TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF. WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF
THE GYM?
I’m currently a personal chef – at home for Sarah! After a 20 year career with a special
event production company in the suburbs, I’m enjoying my first ever career break*.
I’m an amateur musician – I’m usually in a band or two and always writing songs (or
forgetting the songs I’ve written). I was able to connect with some old friends this spring
and there might even be a new E.P. in the works. I’m currently training for my 12 th
Marathon this summer. I’ve also been a marathon training pace group leader with the
Chicago Area Runner’s Association for the last 6 years helping other runners get to the
start line and keeping them moving at a steady pace all summer long.
*Hardware friends – if anyone is looking for help with small business management,
recruiting/HR, project management, training/coaching, or anything else interesting let
me know!
WHAT INITIALLY GOT YOU INTO CROSSFIT AND WHAT KEEPS YOU COMING
BACK?
We are longtime residents of Bowmanville and after walking past Hardware for a few
years decided it was time to check it out. I had no idea what it was all about, but
empirical evidence suggested it was intense – a sort of nuclear option for fitness (this
coming from a crazy runner!) I was at a place in my running where I had plateaued and
thought that CrossFit might push me to greater accomplishments by improving overall
fitness and injury prevention.
I still remember my first foundations class where I couldn’t hold a PVC pipe in a front
rack position. Instead of feeling awkward and woefully out of place, my partner for the
warm up (shout out to Neal B!) gave me some pointers and shared some of his “back
when I started” stories. I knew from day 1 that there was something special about
Hardware.
I keep coming back because that feeling is still there. On a personal level there is
always something to be learned, achieved, exceeded, etc. No two visits are the same.
If you put in the work, amazing things will happen. But it’s a lot more than the physical
aspect that keeps me engaged and excited. The comradery and friendships I’ve made
at Hardware are incredible. There is nothing more motivating to me than seeing other
members achieving their goals and overcoming their obstacles.
WHAT ARE YOUR CROSSFIT GOALS? HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO REACHING
THEM?
As marathon season and running mileage pick up, my primary CrossFit goal is to work
efficiently and safely while maintaining the fitness levels that I’ve been able to build on
the last 8 months. Come the Fall I’m hoping to work towards more shoulder mobility,
grip strength and with that a bar muscle up in time for the CF Open 2020!
WHAT’S AN ACCOMPLISHMENT OR GOAL YOU’VE REACHED DUE TO
CROSSFIT THAT’S MADE YOU THE MOST PROUD?
At my very first class George went around the room at introductions and asked each of
us what our current fitness goals were. At that time I was chasing a sub 4 hour
marathon. It took two more attempts, but I finally finished one at 3:59:38! Later that
week the grapevine told me that during open gym that morning a group of members
were actually watching me finish on the marathon tracker knowing I was going for it.
That is what Hardware is all about.
A more recent accomplishment was completing the Murph Wod on Memorial Day RX
(no vest) in under the 60 minute time cap. As I came sprinting around the corner at
Pauline’s up Balmoral I knew it was clooooose… Adrian and a group of a dozen others
were cheering me on. “59:40 59:45 59:50 59:55 56 57 58… As I passed the front
door I heard him call out 59:59!!! That was rad.
FAVORITE WOD/MOVEMENT?
My current favorite movements are pull ups and toes to bar – both moves that took me
quite a while to initially get but are still improving on a regular basis
LEAST FAVORITE WOD/MOVEMENT?
Overhead squats – flexibility is an issue for me – but with a good year maybe this will
move into the favorite category! That’s the beauty of CrossFit. So many things to
improve.
ANY ADVICE FOR SOMEONE INTERESTED IN TRYING OUT CROSSFIT?
CrossFit is probably not what you think it is. It’s not barbells and rowing machines and
pull ups and sprints and jump ropes and all sorts of other chaos. Those are only the
tools you use to tap into what Hardware CrossFit is. It’s a family, challenging,
motivating, welcoming, it’s ringing the bell, and life affirming and most importantly fun!
Stop on in for a class – I’ll help you get into a front rack position with a PVC pipe.
