Congratulations to Emma Bond for being CFR’s May Member of the Month for 2018! She is a loyal member of the 6pm class, loves chocolate and recently completed the qualifications for our CFR Comp Team! Congrats Emma, and keep up the great work!

1)      What are your hobbies/interest/talents outside of CrossFit?

Eating food (especially chocolate), cooking food, learning about nutrition, and getting outside. I enjoy doing anything creative/hands on.

2)      Share with us one thing that most people do NOT know about you?

Hmmm… I grew up in a very artistic household so all throughout school I never played any sports. I spent pretty much most of my free time drawing, painting, sewing, being moody – typical art-kid stuff.

I started working out in an effort to help overcome an eating disorder I battled with, so for years my main goal was to burn as many calories as possible with long cardio sessions. Slowly but surely, I began to understand the importance of lifting weights. Fast forward to many years later and I’d 110% rather lift weights than go on the grueling treadmill for an hour (although it was nice to be able to watch the cooking channel while working out).

3)      How long have you been with us at CFR?

Since September 2017! 

4)      Take us back to your first week here. How did you feel? Remember the workout?

I remember walking into the gym with Nick for my first on ramp class, and it was a September 11th workout and I thought “This… Is… Insane…” So, at this point the only impressions I had of CrossFit was this Hero WOD everyone was doing and what I saw from the CrossFit Games videos that Nick used to make me watch.

It was a complete 180 from the Globo gym I went to before and immediately thought it would be a LONG while before I was able to do any of those movements or lift the any of those weights.

After on ramp, one of the first workouts I did had Cal row, Snatches and Bar Facing Burpees in it. I made the mistake of trying to keep up with one of the best female rowers in the class (shout out to Emily Skane) and DIED. I was supposed to go to trivia later that night with friends and I had to cancel because my face was so beat red.

5)      What moment/achievement are you most proud of at CFR?

Making comp team! Specifically, making the snatch requirement. Snatches are one of the movements I struggle with the most. But I was fortunate enough to get a micro program from Coach Shannon that focused specifically on snatches. Once I realized you pretty much just high pull the weight and then get under it – my snatch went up 20# in two weeks.

Working on your weaknesses sucks, and it’s not fun – but the outcome is 100% worth the suck.

6)      Design your perfect workout?

Ok ready … (I would like a coach to tell me if this actually a decent workout because I’m thinking it would be a good 24th bday WOD).

24 min AMRAP
8 Pistols
10 T2B
12 Front squats 75lb
14 Bar facing burpees
16 KB swings

But really, anything squat, burpee, or 18.2a related.

7)      What is your least favorite movement?

Snatches…

8)      Summarize your lifestyle in 5 words or less.

No complaints.

9)      Have you experienced any changes in your lifestyle now that you have been a CrossFit athlete?

For sure! I have met so many amazing people at CrossFit Relentless and everyone has positively impacted my life in one way or another.

I have much more of a ‘you can do anything’ attitude when it comes to everything in life. I sleep more, I eat more, I’m overall a much happier person with much bigger goals.  On a more negative note: the inside of my hands are constantly ripped, and CrossFit still hasn’t helped with the fact that I’m super clumsy.

10)   What advice do you have for anyone who is thinking about joining or who has recently joined?

My main piece of advice is to try not to compare yourself to anyone else; this is something I was frustrated with when I first started. CrossFit is a lot of fun, but it also can be very frustrating as a beginner. Fun because you hit new PRs or accomplishments almost weekly. But frustrating because it takes a lot of time and patience to learn about 80% of the movements (unless you’re just physically gifted). You’ll struggle with a movement for months and then one day it just clicks, and you’ll string 16 T2B together. Work on your weaknesses and you’ll see the payoff.

But most importantly, be careful when you put your barbell back on the rack because they WILL all come crashing down. Editor’s Note: And then Coach Erik will have to take out the sledge to fix the rack. Good note, Emma!