Upper East Side

Congratulations to this month’s Athlete of the Month, Alli Cost! Alli has earned this spotlight for so many reasons. She has worked tirelessly on her rowing technique and has improved it so much over time; I’m so proud to see a CrossFitter truly embrace rowing and put in countless extra hours on her own to follow a separate rowing program.

Alli is always a positive spirit in and out of the gym and one of our most active community members. I think I can speak for all when I say that we love those (paleo) balls she makes! Congratulations Alli, and I can’t wait to see your split time in 3 months!

— Coach Nicole

How/when did you get involved in CrossFit? What has motivated you to stick with it?
I decided to do the On-Ramp March of last year as a birthday gift to myself. (And because I told Jovis it wasn’t worth the money but then figured that I should try it so that I could have a valid reason to be all judgy). But I ended up totally digging the concept of a genuine community built around improving fitness. And I feel better than I ever have in my life.

What do you enjoy most about being a member at EVF?
Although this sounds really cliché, I feel at home when I walk into the gym and that’s just cool. The community is the driving force of what makes the experience more than just a workout. The coaches really work to push to you toward your goals (or make you make a goal) and care about your success (and your form). I love that I get to meet new people regularly and build friendships with amazing people I would have otherwise never met. Also, I really like that I can go for a walk in the neighborhood and will always run into someone I know.

Do you remember your first workout? Looking back how did it go?
It was one of the CrossFit Open Saturday workouts and I am pretty sure I said, “What the f*$# is this?!” I think I had to modify it so much that I went home and told Jovis that they gave me a toddler version of the workout.

What were your goals when you first started? How have they changed?
Initially, it was just not hurting myself and being able to add 10-pound plates so I wouldn’t have to reach so far down to pick up the bar from the ground. Now I have a set of goals for things I can rock out with a smile and another set for the movements that address my particular body weaknesses.

How have you grown in that time — health, body, mind, etc.?
I love my body for its strength/endurance rather than its size now. I embrace what I’m good at in the gym but allow myself to be just as proud at pushing through what makes me want to cry from frustration.

Favorite lift and WOD?
Overhead squat. Any WOD with a lot of rowing. J

Least favorite movement and workout?
Front squat. (For some reason it still feels so wonky to me that I’d rather do 10 overhead squats than 1 front squat). I think I would probably have a pouty face about a WOD with front squats, short bursts of running, and lots of push-ups.

What drives you through the door each day?
There was just a sheer stubbornness that initially kept me coming back those first couple months. It took some time for me to be comfortable with being uncomfortable, both physically and emotionally. Now that challenge is something I look forward to since I know it’s what drives improvement.

Do you have any advice for new members?
Form is more important than adding more weight or doing more reps. You have to suck at something before you get good at something so don’t worry when you feel like you’re doing an awkward child-size version of the workout. Also, go to the events, parties, book clubs, and happy hours since that’s where you really get to build up those relationships with the other members.

What do you hope to achieve in the coming year?
Finally get a strict pull-up. Row a 2k in 7:30. Randomly supply cookie balls to the whole gym one day.