Rosa Moore
Hometown: Roanoke, VA
Age: 38
Occupation: Registered Nurse/Mom
When did you first start training at CFKSQ? February 2017
Favorite WOD: Anything with running, burpees, box jumps, thrusters or deadlifts; also partner WODs that Chris and I get to do together
Least Favorite WOD: 19.1 totally put me off wall balls for now
Tell us about your sports & fitness background: I have always been active though not consistent. I played volleyball, basketball and softball in high school, mostly due to the fact that I went to a very small Catholic school in which everyone got on the team. I rowed crew for a semester and ran on and off in college and in my twenties and then became an avid Y/GRIT junkie when we moved to PA in 2017. I also enjoy doing yoga at home and still run for fun.
How did you first get exposed to CrossFit? Take us back to your first WOD… what was it, and how did it feel? Chris started CrossFit when I was pregnant with our second child. I remember being so jealous of his level of fitness while I was struggling to have the energy to make it through a 12 hr shift at work, much less work out after. Finally after Penny was born, I conceded that he was onto something and joined as soon as I got cleared to workout.
I can’t remember my first WOD other than being nervous and grateful that Lauren was there to cheer me through the push-ups. I do remember doing Fran for the first time while I was still doing the basics with Lauren – it was fun and I think that is where my love of thrusters was born.
What sort of changes have you seen in your body, health and fitness since starting CF (before/after)? I was 6 weeks postpartum when I started so I’ve definitely lost some weight, ha! But in all seriousness, I am stronger than I have ever been: I can do push-ups with a decent amount of endurance, pull-ups (though not strict yet) and lifts that I had never attempted before. One of the biggest changes I have noticed, though, is confidence in my physical abilities. I always thought of myself as a klutzy person and I think this influenced the way I approached new physical activities. Since starting CrossFit, I feel more confident when I try new things, like cross-country skiing last winter. My hand-eye coordination still sucks though…
What sort of changes in your life have you experienced out of taking on something like CrossFit that were totally unexpected? I didn’t anticipate how many friends I would make at CrossFit nor did I expect to love it as much as I do. I feel accountable (in a really good way) to showing up to my workouts and I love my 7 am crew, my CrossFit mom peeps and the many people that make the workouts convivial, if not always fun in the moment.
Please share with us any favorite CrossFit / CFKSQ moments: Just recently, 19.2 and 19.5 were phenomenal moments, not the least because of the amount of encouragement and coaching I experienced during those workouts. Those events made me realize how much I underestimate my abilities and encouraged me to keep working toward my goals.
Any advice for people just getting started? I would encourage people to stick to form over weight for lifts and to not be afraid to work out with or next to people who are stronger or more experienced than you. I have learned as much from my fellow CrossFitters as the coaches.
What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit? I love to read, eat and explore new places. In my pre-nurse life, I did a lot of work with youth and immigrants and I still try to volunteer my time in those areas. However, my biggest outside CrossFit life consists of my kiddos, Chris and our extended family. We don’t have family close by but I have a big family and we are both close to our siblings so we spend a lot of time traveling to see them or vice versa.
Ted Braun
Hometown: Kennett Square
Age: 36
Occupation: Financial Planner
When did you first start training at CFKSQ? December 2017
Favorite WOD: Murph. When I first heard of it, the thought of it was insane. Then to get the chance to go through it and finish it was really cool. Also, anything with a barbell (not named thruster).
Least Favorite WOD: Maybe it’s recency bias or maybe it’s just because I hate thrusters and wall balls, but 19.1 and 19.5 are tied for my least favorite WOD’s.
Tell us about your sports & fitness background: Came from a ridiculously competitive family and no surprise married into a ridiculously competitive family. Played organized sports as a kid and always loved running because you could always get better. NEVER a gym rat, and hated any kind of weightlifting, seriously I was king of the 20-minute circuit where you use like 30 different machines in 20 minutes.
How did you first get exposed to CrossFit? Take us back to your first WOD… what was it, and how did it feel? I won a $250 fundamentals gift card at my daughter’s pre-school silent auction. The opening bid was $50 so I threw $75 on there thinking I’d be outbid quickly, turns out I was the only bidder, what a STEAL that was! After the fundamentals with Lauren, one of my first WOD’s was DT. It was also my first experience with a HERO WOD and what it is like to think about that before you actually workout. The inspiration you draw from it is incredible. Thinking about someone making the ultimate sacrifice, how could you possibly complain or quit a workout named after someone who gave their life for their country, pretty powerful.
What sort of changes have you seen in your body, health and fitness since starting CF (before/after)? I’ve always been skinny or chunky, no in-between. I was either running and skinny or not running and chunky. Since starting CF, my whole body has changed. Before starting CF, my fitness related google search history probably looked something like this: “what’s the best work-out for bigger arms fast”, “how can I get a six-pack by summer”, “best circuit workout without squats”. The coolest thing is that for the first time ever, I could really care less about any of that, I feel great. I just show-up, do the WOD and the rest takes care of itself. Who knew that your arms could get bigger without CURLS?!
What sort of changes in your life have you experienced out of taking on something like CrossFit that were totally unexpected? For the first time ever, I’m committed to a fitness routine that I not only love to do, but actually shapes other decisions I make. I think about my food or beverage choices a little more carefully then I ever have. It didn’t take long to realize that showing up to class in the morning after going a little heavy the night before wasn’t a great idea. It was my second week and the day after Christmas was a WOD with deadlifts and lateral burpee over bar…yeah didn’t go well. I honestly cannot believe how much I love the weightlifting, I never thought in a million years it would be something I enjoyed, let alone LOVED.
Please share with us any favorite CrossFit / CFKSQ moments: Wow, I have a lot… Finishing 18.4 with 0.07 to spare, only reason I finished was because of everyone in the 5 am class yelling and helping me change plates. Doing 400m worth of walking lunges at 5am around the building in pitch black with 25 other people and bloody knees thinking, “they definitely don’t do this at the Y”. Getting my first muscle-up, something that seemed like it would never happen.
Any advice for people just getting started? Keep coming back and let your guard down a little. Be open and coachable, listen, be you, don’t try to be someone else. It goes without saying that you must check the ego at the door but no worries if you don’t, the thrusters will do it for you! There are going to be high’s and low’s, but never get discouraged. CrossFit has a funny way of letting you know you are not as fit as you think you are the day after you hit a PR!
What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit? Love to hang out with family and friends. Playing golf or anything else competitive! Love cooking (not baking) for the family, especially Sunday gravy! Teaching my daughter how to play all the different sports, and excited for all the coaching in my future! Big, big, big time Philly sports fan and just a fan of all sports in general, playing and watching (except “e-sports”, not really sure how that became a thing).