TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF. WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF THE GYM?
I work at Northwestern Mutual where I train and coach Financial Advisors as they build their businesses and help people achieve financial security. I am married to Stephen who is also a HW member and I’ve lived in Chicago for 10 years. Outside of work and the gym, I love spending time with family and friends, exploring the city, and a good movie or a live concert. I am also a member of a monthly running club that combines life coaching with physical movement. Pretty much I love being active, outdoors, crafty/creative and anything food-related!
WHAT INITIALLY GOT YOU INTO CROSSFIT AND WHAT KEEPS YOU COMING BACK?
I started Crossfit just over 3 years ago after feeling burnt out from triathlons and wanting to try something new. My sister, a CrossFit coach in North Carolina, encouraged me to try it out. I am so glad I did!
SO MANY reasons I keep coming back:
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Community & friends: constant support, encouragement & inspiration to be a better human … you cheer your friends through that very last burpee!
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Variety of movements… there’s always something new & fun to work on
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Training for life!
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Getting healthy, fit and strong & more accepting of myself/my body
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Welcoming and safe space to take risks and try new things
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Challenging myself to do more than I think I can
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Opportunities to compete with yourself/others if you want
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Scaling/meeting yourself where you’re at
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Learning and growing all the time: CrossFit is really a metaphor for life
I find that the more I show up for myself and the community, it gives back ten-fold.
WHAT ARE YOUR CROSSFIT GOALS? HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO REACHING THEM?
I have so many but my biggest goal for 2020 is to get a muscle up – eek! I am excited that I’ve made a ton of progress in my pull-ups, technique and overall strength so I am hopeful a muscle up is in sight! I also want to continue to rock my double unders, improve my handstand push-ups and get some pistols.
WHAT’S AN ACCOMPLISHMENT OR GOAL YOU’VE REACHED DUE TO CROSSFIT THAT’S MADE YOU THE MOST PROUD?
This is hard! I feel like everyday I experience mini “wins”. Where I feel most proud is my overall strength and improvement as an athlete. Seeing my pull-ups go from using a band to doing strict chest-to-bar, watching my push-ups move from the “worm” to good form, and squatting heavy weights after knee and hip surgeries. My most recent accomplishments I’m excited about are PR’ing my Crossfit Total and my Fran time.
