What brought you to CrossFit in the first place?
I considered coming to CrossFit for a few years before I actually made it in. Eventually, Jenn (Markwardt) telling me how much I would like it settled in. Even after I accepted that, I still had a few years of pregnancy and nursing that delayed me in getting started.
What was your first impression? Has that changed?
When CrossFit Sandpoint first started, I used to run by pretty often. There wasn’t a sign yet, so I had to speculate as to why there were always sweaty dudes hanging out inside a garage listening to Wu-Tang every time I ran by. Without being sure exactly was was going on, I did kind of want to be a part of whatever it was.
My first class, I walked into the gym and Dan was eating almond butter by the spoonful (seriously), and I worried that I may have made a mistake. I had not made a mistake though. Despite Dan and his pre-workout snacks, I feel like I’ve found the most amazing community at CrossFit Sandpoint. Beyond that, I’ve found a place where I can push myself until I kind of want to puke, set goals, and accomplish positive change in my life.
There still are a lot of sweaty dudes, and occasionally some Wu-Tang, but CrossFit Sandpoint has quickly become one of the best things in my life.
What was your first success?
Does it count as a success that I can (sometimes) count my sets and reps and keep track of where I am in a workout? I think I’m only sort of kidding. Most of my background as an athlete is as a long-distance runner. And to run for miles and miles, you sort of have to be able to disconnect your head from your body and just keep your body doing a repetitive motion without thinking about it. Being able to disconnect your mind from your body is super helpful when it comes to running marathons, but less so when it comes to remembering what I’m supposed to be doing during a workout.
So for me, it actually has been a (small) success to be able to keep track of where I am in a workout.
What are you working on now?
I have been trying to figure out how to get my toes to the bar a couple of a times in a row without just looking like I’m flailing around. Also, Handstand pushups, pistols, and pullups are my goals in 2017.
I guess double-unders are also on my long-term goal list. But I also feel like my natural disinclination toward rhythm puts me at a disadvantage on those.
What’s your favorite CrossFit Sandpoint memory?
I don’t exactly have a specific memory tied to CrossFit Sandpoint, the general association in my head is of driving away from the gym feeling happy, wonderfully exhausted, and sometimes a little bit light-headed (maybe I should wait to start driving until that passes).
