Athlete of the MonthJanuary
How old / young are you? 57 years young What is your occupation? Small Business Owner When did you join Widespread Fitness? December 2015 Why did you decide to give Widespread Fitness a try? I was coming off a second knee surgery a few months earlier and wasn’t recovering well. I had a close friend who had been doing CrossFit for over a year and he had completely changed, in a good way. I figured it was time to round out my fitness journey and give something new a try. What was your athletic background before starting? I have been an endurance athlete most of my life. I ran track and cross country in junior high and high school. I took up cycling my senior year to recover from stress fractures and never looked back. I raced pretty seriously as an amateur through college and for several years post graduation. I still ride as much as possible and love my time on the bike. What changes in your health, physique, and overall performance have you seen since starting? Everything has changed. I have been a completely different athlete since starting my CrossFit journey. I had gotten pretty plump and out of shape and that changed quickly. My cycling performance improved with better hip and ankle flexibility and a stronger core reduced lower back pain on longer rides. I never consistently lifted weights, especially olympic lifting. When my biceps became bigger than my wrists I knew I was making progress. I love lifting now. I don’t recognize myself compared to 6 years ago. What advice would you give to someone with regards to starting? Anyone can do this no matter what your athletic background is or isn’t. If you stick with it and embrace being uncomfortable, it will change your life for the better. What are your favorite and least favorite exercises / movement? I love anything with a bar that goes over my head. I have a love/hate relationship with double unders but after 6 years, I now don’t avoid workouts that include them. Let’s all be honest, sled pushes just flat out suck. What is your most memorable moment so far? I am amazed and remember several times when an athlete achieves something they thought was impossible, first pull up, a heavy deadlift or squat, double unders or becoming a coach. For me it was doing a paleo challenge 5 years ago, losing 3 inches off my waist and reducing my body fat by almost 3% in a short 30 days. It was the first time I ever followed an eating plan. Kari changed my life by making me aware of what I consumed and how it affected me. What do you like to do outside of the gym? I love to spend time with my kids. My oldest daughter attends college at Cal Poly so it’s a bit more challenging with her. Last year I learned to love climbing with my daughter Jenna despite my fear of heights. I still cycle regularly and love hanging out with friends. What is your favorite “cheat” food or meal? A double bacon cheeseburger with cajun fries and a salted caramel milkshake from Five Guys. What is something people would be surprised to know about you? I was adopted from an orphanage/foster home in Seattle when I was almost 3 months old. My parents walked in with an open adoption certificate with 6 small infants to choose from and walked out with me. Who or what inspires you the most? My amazing daughters, seniors in high school and college, inspire me to stay fit and healthy and attend regular Widespread Fitness classes. I want to be around to not only see their amazing lives take shape but to participate in their activities and passions.
