When did you start doing CrossFit?
July 2014 in Viroqua

What is your favorite movement and/or benchmark workout?
My favorite moment seems to change from time to time.

What has been your biggest struggle? 
Double unders & pull-ups

What has been your biggest improvement?
Finally getting more than 1 or 2 double unders, but I still have a long way to go. 

What goals are you currently chasing?
To be able to do a pull-up without a band.

If you could design a workout, what would it be? 
Anything that doesn't involve the agility ladder.

What is your favorite outfit to WOD in?
Probably my installing muscles shirt.
 
How often do you talk about CrossFit? 
Daily

Burpees: Love ‘em or hate ‘em? 
Love 'em!

Do you have a favorite moment or story about the Coop?
Not necessarily a favorite moment, but I love starting out my morning with positivity, encouragement, smiles and laughs.

reside in Minneapolis suburbs. I also have a special niece and great niece, Lani and Ava that live in Nashville. I enjoy anything outdoors - kayaking, camping, hiking and gardening. I also enjoy traveling both near and far.

When did you start CrossFit?
I rejoined CrossFit a year ago after taking about a year off. I initially started at the urging of my niece and attended classes at Tom’s garage and the Foundry. Due to a deep tissue injury and then a ruptured appendix, I took a year off. I knew I needed to get off my butt and do something, and decided I needed the structure and support of CrossFit.

What is your favorite movement and/or benchmark workout?
I like the clean and the clean and jerk.

What has been your biggest struggle?
My biggest struggles are the demons in my head that tell me I am too old, too slow, too heavy and out of shape. But I try to push it aside, do my best and tell myself that it is good enough, if I put in the time and effort. 

What has been your biggest improvement?
My biggest improvement has also been mental. I previously looked at some workouts and dreaded them if they involved running, snatches or anything that I am not good at. I would sometimes even cancel class. I now look at the workout, write it in my journal and plan for it. I commit to it before I have an opportunity to complain. 

What goals are you currently chasing?
My goals are to be strong physically and mentally as I age. I have a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that the big 60 is right around the corner. With the awesome trainers and members at PCC, this is where I need to be to remain active and fit. I really can’t say enough about the support and help provided by the trainers. They do an awesome job!

If you could design a workout, what would it be?
My favorite workout would involve kettle bells, squats and a walk. (Just kidding about the walk!) 

What is your favorite outfit to WOD in?
I have no favorite…yet!

How often do you talk about CrossFit?
Not often…People think I am crazy, and they don’t understand.

Burpees: Love ‘em or hate ‘em:
I have always done modified burpees…those I love. Otherwise, I would hate them.

Do you have a favorite moment or story about the Coop?
Almost every day is a favorite moment when I have the right frame of mind.

What advice would you give a new PCC member?
It is easy not to show up and then get in a rut. Commit to a realistic number of classes in a week and try your best to stick with it. 

When did you start doing CrossFit?        
I've played soccer most of my life and without any organized adult opportunities in the area, I was looking for new ways to push myself physically (and mentally). My college roommate and her husband have been doing CrossFit for years and urged my husband and I to try it--so we did this summer!  

What is your favorite movement and/or benchmark workout?        
I guess I don't have a favorite movement, but I do have a least favorite... 

What has been your biggest struggle?   
I am hoping I get the hang of that darn snatch at some point!

What has been your biggest improvement?   
Regaining and increasing my core strength after having a C-section has been tough. Thank goodness for all the core work!

What goals are you currently chasing?
I'm trying to master the arts of kipping pull ups and handstand push ups!

If you could design a workout, what would it be?         
My favorite workouts have a little bit of everything. That way there's no time to get angry at any one particular move. 

What is your favorite outfit to WOD in?   
I WOD in anything that I don't mind getting sweaty and chalky!

How often do you talk about CrossFit?
Clay and I talk about CrossFit quite a bit--most days of the week!

Burpees: Love ‘em or hate ‘em?        
Love 'em!
 
Do you have a favorite moment or story about the Coop?
I don't have any favorite moments or stories in particular, but the exhausted, accomplished, triumphant feeling after a tough workout can't be matched. 

What advice would you give a new PCC member?
I would encourage anyone looking for a supportive environment that allows you to continuously challenge yourself to give it a shot!

When did you start doing CrossFit?        
I started CrossFit in October of this year.  

What is your favorite movement and/or benchmark workout?        
My favorite movement is the clean & jerk. 

What has been your biggest struggle?        
Flexibility and double unders are two of the hurdles I am trying to clear.  

What has been your biggest improvement?        
My biggest improvement is the depth of my squats. 

What goals are you currently chasing?        
I am currently trying to get deeper when snatching and improve my pull-ups. 

If you could design a workout, what would it be?        
If I designed a workout it would be with partner moves and no burpees. 

What is your favorite outfit to WOD in?        
Unfortunately my favorite workout pants match the bathroom floor, but I still love them!

How often do you talk about CrossFit?        
I don't talk about CrossFit too much because no one seems to get it!  

Burpees: Love ‘em or hate ‘em?        
Burpees prove I am not flexible. Hate now, but working on it.
 
Do you have a favorite moment or story about the Coop?        
My favorite part so far is the positive energy everyday.

What advice would you give a new PCC member?        
My advice would be to be here for yourself; try to improve on your goals not meet someone else’s.

Houston, TX. I play anything with a ball but am not too good with a puck or skates. I love to ice fish during the winter.  I have a wife and 3 kids and live in Portage, WI.

When did you start doing CrossFit?        
I started CrossFit 3 years ago and been off and on ever since.
 
What is your favorite movement and/or benchmark workout?        
My favorite movement is the clean & jerk.
 
What has been your biggest struggle?        
My biggest struggle has been my shoulder mobility.
 
What has been your biggest improvement?        
My biggest improvement has been my snatch.

What goals are you currently chasing?         
I'm currently chasing muscle ups.
 
If you could design a workout, what would it be?         
Workout I would design would be an AMRAP of 5 HSPU (hand stand push ups), 10  push press, and 15 front squats for 11 minutes, because no one no one seems to program odd minute WODs.
 
What is your favorite outfit to WOD in?         
My favorite outfit to WOD in is whatever I'm wearing at that time.
 
How often do you talk about CrossFit?        
At least once a day!
 
Burpees: Love ‘em or hate ‘em?         
I don't hate or love burpees. I respect them, because they deserve it.
 
Do you have a favorite moment or story about the Coop?         
When I first met Michelle; she was scared of me. I helped her with 100 lunges in the street. I will never forget that.
 
What advice would you give a new PCC member?        
Advice I would give is: give it your all and don't quit. Train your mind to push your body. If you believe you can, you can. Never say you can't, because one day you will.

friendships throughout the US & Canada. Currently, I am still actively involved in the Lodi Curling Club, playing & coaching. In my spare time, Mark & I enjoy attending Packer games, for which I am spoiled to have season tickets!

When did you start doing CrossFit?       
​I took the fundamentals class in June this year and started my first workouts on June 29.
 
What is your favorite movement and/or benchmark workout?       
I am still learning & perfecting all the movements, but my favorite movement would be the push press & and the back squat.
 
What has been your biggest struggle?       
​I think my biggest struggle is convincing myself that I can do all the exercises & movements and not having the fear on not being able to do certain things.  I have to remember that I haven’t been doing this type of exercise for years & that it will take time & strength to master all the movements.
 
What has been your biggest improvement?        
Everything I do here has been an improvement. I don’t know that I can narrow it down to one thing. In my mind, before I started I didn’t think I could do anything that I saw people doing here and just by walking in the door I proved to myself that I could.

What goals are you currently chasing?        
I just want to be able to have fun getting fit. I am focusing on mastering all the movements & the weights, and then to be able to complete the WODs without using scaling options. I have a long way to go before I am not scaling down.  Sometimes showing up everyday is a goal all in itself.
 
If you could design a workout, what would it be?        
Push presses &  dead lifts, rowing, box jumps, kettle bells.   
 
What is your favorite outfit to WOD in?        
I don’t have a favorite outfit – if I am out of bed & there at 5am, it’s a good day! I don’t care what I look like & if somebody else is going to judge my outfit, more power to them. 
 
How often do you talk about CrossFit?        
This month it seems like everyday, with the “check-in” contest going on. 
 
Burpees: Love ‘em or hate ‘em?        
It’s a love hate relationship right now, maybe as I get better at them I will learn to love’em.
 
Do you have a favorite moment or story about the Coop?        
Um, that is a hard one. I like everything about the Coop. The coaches are spectacular,  the members are friendly & positive. No one makes you feel like you’re inferior here. If it took me 10 minutes to complete a WOD and it took someone else 5 they don’t  judge you for it, they just encourage you to finish.
 
What advice would you give a new PCC member?       
Don’t be afraid to try it! I was very intimidated by everything when I first started. I had wanted to try it for a while but always thought I couldn’t do most of the exercises. Once I realized that there were other options to start with & that you can build yourself up to the full exercise it became easier. Coaches are super helpful showing you available scaling options and at the same time building your confidence in yourself that with practice you will get to the full scale WODs.

When did you start doing CrossFit?        
Earlier this spring I decided to go for a "run" with my 13 year old son.  After about 1/4 mile, Jeremy was literally running circles around me (I have the pictures to prove it).   I made it through a mile, but thought I was going to die.  It was a while before I ran again.  I joined CrossFit in May of this year.... without my knowledge or consent.  I think my husband got sick of me whining about fitness (LOL) and signed me up for a fundamentals class with Ben.  I showed up because I was already scheduled and I didn't want to inconvenience the coach teaching the beginners class, hah hah!  

What is your favorite movement and/or benchmark workout?        
My favorite WODs tend to involve KB swings, Back Squats and Box Jumps.  I also love the core workouts.  I have so much respect for the coaches at the COOP and can see how much care and effort they put into every WOD they teach. 

What has been your biggest struggle?        
The first few weeks I felt like Bambi on opening day.  I wanted to run away at all costs.   My biggest struggle has been getting over psyching myself out before every work out and forcing Jerusha to just show up to the gym.  That is the hardest part.  Once I'm there, the team efforts, the encouragement and the fear of looking like a wuss pretty much keep me moving forward.  When I joined I was out of shape and completely intimidated, but the coaches seemed to believe in me, and that helped me believe in myself.  

What has been your biggest improvement?        
I am vastly improved in the area of burpees.  I could barely finish 5 when I first started.  It's easy to gain strength with the lifting and even with the cardio routines.  However, burpees are like the spawn of Satan and to conquer them is to conquer hell itself.  Ok, I may be a bit sarcastic about Burpees...but I am amazed at how I can crank them out.  It may be at a snails pace, but I can crank them out.  I have had to tell myself that my only competition is the person inside my head who wants to quit.  If I don't stop, then I win! 

How often do you talk about CrossFit?        
Now that I've been going regularly for 4 months I have noticed a huge change in my energy levels, confidence and determination.  I'm stronger and I'm happier.  It's a massive stress reliever to be able to check out of the real world for an hour and focus on fitness.  Because of this I tend to talk a lot about CrossFit.  I'm a walking billboard.  I want to encourage everyone to try it. 

What advice would you give a new PCC member?        
The four things that held me back before are answered with this fitness model.  1.  Accountability.  2. Workouts are pre-planned, there is not guesswork.  3. Team atmosphere and encouragement.  4. A coach at every session with personalized tips.  With all these wonderful pieces to the fitness puzzle, the only way I could fail is if I chose to slack off and not show up.

As we are growing, we are slowly starting to check goals off of our To-Do list! One of those goals was to start a Member of the Month recognition for our members. This recognition is for a member who the coaches vote for, based on a variety of factors. Our first Member of the Month is Angie Tomlinson! Take a read to learn more about Angie:

When did you start doing CrossFit?       
I started CrossFit on Friday, June 21, 2013.  I was hooked the moment I tried it! Everyone was so
welcoming and encouraging and I was amazed at the things I was capable of doing. I couldn’t wait to go back on Monday and I’ve gone consistently ever since.

What is your favorite movement and/or benchmark workout? 
Hmm…tough one. I truly like the variety of movements that we do, but my favorite would be the Back Squat. I have more lower body strength than upper.

What has been your biggest struggle?
I think my biggest struggle is mental. It used to be the fear of being upside down in a handstand against the wall. I had to psych myself up to do them, now it’s not a big deal. I also used to have the fear of jumping on the big box, now I can
(if my legs aren’t shot). Once I get over the mental hurdle things become easier.

What has been your biggest improvement?
I’d say that I’ve come a long way on the Snatch. It’s one of the newer moves and I try to take all the cues from the coaches so I can execute the lift correctly.

What goals are you currently chasing?       
I’m going to get double unders one day.

If you could design a workout, what would it be?
Would that mean I’d coach it and not have to do it? LOL I always thought it would be fun to have a workout that uses a bunch of the things we do, with no lifting. Kettlebell swings, push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, squats, wall balls, ring rows, rowing, airdyne, burpees, jumping rope, box jumps, toes to bar, lunges. Like a big smorgasbord of a workout.

What is your favorite outfit to WOD in?
Always a tank top and shorts. I can not workout in sleeves.

How often do you talk about CrossFit?        
I mostly talk about it at the gym. I also talk about it with Tom (who was a former member) at home.  When I mention things to my coworkers they don’t quite get the appeal. LOL I try to convince them that it’s great and that I really CAN carry two 5 gallon water jugs from one end of the library to the other!

Burpees: Love ‘em or hate ‘em?
It depends on how many I have to do!

Do you have a favorite moment or story about the Coop?        
My worst moment turned out to be the best. It was when I found out the Foundry was going to be closing its doors. Talk about a major let down. Then everyone banded together and worked hard to form our Co-op.
I appreciate all the effort that has gone into getting our current building up and running.

What advice would you give a new PCC member?
Just walk through the door, that’s the hardest part. After that you’ll have all the support you need to build the foundation to be great at CrossFit. Anyone can do it.