Upper East Side

Congratulations to March Athlete of the Month, Faryn Shiro! Faryn deserves recognition in our community for so many reasons. She comes down the stairs with a giant smile on her face and her great mood is infectious. She has a positive attitude and sense of humor that makes her just an all around fun person to WOD with and have some post WOD drinks with!  In her time at EVF, Faryn has worked hard, cleaned up her technique, and become quite the strong girl — handling Rx like a boss. Congratulations again Faryn!

— Coach Nicole

How/when did you get involved in CrossFit? What has motivated you to stick with it?
I had just run my first (and only) marathon and I thought that I had pushed my body farther than it would ever be able to go … But I had been seeing a lot of CrossFit posts on my Facebook and I had a few friends who were starting to get obsessed, so I decided to try the free intro class at the CrossFit by my apartment (EVF). That less than 10 minute free intro to CrossFit workout made me the most sore I had ever been in my life. That tiny little workout kicked my ass so much harder than a 4+ hour run that I knew this was something that I had to do! I knew the days of playing on an elliptical for hours while watching a movie and pretending I was getting a good workout were definitely gone!

The motivation to stick with it comes from every time I start getting good at one thing I find 10 more things I need to get better at. I feel very accomplished every day but also feel like there are always so many things that I can improve on.

What do you enjoy most about being a member at EVF?
I know this is the most cliché answer in the book but the community is obviously my favorite part about EVF. When I first moved to the Upper East Side, I had no friends that lived up here. I left every weekend … now it’s hard for me to ever leave the UES. These people have seen me at my absolute worst laying dead after a workout in a pool of sweat! There is nothing cute about that but these people have seriously become my best friends — people I can truly act myself around.

With this community I am encouraged to lift all the weights on the bar and drink all the alcohol at the bar! It’s just as much hard work as it is fun and it motivates me every day no matter if I am feeling like crap, super hungover, or just want to lay in my bed to keep coming back cause a day that I don’t see EVF people just feels wrong!

Do you remember your first workout? Looking back how did it go?
It was the intro to CrossFit workout, which I think was like 5 wall balls (I was probably using the 8 pound wall ball) and maybe kettlebell swings (with like the 18-pound kettlebell). That could be totally wrong (I have a horrible memory); all I know is that I couldn’t walk for a week and that is when I knew I was about to drink the Kool-Aid really quick!

What were your goals when you first started? How have they changed?
When I first started, I think I was joining for the vain reasons of looking better. While I have to admit that it is still always a struggle, it has changed to so much more! Now I have more specific goals of PRing my back squat, really understanding the mechanics of a snatch, getting that clean and jerk stronger and actually competing Rx in a competition (shout out to Geoffrey’s Angels for making me finally sign up for that …).

How have you grown in that time — health, body, mind, etc.?
There are so many things that when I started CrossFit I just had told myself, your body is not meant to do those things so what’s the point in trying? A pull up, a rope climb, even monkey bars were all things I used to think were impossible for my body, but now I have learned with enough dedication and practice I can do those. The limits I once set for myself are gone, and I really have gained so much more confidence in what my body can do!

Favorite lift and WOD?
Favorite lift is probably push press, and I’m pretty sure anyone who has ever talked to me at the gym knows I am obsessed with Annie.

Least favorite movement and workout?
Oh so many least favorite movements … The snatch ’cause it is so fricken hard to get! And all the gymnastics stuff. I’m just so not gymnasticsy!!!

What drives you through the door each day?
The community. My now best friends. The people I’ve become more and more obsessed with every day. They are not afraid to call me out on my shit when I’m complaining for no reason or when my form looks like crap. But they are also the first ones to send me a text when they see on SugarWOD I PR’d or killed it on a workout.

Do you have any advice for new members?
It’s really fricken hard at first! Everything doesn’t seem to work, everyone seems to get it and is lifting heavier than you and it just doesn’t seem to make sense but one day something little is going to click. Then a week later another thing will click. And eventually more and more things start to click. You will never be perfect at this sport but you are going to have a really kick ass time getting good at it!

You’re also going to notice our community seems crazy … which we are. But they are honestly some of the best people I’ve ever met, so get to know them and you will very quickly be welcomed in! And as for our coaches they seriously kick ass! I have no idea how they see the things they see and know the stuff they know but utilize them! They’ll keep you safe but also push you to do things that you had no idea your body was able to do! They are truly the best of the best.

What do you hope to achieve in the coming year?
Ughh the dumb toe to bars! I can’t get my stupid toes to actually hit the bar!!! I also would love to get a handstand push-up and actually get upside down every time I try to kick to the wall. I want to get better at pull-ups and start doing a lot more of the WODs Rx.

LET’S GO!