TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF. WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF THE GYM?
The basics: I’m a consultant (I mean, what the heck does that mean, anyway). I have two cats (Machu & Picchu) and a dog (Yoshi), and I share the responsibility of keeping the beasts alive with my partner (Andy), and we all live happily codependent ever after.
What makes me tick: I do love to travel, especially to places with a lot of nature. I really love to eat cheese, drink wine, and hang with friends. I also am very close with my family (to Andy’s dismay). I’m one of the lucky ones who won the family lottery, and the friendship/family line is quite blurred.
WHAT INITIALLY GOT YOU INTO TRAINING AND WHAT KEEPS YOU COMING BACK?
I wasn’t always an athlete (and still deny when I hear it), but I’ve been at it a while now. I didn’t put on a pair of running shoes for the purpose they were made until I was 32 years old, and that glittery pair of “tennys” from WalMart weren’t ready for what that moment spurred. That was 18 years ago. Within a couple years, I ran my first marathon, and now almost 2 decades later, I have celebrated that 26.2 finish line 35 times. It didn’t take long for my body to let me know that running wasn’t enough, I needed to strength train to maintain my obsession.
WHAT ARE YOUR FITNESS GOALS? HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO REACHING THEM?
Up until 2020, I thought my fitness goals were to just maintain enough strength to keep getting me across finish lines. A pandemic, a few extra pounds, a sprained ankle, and a body aging more quickly than I can recover played a major role in a necessary shift in my mindset. This last year, I set my sights on losing those extra pounds, getting healthier and resetting my fitness. Then I slowly ramped back up at the gym, and I am ever grateful for the help of the coaches who help me scale movements to what MY body can do, and I’m even more grateful for the gym buddies who never judge me for scaling down (or at least out loud to my face).
Now, I just want to age gracefully and stay strong & healthy, whatever that encompasses. I’m still figuring out this journey, and I’m okay with keeping it fluid. As I continue through the journey, the goals change. Some days, it’s just enough to get out of bed and get to the gym. Other days, I might PR, even if that is a PR for the month, or since pandemic, or since birth. I can usually find something to be proud of no matter how the workout goes.
WHAT’S AN ACCOMPLISHMENT OR GOAL YOU’VE REACHED AT HARDWARE THAT MADE YOU THE MOST PROUD?
A handstand at 50 years old. I’m not going to say I never did one before, but it’s been a LONG time. I’m a klutz with no coordination or rhythm. I fall A LOT. I come from a long line of fallers. But after my recent weight loss and fitness reset, I decided to try again, and after a few failed (and hilarious) attempts, I did it! And now I want to do them all the time.
FAVORITE WOD/MOVEMENT?
Most people would think my answer would be running, but strangely enough, I weirdly love Turkish Get-Ups. I cannot tell you why. I’m not sure I’m even good at them, I just love doing them.
LEAST FAVORITE WOD/MOVEMENT?
Did I happen to mention, that I don’t like any of the movements? But if you’re going to make me choose one I dislike most, it has to be the burpee. Ask Parker. I basically feign new injury like a soccer player every time burpees are on the whiteboard.
ANY ADVICE FOR SOMEONE INTERESTED IN TRYING OUT HARDWARE?
Just do it! Regular gyms intimidate the bejeezus out of me. The programming and the coaches eliminate the ‘not knowing what to do’ factor. Then Hardware takes it one step further. This is a welcoming and no-judgements community. The coaches are knowledgeable in alternate movements. They tune in to your goals to find something what works for you. And they encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and challenge your fitness without overwhelming you. And the no-judgement environment trickles to the members. You get to know the others in your classes and their capabilities and limitations. They celebrate all the wins and also sympathize and encourage after misses. It truly is an amazing community.