When did you start crossfit? Mid year 2011—didn’t realize I was 6 years into crossfit!
What do you do outside of Crossfit? I have a career in housing/construction/ design that has spanned 40 years now. When the kids were young I worked in real estate and property management to have the flexible schedule but for past 17 years I have worked at a high end decorative showroom, as a builder rep, assisting builders and their clients with new construction or remodeling of kitchen and baths. I also run an ebay business which is sort of a hobby of buying things cheap at garage sales and reselling for a profit. My education was in fine arts, so I still draw and do crafts and that is a happy place for me, play guitar, read, garden, help both my kids with whatever they need my help within their businesses …..and my newest past time which will become the best of all—see my grandbaby!!
What is your favorite/least favorite benchmark workout? My favorite workout is Grace because I like clean and jerks. They are empowering! My least favorite is anything with running….and Karen—really 150 wall balls??…. I like more of a variety of movements.
What is your favorite/least favorite movement/lift? My favorite lift is Clean and Jerks, favorite move, paleo chair and anything bendy and stretch! - And least favorite lift overhead squats, they make me want to fall over.
What was your workout routine before CrossFit? Non existent. Over the years , I would often join globo gyms and after two months quit due to lack of motivation or not knowing what the heck I was doing. I have always been very active so life itself was my workout coupled with some walks and bike rides. I grew up a dancer doing ballet, so as an adult I found occasional yoga helped keep me flexible.
What were your goals when you started Crossfit and have you achieved them. My goal was to get private workout with Dusty and then workout with him, Nikki and my husband for fun and to get my bones stronger since Osteoporosis runs in my family, plus help my endurance. I have done that and so much more. I am very proud of the fact that at 59 years of age I do not take any medications and have more health, stamina and endurance than most that are younger than me. I attribute that to Crossfit and cleaner eating. I often talk about crossfit to women my age to try and inspire them to try.
How has crossfit affected your life outside of the gym? Crossfit is a big part of my life due to my support for Dusty and CFD, as well as cheering him onto regionals every year, that is a big part of our family life. Definitely all the people here I have met at CFD are important to me and I have made some friendships that add to my happiness in life and enjoy watching the young fall in love, marry, have babies… I find it fun to be around the young people because it helps me stay connected to my younger self, lol, seriously. I talk up CFD to EVERYONE I meet, everyone is my professional life knows my dedication to the gym and the sport and my builder clients don’t help me lift things like heavy cast iron sinks anymore, they tell me I’m stronger than them…and its true!
What advise would you give someone just starting out in My success of not being hurt in 6 years of doing crossfit…knock on wood….is that You have to learn and listen to your own body and know your limits. Know your weight limits especially and just stay within those limits with slow small gains on the weight especially once you become a Masters…but always work on improving your cardio and your skill level on movements It is amazing how you always get better and better and everything can be easily scaled. It’s also important to clean up your eating and drinking if you want great results. As you get older you will find you really are what you consume and nearly all health issues can be resolved with being careful about what you consume, and exercise .I have found that to be true. 100% paleo is hard except for the very dedicated, but 80% paleo is easy, worth trying and produces great results
What inspires you to keep moving my own continued improvement…hopefully looking decent in a bathing suit….my son…staying healthy to enjoy my grandchildren…when gym members tell me I’m inspiring to them….feeling strong, healthy and fit! That is what inspires me to keep showing up to do Crossfit!