January Athlete of the Month
Let’s give it up for our January athlete of the month, Courtney! She’s a huge part of our community — we can’t think of an event she hasn’t graced — welcoming newbies and veterans alike to Columbus Circle. Courtney consistently works hard every time she comes down those stairs. She asks for and, more importantly, takes her coaches’ advice and as a result, has made huge strides in her weightlifting and other skills during her time at EVF. Little known fact: Courtney has found the secret sauce in fitness and has coupled her EVF membership with a membership at Row House, where she balances her CrossFit with Row Houses’s high endurance, low-impact rowing. Congrats, Courtney!
CrossFit Upper East Side or Columbus Circle?
Both! I started at Columbus Circle but expanded to include both locations in December 2017. CC is close to my office and UES is close to home.
How/when did you get involved in CrossFit?
With a great big nudge from Sara G. in April 2017. I was about 75 pounds heavier than I am now and desperate to feel better both physically and mentally. Despite that, the thought of starting to workout with so much weight to lose left me feeling hopeless. Sara was over for dinner one night and heard me say I needed help starting the journey. She convinced me to try one EVF class and the rest is history.
Do you remember your first workout? How was it?
I sure do! It was a 360 class with Garen. I remember looking at the workout on the white board, throwing my hands up and saying but I can’t do that within 5 minutes of the class starting. Garen, with that big pretty smile, looked at me and said “So you do what you can, no big deal.” I felt like death afterwards and wanted to vomit. Same thing for my first CrossFit class with Jamie. There were so many days in the beginning where I had to push through tears during a workout out of sheer frustration for how hard everything felt.
What were your goals when you first started? How have they changed?
Honestly, in the beginning my goals were to not quit and to lose weight. I have one vivid memory of a CrossFit class when I first started with weighted ball squat cleans. Everyone finished before me; it felt terrible. I was moving at the pace of molasses with tears streaming down my face. The entire class circled around me screaming and cheering for me to finish. Words cannot describe what that meant to me. If they hadn’t, I probably would have given up. But it’s really hard to quit in the face of 12 people cheering you on with true encouragement and excitement. Once I moved past the hurdle of finishing a workout, my goal became not finishing last. The weight naturally came off as I got better and more committed. Now, I am less focused on weight loss and more focused on form and strength.
How have you grown in that time — health, body, mind, etc.?
I am happier, healthier and more confident to say the least. I embrace challenges at this point rather than quitting before starting. It has been a good reminder for me as a parent to instill the same values in my kiddos.
What do you enjoy most about CrossFit?
Hand’s down, it’s the community — the support and friendships that I have gained. CrossFit isn’t just about grunting and lifting weights for me. It’s everything we get in addition to that. On any given day, I know I can go to a class, get a good workout in, see friendly faces and above all share some laughs as we fight through the pain.
Favorite lift and WOD?
Squats and snatches for favorite lifts. I don’t have a favorite WOD (yet) but my favorite day to come in for workouts is Saturdays at CC for the partner workout. It’s always an intense workout and good time all around.
What about your least favorite?
Anything that includes burpees. That covers about 50% of the WODS out there, right?
What motivates you?
I feel like an entirely different person compared to where I was last year. Progress — whether it is weight loss, improvement in form, confidence, etc. — is a big motivator for me. Beyond that, seeing Garen and Alex dance around during class. Who doesn’t feel motivated to go see that?
Do you have any advice for new members?
Stick it out, even if you think the workout is too hard, you are too tired, etc. There is no such thing as being too out of shape for a workout. Scaling and is always an option and never something to be embarrassed of in class. I still scale! Feeling good about yourself is life changing, it’s not easy but well worth it.
What do you hope to achieve in the coming year?
A pull up and muscle up would be nice! 🙂
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