Tell us a little about yourself and how you got into CrossFit?  I am the 4th youngest out of 5 in my family. ALL GIRLS! Yes, we drove our dad wacky. I grew up in a very conservative family and was homeschooled for most of my life. I never had the opportunity growing up to play sports, besides the one year I played basketball (I mostly sat on the sideline). Instead, my mom put me in piano lessons. I’ve been playing piano since I was 6. Playing piano is still one of my favorite things to this day. I love playing classical, anime themes and video games scores. My now husband and I moved to Charleston back in 2017 to escape the cold and have never looked back. I love all outdoor activities. My favorites are kayaking, hiking and biking. I’d love to summit Mt. Everest one day (or at least basecamp). I know that’s a wild dream! I have 3 purrfect kitties, Zelda, Pepper (Pepper Pots) and Ciri. I keep bugging my husband for more! They rule the house! My sisters got me into CrossFit. They have been doing it for a few years and have always tried to get me to try it but I’ve always chickened out. I finally gave in last September and now I can’t be stopped. I am a very competitive person and this fills my competitive heart! What keeps you coming back each day?  The community here and the friends I’ve made (shout out to the 6pm crew). I’m proud of my accomplishments and progress too, which motivates me to keep coming. What is your favorite at-home exercise to do? I love doing core work at home or going biking on the Greenway. If you had to do 100 reps of one movement (not running), what would it be? I know I’ll regret saying DB snatches so maybe I’ll say sit-ups. What are 1-2 of your goals for 2024?  I’d love to back squat 200 lbs but I might have to make that my goal next year.  I REALLY want to learn to handstand walk. Outside of CrossFit I have a goal to read 100 books this year! Favorite lift?  Back squat for sure! Least favorite CrossFit movement?  I equally loathe thrusters and wallballs. Being short is a major disadvantage for wallballs. Hometown?   East Longmeadow, Massachusetts  Favorite Charleston Restaurant?  Off Track Ice Cream If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be?  Kitty cafe . Make coffee and be around cats all day!  What would you most like to tell yourself at age 13?  Homeschooling is cool/trendy now! You aren’t weird after all! But for real, I would tell myself not to compare myself to others. If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet? Edmund Hillary ( 1st person to summit Everest) One thing about me people would be surprised to know? I love heavy metal music (but I think people know that about me). I also love to cosplay. If the CFJI coaches came to your house for dinner, what would you prepare?  Homemade pizza in our outdoor pizza oven and homemade ice cream! Give us a “Question of the Day” to use in class.  Would you rather swallow a bug or lick a frog? Would you rather get a paper cut everyday or stub your toe everyday.

Tell us a little about yourself and how you got into CrossFit? I am originally from a small farm town in Central Maryland, but have lived in South Carolina, Southern California, and Colorado. Some of my favorite things are road-tripping, camping, reading nonfiction books written by women, and, admittedly, watching Reality TV. I am a Child and Family Therapist who specializes in Child Abuse/Trauma and currently work at a Private Group Practice here in Charleston. My mother actually got me into Crossfit! She’s been doing it for probably 10 years and had me try it about 3 years back. I was hooked! What keeps you coming back each day? The community and the challenge! I love the people I have met through CrossFit and staying fit has helped me in so many realms of my life. What is your favorite at-home exercise to do? I love taking walks to clear my mind during a work day or a Sunday morning with my pups. If you had to do 100 reps of one movement (not running), what would it be? Box jumps, baby! What are 1-2 of your goals for 2024? For Crossfit, my goal is to nail down Double Unders. Personally, I want to be really intentional about building community here in Charleston. My fiance and I moved from Denver back in December and I’ve always been someone who really values having close connections around me. Favorite lift? Probably Back Squat! Least favorite Crossfit movement? It’s a love/hate relationship, but Double Unders or Squat Snatches. Hometown? Mount Airy, Maryland. Favorite Charleston Restaurant? Honestly, right now I’m obsessing over CudaCo. If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be? I would love to be a National Park Ranger. I considered working a summer in Yellowstone National Park after college, but ended up moving to Southern California instead. What would you most like to tell yourself at age 13? That everything will be okay! Adolescence is hard for everyone in different ways and I wish I could tell myself to take it one day at a time and that you’ll find your way. If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet? Hmm that’s a hard one! My Grandma Joan (my mom’s mom) died when I was 4 and had advanced Alzheimer's Disease, so I never really got to know her. She was apparently an incredibly interesting woman, so I’ve always wished I could have known her and she could have known me. One thing about me people would be surprised to know? I love to bird watch! It’s something that has been passed down through the women in my family and it’s almost a meditation to me at this point. I love listening/watching closely, trying to identify different birds, and learning about their calls and distinguishing marks. If the CFJI coaches came to your house for dinner, what would you prepare? I make a mean homemade Chicken Pot Pie with fresh veggies. It’s one of my favorite meals to make for others. Give us a “Question of the Day” to use in class. This is my time to shine! How about: What’s the silliest way you’ve ever injured/hurt yourself? I certainly know I have a few.

Tell us a little about yourself and how you got into CrossFit? I am a very active person who wants to have every hobby on earth. Right now I have two young kids so my time for hobbies is minimal, but I try to find time to surf and play soccer, in addition to coming to the gym. I first started Crossfit back in 2016 with a roommate who was going to a gym downtown. I really liked the competitive aspect of it, and it felt like a new sport to learn rather than the same mindless workouts I’d been doing. But, shortly thereafter I started a construction/real estate side gig while working my engineering job and put everything else on the back-burner for several years, until I left my engineering job and joined here in Jan 2023. What keeps you coming back each day? The exercise makes me feel good, both physically and mentally, and I like the people. What is your favorite at-home exercise to do? Pushups, although this doesn’t happen often If you had to do 100 reps of one movement (not running), what would it be? Burpees What are 1-2 of your goals for 2024? My 1st goal for 2024 was to get Bar Muscle Ups, which I can now do. So I’ll add butterfly pullups as the next goal. Favorite lift? Snatch Least favorite Crossfit movement? Deadlift Hometown? Kansas City, KS Favorite Charleston Restaurant? R Kitchen If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be? Whitewater rafting guide What would you most like to tell yourself at age 13? Stop being such a picky eater. Food is one of the best parts of life and it’s way more fun to like everything. If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet? Buzz Aldrin. Neil Armstrong would be cool too but Buzz has the cooler name. One thing about me people would be surprised to know? I was on the drumline at Auburn, and performed at the National Championship the year we won it in 2011. If the CFJI coaches came to your house for dinner, what would you prepare? I’m hot on this Salmon dish with a lemony dill avocado salad right now, so probably that. Give us a “Question of the Day” to use in class. What’s the most fun “themed party” you’ve attended or hosted?