Athlete Spotlight – Lori M.

lori

Lori has been a CFH member for several months now and this week she is our Athlete Spotlight. Lori has had some recent breakthroughs, like nailing double unders and becoming a faster runner. We are super proud of her for her progress, but even more impressed by her positive mindset, commitment, and consistency. Lori doesn’t care about being the first one finished or lifting the heaviest, she has a strong desire to move well and learn.  This week we asked her some questions about her experience so far as a CFH member.

How long have you been doing CrossFit? 
I officially joined the CFH crew in February, so just about five months but I started dropping in here and there with Josh (usually only for a workout that included the ol’ running component) last summer and really saw the meaning behind the saying, “There is Fit and then there is CrossFit”.  Not to bore you but I played soccer in college and really missed the athlete component of going to the gym. I wanted more than bicep curls and choreographed leg lifts, but I needed the ‘show up ready and we’ll put you to work’ aspect and lots of guidance on new movements. Not to mention, my close friends were CrossFitters and they had their own language I could barely interpret – Fran this, Annie that, AMRAP tomorrow, EMOM today  – and I wanted to see what it was all about! 🙂

What has changed for you since joining CFH? 

Hmmm … a lot … to name a few standouts I’d say my pre-conceived notions of Crossfit, my mental strength, the number of bagels I eat in a week, my confidence on the rig, my sweet tooth, my alarm clock, and my relationship – all for the better 🙂 Dusting off and getting reacquainted with muscles I haven’t seen in a decade (shout out to those lats and traps) has been challenging/fun, too! I was absolutely trepidatious in the beginning. I didn’t know a kip from a snatch, was constantly asking how to scale this or modify that and didn’t have the first clue who Cindy was … but slowly you become more comfortable and, in turn, confident. You do what you can when you can to push yourself and start to see the gains and I’m only at the starting point. You always hear “trust the process” and it is so true. In a year I hope I can look back and be like, oh yea, I remember my first strict pull-up or whatever it may be!

What is your biggest accomplishment/ proudest moment since starting? 
Getting double unders! The rope finally passed around twice without slapping me in the shins and it totally caught me by surprise. Now workouts with doubles don’t freak me out, plus Josh was there and he usually gets more excited than I do which makes it fun. Brace yourself for a cheesy but true comment here but being in class with Josh always pushes me to work harder, it’s motivating and we share in the small wins  shaving two minutes off a 5k time thanks to Geo’s beloved running workouts (yikes!) Yeah, it’s only 3.2 miles but my endurance/cardio/mental game has probably benefited the most. It sounds cliche but it makes you think about the importance of pace and staying consistent – in running, Crossfit and life.
Any words/ advice you have for someone new or just starting out? 

Oh geez, the best advice I received was to focus on YOU and try to leave fear at the door … while it is hard not to compare, everyone is in a different place in their progression with a different personal goal so try to be your own competition. Customize – don’t be afraid to go slower to meet the challenge. Ask for help. Reward yourself. Eat up and eat well! Learn to love Sunday yoga! Enjoy the sweat! Embrace the people within the CFH community – my tribe has certainly expanded since joining and, while people may think we are a stone-cold pack of weirdos, sharing experiences with like-minded peeps fuels the soul! 


Bonus round: None of this would be half as fun or quite frankly possible if it weren’t for the coaches who are simply AMAZING and so damn patient. They spend quality time and meet you on your level – wherever that may be – which is a huge asset to not only me as a beginner to but the entire box.
Thanks, for being a part of our community, Lori! We can’t wait to see what is next for you! 

Want to find out more about how CrossFit Federal Hill can help you accomplish your fitness goals!? Just email us community@crossfitfederalhill.com

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