TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF. WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF THE GYM?
I work at a consulting firm during the day. I garden at the Bowmanville community garden and emcee two live variety shows, one for CHIRP Radio – so a quiet hobby and a loud one.
WHAT INITIALLY GOT YOU INTO TRAINING AND WHAT KEEPS YOU COMING BACK?
I was tricked, basically. I approached a neighbor wearing a “coach” T-shirt and said I was weak after lockdown and interested in working out, and he said to come and check out a “strength and conditioning” class. I was like “yeah, I could benefit from more strength and conditioning.” I had no idea I was doing “CrossFit” until halfway thought the class, where I said “wait, this is CrossFit ? I thought you aren’t supposed to do CrossFit?” I had no idea what cross-training was, and the negative stereotype that it was for only for hyper-fit crypto-bros who brag about rhabdo. It turns out it’s full of nice people who don’t push volatile investment strategies, which is why I keep coming back.
WHAT ARE YOUR FITNESS GOALS? HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO REACHING THEM?
My fitness goals are ever changing and will thus never be reached. Sometimes it’s just “make it through class,” but right now I’m working on ten unbroken double-unders. My PR is a very sloppy 8. I keep hearing it’s going to “click” so any day now haha.
WHAT’S AN ACCOMPLISHMENT OR GOAL YOU’VE REACHED AT HARDWARE THAT MADE YOU THE MOST PROUD?
I was very proud to finish a modified Murph (50 banded pull ups, 50 ring rows, 200 elevated push ups, 300 squats, and two one-mile runs) in under an hour. Running even a mile unbroken seemed impossible a year before.
FAVORITE WOD/MOVEMENT?
They’re all pretty good.
LEAST FAVORITE WOD/MOVEMENT?
I like the mental challenge of the Olympic lifts, but sometimes I feel like the confused math lady meme, and the coaches can see my thousand-yard stare and steam coming off of my head.
I have yet to not be sore after lunges or curtsey squats, but I like to think the tingle lets you know it’s working. I’ve come to accept DOMS as part of life.
ANY ADVICE FOR SOMEONE INTERESTED IN TRYING OUT HARDWARE?
Just come and keep coming. That’s mostly all I did and continue to do. They do all the planning.
And don’t be afraid to scale the workout to your ability. As I’ve learned from the wise coaches, my ego will always be there, and health is a long-term strategy.