TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF. WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF THE GYM?
I work on strategic projects for a private equity owned business, so I do a lot of different jobs there, but my background is finance. Right now I’m working on managing a strategic marketing project and competitive intel, and I hope to get some experience helping with M&A in the new year. My work focuses on growing the business so I’ve got my hands dirty in a lot of different areas! I also serve as a board member at First Financial Credit Union and I just became the chair of the Hydrocephalus Association’s annual Chicago Walk. Most importantly, I’m the mom of the animal we call Chase that’s usually running around causing a ruckus.
WHAT INITIALLY GOT YOU INTO TRAINING AND WHAT KEEPS YOU COMING BACK?
Health and fitness has almost always been a big part of my life. Being a Type 1 diabetic since the age of 9 taught me the importance of nutrition and my love of fitness kicked in during my teens. I started CrossFit several years ago out of curiosity and fell in love with it. What keeps me coming back is a priority of mental health. I have to consistently get some form of physical activity in or I don’t sleep well and I just get into a funk. The people at Hardware also keep me coming back. Every athlete here is just a great human and life is better with great humans miserably sweating it out together.
WHAT ARE YOUR FITNESS GOALS? HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO REACHING THEM?
My goal is to improve my overall cardio endurance and actually get pull-ups consistently. I wouldn’t describe my progress as “close” but definitely as “in progress”.
WHAT’S AN ACCOMPLISHMENT OR GOAL YOU’VE REACHED AT HARDWARE THAT MADE YOU THE MOST PROUD?
When I got chin-ups and one ugly strict pull-up! I couldn’t believe I actually got the pull-up! Now I’m just working on getting stronger so I don’t have to sub so much.
FAVORITE WOD/MOVEMENT?
Clean and jerk. There’s just something so satisfying about doing the superstar movement with a heavy bar over your head!
LEAST FAVORITE WOD/MOVEMENT?
BURPEES and RUNNING! I don’t suffer silently so I think everyone already knew this.
ANY ADVICE FOR SOMEONE INTERESTED IN TRYING OUT HARDWARE?
Hardware is such a great community. Even if you don’t feel good about the work you did, everyone is so welcoming and proud for you. I have a few favorite sayings that keep me going:
– The best workout is a finished workout.
– You only regret a workout you missed; you never regret a workout taken.
– Sometimes just being there and going through the movements is just going to happen. It’s so much better than not doing anything. Everyday can’t be a PR day.