​daughter, Harlow Ivy who is almost a 1 year old and a mini golden doodle named Lyell. We are also expecting another baby having the due date of February 27th. As of now many of my hobbies have been pushed aside to work on our first house we bought about 1 month ago. Otherwise I enjoy golfing, fishing, hiking, and will start curling this winter on Monday nights.

When did you start doing CrossFit?
I started CrossFit about 4 years ago down in Wauwatosa at Badger CrossFit while I was in dental school. Once Hannah drug me in I was hooked.

What is your favorite movement and/or benchmark workout?
My favorite movement would have to be snatch due to the large improvement I have seen in the lift since starting CrossFit. It is a very technical and difficult movement. When I first started it was my biggest struggle but once my form improved my max increased drastically.

What has been your biggest struggle? 
Right now my biggest struggle is deadlift. Just seems like a lift that I have never really seen any improvement.

What goals are you currently chasing?
My current goals are to reach a 200# Snatch and a 300# Back Squat. Both of which I feel I am very close to attaining.

If you could design a workout, what would it be?
If I could design a workout it would involve running, rowing, AirDyne, and any movement without weights. I like the cardio workouts where you just keep moving.

How often do you talk about CrossFit?
I don't talk a ton about CrossFit in my everyday life. I mainly try to see CrossFit as a workout to stay in shape and not as a sport. I am naturally competitive but don't want to push myself too hard to the point of injury. I am always trying to think form first. Sometimes I have to hold myself back.

Burpees: Love ‘em or hate ‘em?
Love me some burpees.

Do you have a favorite story about the Coop?
I'm new to the Coop, so no crazy stories to note yet, but I have noticed how welcoming everybody is and how easy it was to step into the community.

What advice would you give a new PCC member?
For advice for someone starting CrossFit, I would tell them to not go up in weight until you feel confident in your form and it is consistent. Number one thing to do is listen to your body and if something doesn't feel right it probably doesn't look right. Once your form is solid, the weights will go up as well. If you focus on weight rather than form that's when injuries happen.

Leah: The biggest thing in my life right now is BEING ENGAGED!! My fiancé David is a herdsman at Alta Genetics in Watertown, and he does not do CrossFit (yet). I still live at the farm I grew up on, and I wouldn’t have had my childhood any other way. Just ask Cassie how much of a blessing and privilege it was growing up with me for a sister. My day job is at the front desk at The Little Potato Company in DeForest. I was first introduced to weightlifting in high school, and Cassie and I started from the very beginning making sure that our squats were bigger than the boys’. 
Cassie: I grew up on a beef farm, so working hard has been one of my constants. I am married to Zack, who does not and probably will not CrossFit, but that's okay, CrossFit is my "me" time. Zack and my story shadows the country song by Rodney Atkins, "Farmer's Daughter." We have two dogs, Max and Grace and have given the lake life a chance this summer with the purchase of our first pontoon. I can't seem to get away from my agriculture roots and work at Gumz Farms under a few hats, but I mainly take care of marketing and food safety and have already been there for almost five years; I guess time flies when you're having fun. 

When did you start doing CrossFit?
Leah: I had pretty good squat form as a toddler… I was first introduced to the idea of CrossFit in my early 20’s, and I started with PCC at the very beginning with affiliation in late 2014!
Cassie: Leah made me do it. I have always been into weightlifting since high school and through college because of sports. When I graduated, I no longer had a coach making me do workouts, so I did my own thing for a little over a year until I finally caved in to Leah begging me to give CrossFit a try. I've never looked back from that first 4:45AM workout in Tom's garage. 

What is your favorite movement and/or benchmark workout?
Leah: Not running is my favorite.
Cassie: My favorite movement is probably the clean and jerk because I have started learning how to break it down and improve my technique. Hence, Grace is definitely my favorite benchmark workout. The faster I can pick up that bar and get it overhead 30 times, the sooner I am done. 

What has been your biggest struggle?
Leah: Most of you don’t know this about me, but my biggest struggle has ALWAYS been on the inside. CrossFit has helped me through depression as well as disordered eating. Just like WODs, each day can be a challenge, but embracing it never fails to reward!
Cassie: Not comparing myself to others, but rather competing with myself. I'm getting there. 

What has been your biggest improvement?
Leah: My biggest improvements has been in my Olympic lifts. When you realize, “Hey, I could totally clean myself!” it’s a good day. 
Cassie: Pull-ups! Last summer, I decided to clean up my diet and lose some weight and I finally got my pull-ups! Not all improvements at the gym come from the gym, sometimes you have to do some work in the kitchen. 

What goals are you currently chasing?
Leah: Right now I just want more intention and consistency with my workouts. I’ve been getting better with the ‘one step back, two steps forward’ mantra. 
Cassie: I don't know if I want this written down, but here it goes. I think it would be awesome to clean 200#. I'm not too far away, but it will be a good challenge. By the time I am 30 would be cool too. So, I have a little bit over a year. It's official, you heard it here first, folks. 

If you could design a workout, what would it be?
Leah: A partner WOD where Cassie cleans and I do burpees!!!
Cassie: Leah's answer is great as she didn't know my answers, but included cleaning for me. I'd have to go along with that; she can have all of the burpees. 

How often do you talk about CrossFit?
Leah: I only talk about CrossFit when it comes up… which is usually multiple times per day… per myself… The food vending gent at The Little Potato Company is Matt Fraser’s doppelganger. He didn’t know who that was.
Cassie: All the time. Not quite as often as an EMOM, though.  

Burpees: Love ‘em or hate ‘em?
Leah: Love ‘em. SO. HARD.
Cassie: Meh. They aren't my favorite, but I know they are good for me. Kind of like taking vitamins when I was little, and Leah would hide hers all over the house. 

Do you have a favorite story about the Coop?
Leah: The story of where we have come from where we started is my absolute favorite!!!
Cassie: Leah loves to take credit for introducing me to my current employer. So, that's a pretty good story. But, an actual Coop story would have to be just loving how awesome of a community we have here; we are so blessed to have each other. 

What advice would you give a new PCC member?
Leah: The hardest thing that will be asked of you is to show up.
Cassie: If you feel like the AirDyne is broken because it is taking you a long time to acquire calories, it's not. But seriously, just take it one day at a time. Have fun meeting new people and give yourself time to learn and grow. Rome wasn't built in a day. 

Tell us about yourself (family, schooling, job, sports, military, interests, etc.) 
​My name is Daniel Kuper, and I live and work in Portage, currently employed at Frontier Communications as a Central Office Tech. My interests include working out at PCC, remodeling my house, riding my motorcycles, traveling to Iowa to see my friends, two brothers, niece, nephew, and my folks. I moved to Wisconsin 17 years ago, and yes, I’m still an Iowa fan. I have a dog, Porter, who is and 11 year old boxer puppy. Considering he’s been deaf since birth, he still listens to all my daily rants with eager anticipation with the tail nub wag and the constant butt shaking.

When did you start doing CrossFit? ​
I've been at PCC for a year, I think?

What is your favorite movement and/or benchmark workout? 
My favorite workout at PCC is attempting to get back in my car after some of the workouts, mostly opening the door and falling in. Back squats come in at a very close second. Deadlifts come in for the bronze.

What has been your biggest struggle? 
My biggest struggle at PCC is probably listening to the instructions of my coaches. Yes, I’m the first to admit I don’t always listen like I should, but we both find a happy medium. Coaches rolling their eyes, and me doing what I’m gonna do anyway. But I’ve come to the realization that we are both going for the same result, my stubbornness actually slows my progress.

What has been your biggest improvement? 
My biggest improvement is overall, I feel I’m doing better at everything than from a year ago. After a bit, you kind of get used to the soreness, then you end up missing it a little bit, but just a little. I couldn’t do a handstand for more than a few seconds without wanting to pass out, now I’m pretty relaxed when I do it.

What goals are you currently chasing? 
My current goal is to eat healthy. Unfortunately, I know how Twinkies taste compared to rice cakes so this is still a challenge. It’s true that it all starts in the kitchen, it’s easier to not eat junk food if you don’t buy it at all. This is the same reason why you find Twinkies on the end isles. Baby steps.

If you could design a workout, what would it be? 
If I could design a workout, there would be no part C, or as someone calls it, “ice cream, without the ice cream”. Just kidding, we all see part C and moan, but we know it’s for the best. 

How often do you talk about CrossFit? 
I talk about CrossFit when people ask, or if they complain about mobility issues, or both.

Burpees: Love ‘em or hate ‘em? 
I don’t mind burpees as long as they keep the reps down to a low roar or offset them with something other than back or core work.

Do you have a favorite story about the Coop?
No favorite stories offhand, every day is a story​

What advice would you give a new PCC member? 
Advice to new PCC members would be to listen to your coaches, and your body, one or the other will give direction and don’t ignore it. Don’t be intimidated by what others can do, everyone was a beginner at one time or another, today it was you, tomorrow it will be someone else, remember that as you progress.

I graduated from Purdue University (a few years ago…) with a degree in Industrial Engineering and worked in that field for a few years before leaving it to join my husband, Rod, and his family farming. At the farm I do payroll and some accounting. However, my most important and rewarding job has been “Mom” to my three, now adult, children. Initially (6 years ago!), I felt guilty incorporating CrossFit into my workout routine because I thought it would take too much time away from my family. Instead it made me a more relaxed, focused, and better parent. I am proud to say that my example has passed along to my children. They don’t all do CrossFit (yet), but all incorporate exercise of some form into their daily lives.

What is your favorite movement and/or benchmark workout? 
My favorite movement is the pull-up.  I never thought a pull-up would happen for me, and I still remember the day I got my first dead hang; very empowering!

What has been your biggest struggle? 
Two areas I struggle with are:
1. Mental toughness with handstands (I don’t like being up side down), rope climbs, and believing I can finish a WOD in a certain amount of time or that I can do a heavier weight. 
2. Many movements involving legs (I have had both knees replaced)… More specifically squats, jump ropes, and lunging of any kind.

What has been your biggest improvement?
I am pretty excited that my leg strength is increasing and improving.  I still have a way to go, but the confidence I have gained knowing my knee won’t dislocate and I can run without feeling instability in that joint and leg is huge!

What goals are you currently chasing?
One day I will do: kipping pull-ups, unassisted handstands, and maybe someday a double under.

If you could design a workout, what would it be?
It would be a longer WOD (at least 20min) where a certain pace has to be maintained to finish. Maybe incorporating toes to bar, AirDyne, box step ups, pull-ups…

What is your favorite outfit to WOD in?
Anything black –It’s camouflage against the black mats (and it’s slimming…)

How often do you talk about CrossFit?
Daily! I love to tell people what it’s done for me!

Burpees: Love ‘em or hate ‘em?
Not a fan! Love ‘em when they’re done or when I can get a partner to do them for me.

Do you have a favorite story about the Coop?
I have so many wonderful, funny stories and memories at the Coop!  Most of my best friends are here and I can’t imagine a group that is more supportive and encouraging. My goal is to give as much back to our community as they have given me!

What advice would you give a new PCC member?
I would like to let new members know that the most difficult part is walking through the door those first few classes.  I assumed everyone was in great shape and they would notice I wasn’t – it was very intimidating to me. However, I realized that everyone is at different skill levels and very supportive and encouraging of each other. My best advice is to be consistent, listen to the coaches, and have fun!

The new year was here before we knew it and we're almost into February already! We've got lots of exciting things going on over the next few weeks and months, so stay tuned! Meanwhile, here's our most recent newsletter:

​Tell us about yourself (family, schooling, job, sports, military, interests, etc.)
I’m 28 years old and have been working as a Dental Assistant in Madison for the last 8 years. I enjoy reading, photography, family, yoga, animals and the outdoors. 

When did you start doing CrossFit?
April 2016. I knew I needed to find a workout that I could be more consistent with, if I wanted to continue to eat cheese curds and drink wine. 

What is your favorite movement and/or benchmark workout?
My favorite movements are toes to bar, burpees, and power cleans. I also like core workouts, when they are finished. 

What has been your biggest struggle?
I’ve struggled with keeping my flexibility and double unders.  

What has been your biggest improvement?
I’ve seen improvements with all my lifting and just overall strength. 

What goals are you currently chasing?
My goals would be pull ups with no bands and hand stands with no wall support. 

If you could design a workout, what would it be?
If I could design a workout it would start with power cleans or front squats, a WOD involving; burpees, toes to bar, pushups, pull ups and finishing with rowing or running. 

What is your favorite outfit to WOD in?
Most likely, you’ll see me in capris and a t-shirt. Whatever is comfortable and easy to move in. 

How often do you talk about CrossFit?
I talk about CrossFit as often as I can, but I do think about it daily. 

Burpees: Love ‘em or hate ‘em?
Burpees- Love them!

Do you have a favorite story about the Coop?
I don’t have a particular story to share, but I do very much enjoy my time at the PCC. I never regret a workout and always feel so much better with myself afterwards. I love how CrossFit is such an independent workout, but at the same time how awesome it is to be supported by and supporting your other members.