Occupation:
5th Grade Teacher with Lynden School District
Which class time do you usually attend?
Usually the 4pm class during the school year and 7am during the summer
How long have you been CrossFitting?
Since January of 2013
How did you find CrossFit i1uvit?
My husband was taking our son to a free class, since he had heard from a friend a new gym was opening up. At the same time Melodie (Langstraat) and I had just finished a marathon and were looking for something different to try…we tried a class one Saturday morning and I haven’t looked back since.
What is your athletic/fitness background?
I played all sports growing up and continued to play basketball in college. Later, I started incorporating running into my workouts and that led me to tackle some half marathons, marathons, and some ultras including “Rim to Rim”, “Mt. San Jacinto”, and recently “The Zion Traverse”.
Favorite WOD:
I love any long chipper….well, after I am done i1uvit! :-)
Favorite lift or movement:
Right now my favorite movement is a pull-up because it took SO darn long to achieve.
Least favorite WOD:
For sure, it was the 14.5 Open WOD (21-18-15-12-9-6-3 Thruster/Burpees)…it nearly killed me! A second close was the 14.4 Open WOD….only because all I heard was “no rep” and never made it through the 5000 (ok…. 50) T2B….thanks for keeping it real judge Mikey!
Least favorite movement:
I still get nervous to Snatch but am starting to like it. Of course the moves I cannot do are my least favorite, but I plan on shortening the LONG list; pistols, bar muscle up, handstand walks……
Favorite life quote:
“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” ~ Hebrews 11:1
Favorite “guilty pleasure” food:
Diet Pepsi, mocha and gummies…preferably all at the same time!
How has CrossFit changed your life, lifestyle, and level of fitness?
I have always been active but did not realize in the thick of running how weak my core was until I started doing CrossFit. I had NEVER lifted weights; took me FOREVER to figure out the difference between all the lifts, but now I REALLY ENJOY them! The overall strength that I feel from CrossFit is new to me, but is such a good feeling.
Who or what motivates/inspires you to keep coming back?
I absolutely love the generational training that happens in a class, no day is like the day before, and growth is easy to see over time….very motivational for me! The gym accepts all of us and the coaches meet us at our current place; pretty cool! I still get nervous during the 10 second count down before each WOD….it never feels routine.
What is your proudest CrossFit achievement?
Well….It stemmed from a call I got from Matt as I was wrapping up a day at school. He called to encourage me to sign up for the 2014 CrossFit Open. I thought he was joking…SERIOUSLY?! I went to the 4pm class that day and a few guys from the gym signed me up for the Open before I left the gym that night. This was a huge turning point for me. Although I spent 5 weeks wanting to vomit every Thursday waiting for the WOD to come out, doing the Open gave me a different kind of confidence in the gym. Not all my Open WODS were impressive (sorry you had to witness my chest-to-bar without resistance bands for the first time! Kaylee….I think you stated you had never seen anything like it :-)) but I loved the competitiveness in it. It pushed me to do things that I would not have tried, if I had the option. I loved every aspect of pushing myself and having to put the prescribed weight on and do it….all in the comfort of my Friday 4pm class, however :-)!
Name one goal/personal achievement you would like to achieve through CrossFit?
I for sure just want to continue to get stronger and maintain strength with age. Stringing T2B, bar muscle ups and pistols are my next goals.
Hobbies/Interests outside of CrossFit?
I have a really cool husband, Dan, and four kids:
Paige, Carter, Coston, and Finley that I LOVE spending time with….my interests tend to be their activities in this season of life. I love running, anything active outside and being with my girlfriends….laughing is one of my favorite things to do!
Any advice for new members?
CrossFit was a process for me….I remember picking specific days I would go to the gym depending on the WOD, because I knew I would be successful at that workout (any running WOD I was there). Confidence comes and enjoyment is tri-fold when you accomplish a WOD that you view difficult or is not a strength. There are so many ways to maximize a workout….time is not always the goal for me, but this took time for me to realize…..form, sticking with a new skill and completing a WOD even if it takes longer, because you are incorporating a new movement closer to the RX mark can make you stronger…..GOOD STUFF comes from the i1uvit gym!
Any additional thoughts/shout-outs/comments:
Just a huge THANK YOU to everyone at the gym…what a great place to come…thank you Matt for encouraging, inspiring, believing in me, and challenging me. Kaylee, you simply rock and you continue to inspire; such an encourager and great coach . Chris Pash….SO GLAD you are back…been enjoying the 7 am mornings with you; you’re a fab coach! Chris L. and Mikey…haven’t caught a class with you two lately :( …. but you are A W E S O M E!