This month we want to recognize AM athlete, Veronica Ramirez. She stands out because her attitude has preceded her consistency, coachability, and success! She is committed to the process CrossFit is, and has experienced major transformation as a result. Read on to learn more!
Hometown: Corpus Christi, Texas
Age/Weight: I am 40 years old, just celebrated in September, and I weigh 135.
How long have you been CrossFitting? 8 months
Athletic/Sports history/highlights: I am a Texas rancher girl, with many memories of hunting, fishing, skipping many rocks, and walking the land to find the best arrow heads with my dad. I was fairly athletic growing up; during my pre-teen and teen years I played Tennis, ran Cross-Country, played Basketball in Junior High, threw a Frisbee like a champ (and still do!), and was an in-line skater with a couple of comps under my belt. I began dancing when I was 4, was part of Corpus Christi Ballet as an apprentice dancer and then joined the prestigious Tigerette Dance/Drill Team in high school, where I held the title of Captain and Major. I attended the University of North Texas where I completed a B.A. in Dance. Some great memories occurred here, like being part of the American College Dance Festival, Southwest region, dancing solos and in groups, but ultimately, we were chosen for the National Festival which occurred at the Kennedy Center in D.C. I studied in New York with the prestigious Alvin Ailey School and Dance Company. After college, I danced professionally with local choreographers in Chicago and Austin, particularly the Ballet East Dance Company, YellowTape Construction Company, and a few others. I taught ballroom dance in Chicago and continue to Salsa dance these days.
How did you get into CrossFit? I was introduced to CrossFit by my partner-in-crime, Rolly Keenan. He and I come from athletic backgrounds, so it became part of many conversations and led to my search for a local box. The first on the list was NoCoast. So, one March afternoon, we headed in, met Sam, and the rest is history. Rolly says that he knew I would love CrossFit. And my reply is that he was absolutely correct and I can’t thank him enough!
Do you have a favorite WOD or CrossFit movement? My favorite CrossFit movement would probably be front squats. Oly lifts are becoming my favorite as the weeks roll on, that’s for sure.
What about your least favorite WOD or CrossFit movement? My least favorite are box jumps; it’s a big mental challenge for me and there have been moments where I have cried during WODs as I stare at the 20” height.
What is your most memorable CrossFit moment? I have two. My one rep max of my front squat at 140 on the morning of my 40th birthday and 200th CrossFit session. And completing my first Master’s competition this past October in 30 degrees, rain, and cold!
How has CrossFit improved your overall well being? CrossFit has improved my overall wellness by reminding me that my body, my heart, and my mind are meant to be pushed… to move beyond limitations, especially the critical voice that has often been part of my athleticism and body image. CrossFit reminds me to encourage others about the importance of fitness for an overall state of happiness and wellness. Lastly, CrossFit reminds me that no goal is too big and that “pushing that line” is how life should always be lived.
Advice to new people? My advice to new people is this: KEEP GOING AND DON’T STOP UNLESS YOU ARE ABOUT TO HURT YOURSELF! Modify and listen to your body, listen to your coaches, listen to your inner voice, and know that you are doing something that goes beyond what you can see. And lastly, smile during those tough moments during a WOD, it can be game changer!
