Sean
Hometown: Kennett Square
Age: Younger than Jenny
Occupation: Finance
When did you first start training at CFKSQ?March 2013
Favorite WOD: Annie and of course any Partner workouts with Jenny
Least Favorite WOD: I just don’t like box jumps anymore
Tell us about your sports & fitness background: Glory Days: Baseball (Golden Rams), Soccer, Basketball
Post Glory Days: Golf,
How did you first get exposed to CrossFit? Soon after a second acl surgery, a friend recommended I check out CFKSQ. I’ve been hooked ever since. CFKSQ has evolved since I started so my break in period consisted of learning the fundamentals on the fly with Everett. It was pre 5am’r days and it was humbling. But look at me now! CFKSQ Athlete of the Month – February 2020. It only took me close to 7 years. So I’ve got that going for me.
What sort of changes have you seen in your body, health and fitness since starting CF (before/after)? Early on CF was a way for me to continue to strengthen my knee(s) and continuously improve my overall well being. I think I may have had a chance at preventing injury had I learned about CF during my glory days. Today, I have to keep up with Jenny so not going is not really an option.
What sort of changes in your life have you experienced out of taking on something like CrossFit that were totally unexpected? Outside of not being a morning person and somehow making it into the 5am’r fold, I never expected to gain the sense of community that I’ve experienced at CFKSQ. It’s much more than a gym and offers up the opportunity to contribute to local causes in need and forge friendships with some really incredible people.
Favorite CFKSQ Moments:
- The Haircut – After signing in, Crossfit member x realized the early Saturday morning class involved deadlifts as part 1 of the workout. After declaring “I’m going to get a quick cut” Crossfit Member X left the gym and returned just as we were finishing up Part 2 of the workout. Smooth and legendary move.
- Big Andy yelling “Let’s go 5A”
- Letting Jenny beat me into the gym in the morning.
Any advice for people just getting started?5 am spot awareness. Just set up your stuff up front. Even if you’re the first one there. You can thank me later.
Hobbies, interests, talents outside of CF? Coaching, hiking, cheering on my kids, Long romantic walks
with my basset hounds (and Jenny)
Jenny
Hometown: KS, PA
Age: something I am trying to do gracefully
Occupation: Special Education/Reading Teacher grades 9 -12
When did you first start training at CFKSQ? October 2016.
Favorite WOD: Getting out of the car and into the gym before Sean gets out of car. Second favorite, anything with body weight: push ups, sit ups, air squats…
Least favorite: Deadlifts…no, thrusters….wait, overhead squats. Pair any of those movements with the assault bike and I go to a bad place.
How’d I start? Sean introduced me to CF. Fitness was always important, but after a back injury it became difficult and painful to keep it up at the level I was used to. Sean encouraged me for a long time to give it a go. Core strength was what I needed, and he was confident I would build it with CF workouts. The CF model, or my perception of it, was intimidating, but I eventually (and more than a bit reluctantly) agreed to try it out.
As much as I hate to admit Sean was right, he was. Core strength was probably the first, and best, change. Daily back pain became a memory. With the pain alleviated I could perform amazing feats like pick up things off the floor, get in and out of the car, and wash my face without bracing my knees against the vanity and doing it in phases.
Core strength has also allowed get more enjoyment in my non-CF activities like hiking, golf, cheering my kids on as they pursue their passions, and telling Sean what to do.
One of my favorite cross fit moments…this past Thanksgiving. Team WOD. A dream team was carefully assembled. A dream team that could not count. Pretty sure we did well over a thousand sit ups that day.
Advice? CFKSQ is such a supportive community. Take a risk. Push yourself. There will always be fist bump when you finish.