Alyson is your April Athlete of the Month! She has been at NoCoast for about a year, and since joining has been consistent, motivated, and present. She has been a great motivator through the 2015 Open, whether its because of her performance or because she is so encouraging to her fellow am'ers. Read on to learn more!
Where is your hometown?
I
grew up in the Chicago area, and that will always be HOME. I lived in Los
Angeles for a few years before my husband Kris and I moved to Denver. We
quickly fell in love with Colorado and this is our real home now. Honestly, we
can’t see ourselves living anywhere else. We live in Wheat Ridge, but I work
here, in Louisville.
What’s your
athletic/sports history?
Zero.
In grade school, I was the stereotypical kid picked last for kickball. As an
adult, other than a few sporadic attempts at creating a workout routine for
myself, I did some running in my late teens and again after I turned 30.
How did you get into
CrossFit?
I’d
been intrigued with CrossFit for a few years, but didn’t actually start until
January 2014. At the end of 2013, I started a new job in Louisville. My first
day on the job, I drove past NoCoast and had a feeling I would end up here one
day! It may sound super cheesy, but I really do believe I was meant to be at
this place with these people at this time in my life.
Tell us about your CrossFit
Games Open experience.
Last
year, the Open started right after I finished LiftOne. When we did 15.2 (AKA 14.2)
the other week, I was pretty excited, as that was the only workout I
specifically remembered from last year’s Open. I could clearly remember I did
14.2 at an evening class, and could remember who my partner and coach were that
night. That was pretty much the exact moment I fell in love with the community
aspect of CrossFit, and our NoCoast community, especially.
I
joined the Open this year knowing I wasn't going to place anywhere near the
top. I joined knowing I would push myself to do (or at least attempt) things I
didn't think I could do. My only goal was to be able to post a score (even if
it is a score of 1) for each workout. My expectations have been met, and I'm
walking around with a big grin on my face (and with ripped hands).
The
community at NoCoast is amazing, but there’s something about going through the
Open together that really helps cement your relationship with the other
athletes. I’ve definitely gotten closer to other NoCoasties through my
experiences with the Open.
What is your favorite WOD or CrossFit
movement?
I
love to deadlift! It’s the one CrossFit movement that actually comes naturally
to me. My PR of 195 lbs is the one I’m proudest of.
What is your least favorite WOD or CrossFit movement?
Definitely
anything on the pull-up bar. My grip sucks and my upper body strength is not,
well, my strong suit. To be honest though, I guess I’m mostly just afraid.
Afraid I’m going to be terrible, afraid I’m going to fall, or afraid to somehow
do something to make myself look dumb in front of everyone. Awkwardness IS my
strong suit, sadly.
What is your most memorable CrossFit moment?
There
are several memorable CrossFit moments from the last year. I think one that
really sticks out is when I actually started practicing squats (outside of the
gym, on a daily basis). Lo and behold, my squats improved! Funny how practicing
stuff helps you get better…
What role does nutrition
play in your fitness and recovery?
I
don’t always eat Paleo, but when I do, I feel amazing. I hate calling it Paleo
though. Can we please come up with a better name? I have been off and on over
the last two years (mostly off), but I have to say I am pretty proud of my
performance in January’s nutrition challenge. When I stick with Paleo, I sleep
better, do better at CrossFit, and I’m generally in a much better mood. I’m
constantly working on getting back on track, and I look forward to
participating in the next Nutrition Challenge at NoCoast. In the meantime,
who’s down for another food swap?
How has CrossFit improved
your overall wellness?
I
am one of those “can’t shut up about CrossFit” CrossFitters. CrossFit has had a
huge positive impact on my wellness and day-to-day life, and I’m happy to tell
anyone about it. Within even a week or two of starting CrossFit, I noticed it
was easier to carry my groceries in from the car (please tell me I am not the
only one that tries to get it ALL in one trip??). I find I am better able to do
the things I enjoy, and it’s a good feeling to know I’m doing something healthy
for myself. Also, when you start to do CrossFit, people think you’re bad-ass.
That’s pretty nice too.
What is your advice for people
considering CrossFit?
I’m
glad you asked! Last summer, I wrote a whole article on the subject, you should
check it out. Or not, whatever you want. The main point is to not be
intimidated, to jump right in.
A
friend asked me a while ago what it was that I love about CrossFit. Here’s what
I told her: I don’t have experience with other boxes, but I can tell you that the
coaches at NoCoast are amazing and help push me to give my best. The other
members are inclusive and encouraging. I don't have to plan my own workouts, they’re
already planned out for me. The workouts are different all the time so I don't
get bored. The coaches make sure I'm doing the movements or lifts correctly so
I don't worry about hurting myself. If I can't do a certain move, the coaches
help find an alternative so I still get a great workout.
