TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF. WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF
THE GYM?
By day I’m a Training Team Lead for ProQuest, which is a library services and content
company. After years of working in marketing and sales I obtained a Master’s in Library
Science in 2005 from the University of Illinois and have worked in the library industry
ever since. I work with librarians to educate them about our databases which cover a
variety of subjects from history to government to statistics to genealogy. I learn
something new every day and I like that my company preserves content that would
otherwise be lost or forgotten.
I’m a late in life athlete and ran my first marathon in 1997. I’ve got 15 under my belt and
this year am taking a break from running long distances to work on speed training and
CrossFit. I enjoy reading, knitting and travel. My favorite travel companion is Pete
Bush, also a Hardware member, and my favorite knitting companion is our cat,
Pistache. I enjoy Chicago during all seasons but really like when it warms up enough to
ride my bike around or go to the beach. Go Cubs!
WHAT INITIALLY GOT YOU INTO CROSSFIT AND WHAT KEEPS YOU COMING
BACK?
My friend Rachel, who lives in West Virginia, got me into CrossFit. She kept talking
about how great it was and even got me to a class when we were in DC for work years
ago. We live close to Hardware so Pete and I would see people running outside. We
weren’t making progress in our fitness and knew we needed a change and joined
Hardware after a particularly over the top vacation to Berlin. The rest is history. The
first people I met at Hardware were George for my intro session, Ozzie who assured me
that people of “all ages” work out at HWCF and Owen who did not let me quit during
one of my first workouts that involved 75 burpees.
I keep coming back for so many reasons. I love the athletes and coaches at Hardware
– they are the most positive, encouraging bunch you will ever meet. There is no
judgement. When I first started I thought I couldn’t partner with someone lifting more
than me but that is so wrong. People make accommodations and you can learn from
everyone at the gym. Plus, as adults, how often are we challenged to do something
completely new? And….for pure vanity….I love shopping and life is better when
everything in my closet fits!!
Hardware CrossFit has lowered my embarrassment threshold. I used to worry so much
about what people thought of me and I would be thinking ahead to failing instead of just
giving something a go. This attitude has seeped into other parts of my life. At work I
lead a team and instead of worrying about the outcome of a project I’m the one who will
say “let’s just try this!”.
WHAT ARE YOUR CROSSFIT GOALS? HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO REACHING
THEM?
I’m working on jumping the bar laterally. I am training to complete Chad (scaled) this
Summer. My other goals are consistency and keeping track to notice improvements.
As my strength increases I sometimes surprise myself. Just today I was closer to the
wall than ever before during a wall walk. I would like to find a few WODs in 2019 that I
can complete RX. I also think I’m really, really close to being able to do toes to bar.
WHAT’S AN ACCOMPLISHMENT OR GOAL YOU’VE REACHED DUE TO
CROSSFIT THAT’S MADE YOU THE MOST PROUD?
Anyone who has seen me work on this knows my proudest moment was when I finally
jumped over the bar for a bar facing burpee! As Chris L. would say “it’s all mental” and
it was. I was thinking too much about “what if I trip?” rather than just Jumping. The.
Damn. Bar. Thanks to Coach Adrian and our recent Nutrition Challenge I feel confident
I have kicked my breakfast cereal habit. It was time and I feel really good. I also can’t
believe I competed in an OLY meet. Some of my friends thought I was kidding when
they heard about it. My mom was so proud and now wonders if I’ll compete in the
Senior Olympics. Ha ha Mom.
FAVORITE WOD/MOVEMENT?
Strict press was one of the first movements I learned, and it will always be my favorite.
If you really want to feel strong, take a bar out of the rack and then move it over your
head with no legs. Wow. It’s a full body move while standing still. Bench press clicked
for me recently and it’s becoming a favorite. I also like the Clean and Jerk because it
just looks cool when you do it right and it feels great. My favorite WODs are Chippers –
which remind me of a marathon – you hear 3,2,1 Go and then you just get working on it.
Or any WOD with a burpee over the bar now that I can do them! Bring it on.
LEAST FAVORITE WOD/MOVEMENT?
I don’t want to have a least favorite movement because if I do it will always be
programmed. I have movements I don’t care for as much as others, but I just try
because you have to at least try. I have even made some small strides on rope climb
and my 8 th grade self is very proud of that effort.
ANY ADVICE FOR SOMEONE INTERESTED IN TRYING OUT CROSSFIT?
If you are interested come and check it out. It’s not a competition with anyone but
yourself. CrossFit can be physically and mentally challenging but if you stick with it you
are guaranteed to improve.
