What was your athletic background, if any?
Besides the handful of Crossfit drop-ins I did at home, I played tennis in high school. Our coach made us run a lot and we never did any kind of lifting or strength training so I started at CFA with very little experience.
What led you to Crossfit and CFA specifically?
My mom has been doing Crossfit for years and used to take me to classes with her back home. When I came to Grand Valley I wanted to find a fun way to stay active and found CFA.
What do you do when you’re not at CFA?
I’m a senior at Grand Valley studying elementary education with minors in English as a second language and Spanish. When I’m not in class I like spending time with my family and my dog and going out for coffee.
When did you realize that CrossFit is right for you?
I knew it was right for me when I wanted to come back after the first day (see next question for my first sucky wod). I didn’t know anyone when I started but everyone was super welcoming and I loved how it felt to finish a hard workout. I also appreciate the coaches’ willingness to help modify the workouts to accommodate for all skill levels which shows that Crossfit is for anyone that wants to do it. And CFA has cool dogs 🙂
Do you remember your first WOD?
4 rounds of 800m run and 50 wallballs (on a HOT day in August). I remember it because it was a traumatizing first workout. I scaled it and I think it would be fun to do the full workout now.
What movement do you despise over everything and why?
Thrusters and wallballs. Because they’re awful.
What has been your all-time favorite moment at CFA?
I liked doing the partner competition because I got to do it with my brother and my whole family came for it. It reminded me that I have a great support system that encourages me to stay active.
What motivates you during a tough workout?
Working out with other people is definitely motivating for me. Everyone is suffering together and there is always someone there to cheer you on and push you when you get tired. It is also super rewarding to walk in and see a workout on the board that makes you think “no way I’m going to be able to do that” and then you do it.
What are your goals going forward and what do you think will help you achieve them?
Right now I don’t really have any specific goals, just to stay active and keep showing up. Even on days that I’m tired or just not feeling it I try to remind myself that doing a little is better than doing nothing. The community at CFA helps a lot with accountability, especially when you have a good group of people who notice when you’re not there (like the 6pm group 🙂 )
What sort of changes have you seen in your body, health, and fitness or just day to day life since starting CrossFit (before/after?)
I think that my overall fitness has improved significantly since starting Crossfit. I feel stronger, faster, and more confident in myself. My mentality about exercise has shifted as working out used to feel like a chore and now it is my favorite part of the day. It is a great way to destress and has helped improve my mental health.
What would you recommend to someone who is just starting out with CrossFit or is too afraid to try it?
Crossfit has gained a reputation throughout the years so people have preconceived notions about it. Whether you’ve heard good things or bad things I think it’s worth trying out for yourself if you’re looking for a fun and motivating way to stay active. I was intimidated at first and felt like I stood out because I couldn’t do certain movements or lift as heavy as everyone else, but CFA has a diverse group of people with different athletic backgrounds and abilities and no one is there to judge you- we’re all just there to get in a good workout. Every wod is scalable and there is no shame in swapping out a tough movement or using a lighter weight (I still do this for a lot of workouts)
If you could have one skill or characteristic of another member at CFA what and from whom would it be? Or which other CFA member are you the most motivated by?
This is a hard question because there are so many great people at CFA. Anna is one of the younger members and is strong af (Haley Adams vibes!!) so she motivates me to want to get stronger. I also admire Christine’s perseverance and that she refuses to let her injury keep her from showing up.
Quick Questions
Favorite Cheat meal: Culver’s
Favorite Workout song: Never Say Never by Justin Bieber (a classic)
Favorite Place You Have Traveled: New Orleans or Oregon
Favorite TV Show: How I Met Your Mother or Criminal Minds
Favorite CrossFit Athlete(if any): It’s fun to watch Haley Adams, it’s incredible how tough she is and she’s so young!!
Coach’s comment:
Kaitlin has been a consistent member with us for a few years now and has earned her place as February’s member of the month. She comes in each day ready to do whatever that whiteboard calls for as well as to spend some quality time with the gym dogs. We are thankful to have her as a part of our CFA family. Keep up the hard work, Kaitlin!
