Athlete of the MonthOctober

How old / young are you? 41

What is your occupation? I teach 8th grade English at Westlake Middle School. I love my job and am so blessed to work at such a great school.

When did you join Widespread CrossFit? 2 1/2 years ago (I think – not sure)

Why did you decide to give CrossFit a try? I didn’t know anything about CrossFit, but I was looking for somewhere to strength train for running. I had read a book on changing your habits, Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin, and it suggested finding something convenient. I also know that for my personality I needed someone to hold me accountable. I stopped in and as soon as I talked with Matt about his extensive knowledge of running I knew I was in the right place.

What was your athletic background before starting CrossFit? I was never an athlete as a kid – I wish now that I would have been. I’m a book nerd. I had run a lot of shorter races.

What changes in your health, physique, and overall performance have you seen since starting CrossFit? I started training for a half marathon. Matt helped me a ton with a training plan which included three days of CrossFit and two days of running. I was incredibly nervous for that first half. I have since run 5 half marathons and 2 full marathons! Probably the biggest change for me overall was working with Kari on nutrition. I have completely changed how I eat and what I eat. Right away, I noticed changes in what I could do as a runner and in the gym. It’s also helped my family. My five-year-old son loves to eat avocados now and hard “wheeled” eggs. I have noticed a huge change in my overall strength. I think a lot of runners are just running. I feel like I have a much better balance of strength overall.

What advice would you give to someone with regards to starting CrossFit? Just show up – don’t look at the workout. Don’t listen to people around you. A lot of people in my life make negative comments to me about CrossFit, but it works for me and I love it.

What is your favorite and least favorite CrossFit exercises / movement? I really don’t love most weightlifting, but I know it’s good for me. I also loathe wall balls and anything to do with sleds. I like the cardio stuff obviously.

What is your most memorable CrossFit moment so far? Being able to climb the rope for the first time and participating in the CrossFit Open workouts. They really helped to build my confidence.

What do you like to do outside of CrossFit? Spend time with my husband and two kids. Read, golf, run, and watch college football.

What is your favorite “cheat” food or meal? Oreos and milk. Before Kari fixed me I ate a lot of Rice Krispies.

What is something people would be surprised to know about you? I love cheesy country music.

Who or what inspires you the most? Everyone at the gym is an inspiration to me. I love the friends and community there. I love to read inspirational stories about athletes.

What is one goal you would like to accomplish through CrossFit? I want to run a faster marathon and just continue getting stronger.

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Derek Williams

CrossFit Coach

The questions ‘what does CrossFit mean to me’ and ‘Why do I want to be a coach’ come down to a simple quote that I immediately thought of. “It’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.” – Dr. Edward J. Stieglitz
He wrote that in a book on longevity, and I believe that CrossFit has added life to my years and is responsible to adding life to the years of countless people and will continue to do so for many years. I have more life in my years because I’m more physically fit, because I have developed a habit of working out 4 times a week, because I track macros and count calories and because I don’t have to figure out what I’m going to do in my workouts. I feel better, I’m able to be more active with my family and friends, and I’m generally happier than I would be otherwise. And that’s all because of CrossFit. I thought about exploring coaching a while ago because I thought it would be a good way to develop my knowledge of the sport as well as help me develop coaching skills that jobs that I want in the future are looking for. Becoming a coach has given me experience with managing different personalities, meeting people where they are, motivating people in the most effective way and advance my understanding
of this sport and fitness in general. But more importantly, I add different energy, experience, capability, and level of respect to the coaching team.

CERTIFICATIONS

CrossFit Level 1 Trainer

Chris Jackson

Fitness Coach

Our wealth is our health…I truly believe there is no better investment any of us can make than in our mental and physical health.   Living an active, healthy lifestyle enables us to get more out of life and live it to the fullest.    As a lifelong runner, I came to Widespread looking to find balance in my fitness by building strength and power.  What I found was a community of people who motivate, encourage and support one another inside and outside the gym.  Coaching at Widespread gives me the opportunity to help our athletes on their journeys toward health and fitness.  Learning new movements, improving technique and hitting PRs motivates athletes of any age, and it’s critical for those of us who want to continue growing.   Life is better together, but life is rich and full when you are healthy and fit.

CERTIFICATIONS

CrossFit Level 1 Trainer Course

Amy Poshusta

Fitness Coach

As I have reached my mid-40s, my desire to find balance in a healthy lifestyle has peaked; balance in how much I train or workout, how much emphasis I place on healthy food choices and how much time I spend socially connecting with my family and friends.  To me, CrossFit is this balance.  It is the overlapping region on my own personal Venn diagram of training, nutrition and lifestyle, and it is providing me the best quality of life and health.  It is about challenging one’s capabilities with new and demanding workouts, nurturing bodies to grow and supporting mental health with a super fun community of like-minded and encouraging people.  CrossFit is challenges and rewards. It is individually competitive and collaborative.  It has pushed me to better how I move and to mentally persevere.  And as a result, I am the strongest, and perhaps the happiest & healthiest, I have ever been in my whole life.

CERTIFICATIONS

CrossFit Level 1 Trainer Course

Erica Erickson

Fitness Coach

When I sit down to think about what CrossFit means to me this is what comes to mind…..self-confidence, strength, peaceful mind, supportive tribe, willingness to get out of one’s comfort zone, and not being afraid to show weaknesses.   Growing up playing sports, becoming a mom took a toll on me physically and mentally.  After our first set of twins, I tried to stay active, but after our second set, I found I didn’t have time.  I woke up one day sick of being tired, out of shape, and I knew I wanted to be a better roll model for our children.   After getting the courage to ask a friend about her CrossFit classes, I signed up for a No Sweat Intro.  After meeting with Matt, I just knew it was something I had to try or I would always wonder “What if.”  I quickly fell in love with everything about it.  The variety of the classes, the community that pushes you to step outside your comfort zone, and the incredible coaches who help you believe in yourself when you feel like stopping because you haven’t work out in years.  CrossFit has dramatically changed my life and I LOVE helping others realize the same benefits in their lives.  Knowing that I get to assist others become stronger, both mentally and physically, is the foundation of why I love being a coach.

CERTIFICATIONS

CrossFit Level 1 Trainer Course

Ani Monroe

Fitness Coach

Coming Soon!

CERTIFICATIONS

Brand X Method Kids Course
 National Exercise Trainers Association

Kari Kirkendall

Nutrition Coach / Event & Media Director / Youth Fitness Director

CrossFit literally changed my life. Now I know this sounds cliche or a little extreme, but it honestly did. CrossFit not only gave me a self confidence I had no idea I could posses, a self love I didn’t think was possible and an outlet to any challenge life threw my way, but also gave me my husband, my way of living and a discovery into a passion that consumes my life in the best way possible.

What I do every day is incredible. Every day I see something amazing and inspiring happen to people that I truly care so much about. And what I am talking about has nothing to do with being able to deadlift a huge amount of weight (although that IS awesome and I am always pumped when that happens) it’s about athletes coming in with stories about being able to do something they haven’t been comfortable doing in over 2 decades (whether it’s fitness related or just wearing a piece of clothing), or seeing two children under the age of 10 tell their mom and/or dad they want to be strong like them some day, or watching people become comfortable in their own skin in a way that 3 months ago they never thought they would ever be able to do. It gives me a passion and a drive to never stop doing what we are doing.

CERTIFICATIONS

CrossFit Level 1 Trainer Course
 CrossFit Kids Course
 Brand X Method Kids Course
 Precision Nutrition

Matthew Kirkendall

Head Coach / Owner

To me CrossFit means opportunity……..

Suffering a stress fracture to my femur, while training for my first 100 miler ultra, I sought out a different outlet to prove my fitness and stay active.  CrossFit gave me this opportunity.  Besides mostly disproving my actual fitness level, it provided me with a incomparable challenge and more accurate way to set physical and mental limits for myself.

Going through heart breaking personal struggles at home and making the life changing decision to move out west alone, away from friends and family, I arrived craving personal connection and sense of belonging.  CrossFit gave me this opportunity.   All it took was suffering side by side through a WOD before it felt like I had been a part of the community for years.

Years of reading, studying, testing everything I could on fitness and what is meant “to be fit” could only be so gratifying, I wanted to share my knowledge, experience and passion with others.  CrossFit gave me this opportunity.  It’s the feeling and joy I get when, I am able to coach a new athlete through a task that seemed impossible minutes before or see their face light up when a movement feels effortless after weeks of struggle, that makes me realize this is what I was meant to do.

Whether it be working for a national corporation or coaching at the local box, I have often questioned their ways of doing business, claiming I could do it better if only it was my business.   CrossFit gave me this opportunity.   Operating a successful fitness facility is a dream come true and proof that I can accomplish anything with the determination, patience, sacrifice and the opportunity.

PRIOR ATHLETIC EXPERIENCE:

  • Leadville Trail 100 Run
  • Ironman Lake Placid
  • Bel Monte 50 Mile Endurance Run
  • Leadville Marathon
  • Several other triathlons and running races of various distances

CERTIFICATIONS

Pain-Free Performance Specialist Certification
 CrossFit Level 1 Trainer Course
 CrossFit Level 2 Trainer Course
 CrossFit Aerobic Capacity Course
 CrossFit Movement & Mobility Course
 CrossFit Weightlifting Trainer Course
 USA Weightlifting Sports Performance Coaching Course

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