dedication. It represents my work ethic and motivates me to keep pushing further.”

Each class has been a brick in the foundation she is building. Every rep, every missed lift, every breakthrough moment has shaped not just her performance, but her character.

The 1,000-class milestone is proof of consistency. Proof of resilience. Proof that long-term commitment creates long-term results.

And perhaps most importantly, it is proof that greatness is not built in one big moment. It is built in quiet mornings, extra reps in the kitchen, and the willingness to come back tomorrow.

Standing on national podiums is impressive. Hitting performance milestones on the field is exciting. But 1,000 classes tells a different story. It tells the story of who Marin is when no one is watching.

Disciplined. Driven. Prepared.

And if the first 1,000 classes are any indication, the next 1,000 will be even stronger.