Janis Vander Ploeg-Wolfe

   

Age: 33

Occupation: Medical Admin

Which class time do you usually attend? Mostly 4/4:30, and sometimes noonon Fridays

How long have you been CrossFitting? 3(ish) years

How did you find CrossFit i1uvit? Through its now closed sister box, Jogo (RIP! I feel very fortunate that I still get to have Erica and sometimes Brad as a coach!)

What is your athletic/fitness background (If applicable) Back in high school, I was soooo good at getting injured! I don't think I ever even had to run a mile because I was always in a cast. My arms got pretty ripped from having to crutch around everywhere, if that counts.

Favorite WOD: Fran. Just kidding! Cindy or partner DT

Favorite lift or movement: Power cleans. When my shoulders bruise from catching the weight (yes, that happens--I bruise easily) I feel so cool.

Least favorite WOD: Karen. Ugh.

Least favorite movement: Wallballs. (I feel like admitting these things is going to lead to Kaylee or Matt programming a triple Karen for character building or something. Does anyone else hear ominous music....?)

Favorite life quote: "Study hard what interests you most in the most undisciplined, irreverent and original manner possible." -Richard Feynman

Favorite “guilty pleasure” food: Mini cupcakes, so I can eat six and tell myself it was only really like eating one.

How has CrossFit changed your life, lifestyle, and level of fitness? I never thought I'd be capable of doing most of the things I can do now! I'd say the biggest change has been to my courage. I made a promise to myself when I first started Crossfit that if I looked at the WOD in advance on a day I planned to go, I had to go. It's brought me in on Karen days, running days, and that time we did 100 thrusters as fast as possible (*shudder*). When you regularly make yourself overcome those fears for a workout, it threads into other areas of your life, too.

Who or what motivates/inspires you to keep coming back?  All of the excellent people at i1uvit! Also my mum, Phyllis Wolfe, who introduced me to Crossfit and can kick my butt at most WODS (this isn't an exaggeration--I just worked out with her when I visited my parents last month. She has the lungs of a blue whale and the strength of an ant). I would love to be as functionally fit as she is when I'm her age.

What is your proudest CrossFit achievement? Getting a chest-to-bar pull-up or doing the Open

Name one goal/personal achievement you would like to achieve through CrossFit? So many! A bar muscle up would be awesome. I'd also like to be able to do a decent snatch. I keep picturing the weight falling on my head.

Hobbies/Interests outside of CrossFit? Mainly reading. And Candy Crush.

Any advice for new members? Just show up and do your personal best. 1% better every day! And don't try to hide at the back of the box, it's already occupied😉

Any additional thoughts/shout-outs/comments: I'm an introvert; it usually takes a long time for me to feel comfortable. How lucky am I that there are so many people at i1uvit who have quickly made it feel like home?! Thank you to everyone for being so welcoming, and also to those that help hold me accountable. Finally, of course, a HUGE thank you to all of the fantastic coaches at i1uvit, who make each of us feel worthy of the sport and of calling ourselves athletes, no matter where we are in our fitness journey.