Upper East Side

Mallory is one of the most hard working athletes we have at Columbus Circle. She arrives to class early to mobilize and stays late to work on her weaknesses. During the WOD, you can see her focus and determination to give everything she can to beat the clock or get those last couple of reps. Besides being a great athlete, she is also a great representation of our community. She always has a smile on her face and makes sure everyone receives a great welcome. Mallory is a pleasure to have in class, and I’m happy to call myself her coach.

— Coach Jamie

How/when did you get involved in CrossFit?
I had a serious dance related back injury in 2011 that required a back fusion at my L3/L4. It took me years to get back into dancing, and as soon as I started feeling like a dancer again … I fractured my back a second time in 2016. Luckily it was not as serious as the first time. But I knew I had to do something for rehabilitation and to prevent further injury. Alex Miller suggested I try CrossFit and I joined him for a class on October 19th of my senior year of college and never looked back.

Do you remember your first workout? How was it?
I don’t specifically remember my first workout because I was too worried about not hurting myself and not looking like an idiot in front of my crush. But I definitely remember 16.5. I vomited in a trash can that Alex Miller dragged over about halfway through the workout, proceeded with more thrusters and burpees, and much more vomit before I finally finished. Clearly I didn’t care what Alex thought by then.

What were your goals when you first started? How have they changed?
My biggest goal when I started CrossFit was to strengthen my back. I went from not being able to pick up an empty barbell from the ground without incredible pain, to deadlifting 245lbs. So now my goals are much more about maintaining my strength and praying I don’t rip every time I jump up on the pull-up bar.

How have you grown in that time — health, body, mind, etc.?
CrossFit has truly changed my life. I have never been stronger, healthier, or happier in my life. I am in the best dance shape I have ever been in, and very few things match what it does for my mental health.

What do you enjoy most about CrossFit?
As an aspiring actor in NYC, I deal with rejection on a daily basis. CrossFit gives me a way to set and achieve goals, which is essential to my mental and emotional health. And then, as every CrossFit cult member has ever said, I really do love the community. I get to do something I love every day with people that I love to be around. And the EVF community specifically makes me feel like I always have a home base to come back to.

Favorite lift and WOD?
My favorite lift is definitely a Squat Clean. And I love to hate Fran. But I also just really do love Fran.

What about your least favorite?
Anything with wall balls and double unders. They are my true enemies. Wall balls I just completely despise from the bottom of my heart and double unders scare me into thinking I’m going to pee my pants.

What motivates you?
My biggest motivation is anyone who tells me I am physically incapable of doing something. I have too many injuries to count, and I probably shouldn’t be able to do a lot of the things I can because of those injuries. But anyone who tells me I can’t, there’s a fire hotter than hell inside of me that says I have to prove them wrong.

Do you have any advice for new members?
My biggest advice is to not be intimidated. Everyone starts somewhere, everyone has different goals, and everyone has to take their own path. There’s no room for ego or insecurity. You can’t move forward while looking sideways.

What do you hope to achieve in the coming year?
I pray to God that I can snatch without looking like a complete idiot on every other attempt.