JULY 2017 ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
I have been “CrossFitting” for many years on/off (since 2008), trying to juggle kids and making time for myself. CrossFit was the best and fastest way to get in a really good workout without thinking too much about what I needed to do. The one hour workout and done approach appealed to me and I had someone else telling me what to do instead of wandering around a gym trying to figure out the many machines.
I love the community environment that CrossFit provides. I have made so many friends. It truly feels like a family whenever we come together.
I love to have fun and laugh at myself, even when I want to quit. I just keep taking deep breaths and just do the work until its done. It helps to smile even though some of the pictures I see of myself, it looks like I’m crying or worried.
I never would have thought I would actually sign up to compete, but peer pressure really works! Everyone should try at least one competition during their CrossFit journey, face your fears. It really is so much fun to put yourself out there and see what you are really made of, you might be surprised.
I would love to do more competitions! I am not competitive by nature but I think it has pushed me to work harder when being judged and my team mates are pushing me to do my best.
Outside of CrossFit, I have two energetic girls to keep entertained and a pug to cuddle and take naps with. Oh and I enjoy spending time with my busy Husband who always has a project for me to supervise.
Robins Egg Blue, The English Patient, I love all, the spicier the better! I will travel anywhere, but am partial to sunny places on/near the water.
JUNE ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
CONGRATULATIONS TO SARAI JACOBS!
Sarai, you are our Athlete of the Month for June! Hands down, this girl is one of the hardest workers we have here at Big Rock! There are times (and she mentions it below) where she doubts herself. And every time she comes out on top. She gives it her all and it shows. Sarai consistently improves in speed, movements, and increasing those weights. We are super impressed with you, Sarai, and super proud of your determination and confidence! We basically think you’re a ROCK STAR!
Tell us a little about what lead you to walk through our doors here at CrossFit Big Rock? I had been looking for some kind of gym or fitness program that I could join that was low commitment. I hate to admit it but I’m kind of a quitter and since I knew that going in, I knew I wanted something that was flexible.
What motivated you to come in? Sarah Eyer was actually the person who finally convinced me to try out CrossFit. She told me how cool everyone was there and how great the program was. So I finally went for it!
What keeps you coming back for more? It’s taken me 33 years but CrossFit has taught me that I can. I can do anything that I work hard for. As I reflect back, I can see the pattern in why I always quit things. I always quit because I was either told I can’t or I shouldn’t or I had those thoughts myself and no one to combat them. But at Crossfit I’ve experienced the opposite. Whenever I have a thought like “Sarai, what the heck are you doing? You can’t do this!” Someone yells “You got this! Pick it up! Keeping going! Nice work!” And my whole thinking shifts. I think “they are right, it’s hard but I can do this. I can and I will!”. That’s what keeps me coming back.
Did you play sports growing up? I played basketball, soccer, and ran track in middle and high school.
Other than CrossFit, what other activities keep you busy? My family! Ha! I have 3 kids (age 11, 8, 2) I’ve been doing this motherhood thing for a long time and it has always been important to me to raise good kids. Kids with good hearts, that are kind and compassionate and always stand up for what is right. That takes a lot of work! But I firmly believe that my greatest accomplishment may very well be my children. So to me, there is too much at stake to not fully invest in them. I also love watching movies and TV shows.
What’s your favorite movement/WOD you hope to see on the whiteboard when you walk into class? Oh man, not sure if I have a favorite haha. I like running. Or push or bench press.
What’s your least favorite? Super easy, burpees. I hate burpees!
Favorites:
Color? Black
Food? Pizza
Vacation spot, favorite place to get away? Local: Suncadia. International: Panama
Movie? Oh man…hard to pick. Maybe Boondock Saints. Or anything with Denzel Washington. I’m kind of a movie buff so I really like a lot of movies
Dessert/treat? Gooey chocolate/peanut butter brownies
CrossFit was new to you when you came to CFBR. What advice would you give to someone who’s thinking about giving CrossFit a go? You can do it! Anyone can do it. CrossFit is just like anything else, you have to start somewhere and slowly build yourself up. You have to go in knowing that slow and steady is how you get stronger everyday ??
MAY ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Our May Athlete of the Month is no surprise to any of us here at CrossFit Big Rock… Congratulations to JAKE HOLMES!
Jake came to Big Rock about six months ago. Jake is not new to CrossFit, but it had been a little while. Easing back into the cardio was the fun part (right Jake? Ok, maybe not). But lifting heavy, you could tell, was his favorite and it didn’t take very long at all to get those heavy weight plates back on the bar. Then you bet, just a few months back into it and he was PR’ing all over the place! Pretty exciting! He attends the 5:30am classes pretty regularly and now is mixing it up and WODing at night too so he can get his lifting in during Open Gym time. Jake, thanks for always walking into CFBR with a smile on your face and ready to tackle whatever is on the whiteboard. It’s been fun watching you get stronger and faster!
What’s your CrossFit story?
— Hey guys, I started Crossfit in November 2015.
What is your CrossFit favorite? And what’s not your favorite?
— Some of my favorite CrossFit favorites include team-based competitive activities, along with compounded movements that make each set excruciatingly painful (that’s when I start laughing from the pain). However, my least favorite has to be burpees, or thrusters.
You recently got a new job. What draws you to that profession? Tell us about it…
— I am recently employed by King County in the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention as a Juvenile Detention Officer. Over the past few weeks, I can sum it up as going from having no responsibility of children, to having 10 children I am responsible for during my shift. I hope to have this be a building block into other possibilities within King County.
Other than work, what keeps you busy outside the box?
— What has kept me busy outside of the box. Over the past two months I have been house searching, so my weekends have been goners. Outside of that I enjoy video games. *insert super nerdy joke here.*
Most embarrassing moment?
— My most embarrassing moment… at least at the Box… was during Box Jumps early in the morning and biffing it, and eating rubber with my face.
Did you play sports growing up?
— I grew up playing Little League Baseball until age 11, where I switched over to Select baseball for the Riverview Ravens… in Middle School and High School I played both Baseball and Football.
What is your favorite cheat meal?
— Every meal is cheat meal. Just kidding. When I take my diet seriously, and I am trying to alter my food intake, my biggest cheat meal is breakfast… waffles, eggs, syrup, butter, bacon, and a milkshake.
Any advice for CrossFit newbies?
— I can say with confidence I came into CrossFit with strength, but no functional movement ability compared to the majority of others. CrossFit can be extremely daunting, and looks like a lot of work… and it is. However the community CrossFit brings with it far outweighs any difficulty one may have in choosing to begin at a CrossFit gym. Every coach I have had or come across is extremely welcoming, thoughtful, thorough, and wants the best for you. You have no idea what you are missing until you experience it.
