Coach Of The Month
Tell us a little bit about yourself. What do you do outside of coaching?
I grew up in the Western Suburb – Oak Park. As a kid, I enjoyed playing all kinds of sports from baseball, football, swimming, skating and bowling to name a few. I was on my HS softball and track teams at Oak Park River Forest HS. When I graduated from college and started working, I emersed myself in running and competitive road races. I eventually found my way into fitness and weightlifting. My love for football led me to playing semi-pro women’s tackle football with the Chicago Force where I had the pleasure to meet Darcy Leslie- our gym Owner/Operator. After sustaining a career ending knee injury, I found CrossFit and fell in love with the sport of fitness. Outside of gym life, I am an Occupational Therapist working in the field of Driver Rehabilitation. I also play rhythm guitar in a rock band called The Live Version.
What initially got you into coaching, and what keeps you passionate about it?
When my love for CrossFit took off, I wasted no time completing my CFL1 training course so I could be involved in coaching the CF community. Helping members of the gym get their first pull up, toes to bar, ring muscle up, or PR a benchmark workout is some of the most satisfying things I find coaching athletes of all levels. I really admire how the CrossFit community comes together to support each other and help members hold themselves accountable to their health and physical fitness.
What’s your coaching philosophy or approach when working with members?
I’m a very visual person, I learn by seeing and doing and practicing over and over again. When I work with members, I also like to educate and share knowledge to help contribute to the learning process (as demonstrated by my long white board briefings and soap box appearances…lol)
What’s been your most rewarding moment as a coach at Hardware?
There is nothing better than hearing that PR Bell Ring!! That demonstrates how a member’s commitment to his/her training, the structure of Hardware’s class programing and support of the Hardware community work together to bring positive life changes.
What’s your favorite movement or workout to coach (and why)?
Call me crazy but the Thruster is where it’s at! It’s a fabulous complex, multi joint exercise that targets everything from strength, balance, coordination, range of motion and respiratory fitness.. which is why the benchmark workout Fran is so nasty.
What’s your favorite movement or workout to do?
My favorite workout is “The Chief”. It’s the power clean that does it for me.
What advice would you give to someone new to Hardware or thinking about getting started?
The hardest part of starting is just stepping through the door. No workout is impossible nor does anyone need to be “in shape” to start training. Each and every coach and member at Hardware was once in the shoes of a newcomer. Keep an open mind, trust the process and keep coming back!