Congratulations to Ana Calciano for being CFR’s July Member of the Month!. She is a loyal member of the 6am class and is a big fan of recreational league sports.She also deadlifts 360lbs and enjoys barbell cycling! Congrats Ana!
1) What are your hobbies/interest/talents outside of CrossFit?
Answer: Long walks on the beach and romantic dinners. Just kidding! In all seriousness, I enjoy playing in adult rec leagues, mostly soccer and volleyball. Basically, if it’s competitive I’ll enjoy doing it. I also coach lacrosse and soccer at the high school where I work, and although it is a complete time-suck, I really enjoy coaching. I am a total extrovert, so you can almost always find me forcing other people to hang out with me!
2) Share with us one thing that most people do NOT know about you?
Answer: When I was in second grade I got bit by a spider 3 times on my leg and had to spend a week in the hospital because the infection was so bad. My calf was significantly bigger than my quad.
3) How long have you been with us at CFR?
Answer: On and off about 4 years. I did it consistently for a year, broke my knee (rec leagues and heavy drinking don’t always mix), ever since I recovered from that I’ve been back!
4) Take us back to your first week here. How did you feel? Remember the workout?
Answer: I signed up for CrossFit through Groupon. It was an on-ramp class with Merle. I don’t remember exactly what we did in those first few weeks, but I do remember one of my first full-time member WODs was Nancy. We did it in the alleyway, I had 45# on the bar and completely ate it trying to do overhead squats. Needless to say, it was embarrassing.
5) What moment/achievement are you most proud of at CFR?
Answer: Finally, being able to string SOME double unders together, there’s still a lot of work to do there, but that has been a pretty big achievement since it’s something that I’ve always struggled with.
6) Design your perfect workout?
Answer: Anything where I can move weights fast. Power cleans, power snatches, push press, deadlifts. Give me them all.
7) What is your least favorite movement?
Answer: I mean do I have to only give one? I’m going to give 3. Burpees. Lunges. Inchworm push-ups (don’t know if that one really counts but I hate them).
8) Summarize your lifestyle in 5 words or less.
Answer: Be comfortable with the uncomfortable.
9) Have you experienced any changes in your lifestyle now that you have been a CrossFit athlete?
Answer: Gosh, I never really considered myself a “CrossFit athlete” but if you say so! The biggest change is probably that I actually enjoy working out, I always worked out before, whether for sports teams or just to stay “fit” but it was never super enjoyable. While I don’t necessarily enjoy that 5:37 a.m. alarm clock, once I get to the gym I know it will be worth it and I know it will be fun.
10) What advice do you have for anyone who is thinking about joining or who has recently joined?
Answer: Come! Give it a try! What do you have to lose? If you are competitive, like being around other humans, and enjoy challenging yourself, then this is definitely the place for you, or even if you hate all of those things, you should still come. It is a great place to push your limits and embrace challenges.