Each month we spotlight a different CFA athlete who stands out and shows just how awesome they are. What is it that makes up an Athlete of the Month? It may not be the person that finishes the fastest, Rx’s every WOD, or gets a PR every time they walk in the gym. Although we love and celebrate when those things happen, the Athlete of the Month is made up of much more than physical ability. This person shows up, gives their best every time, and then gives a little more. They are hungry to learn and always ready to do the work. They support their fellow classmates and encourage them to reach their goals. This athlete embodies what we believe the CrossFit Austin Community should be about.

State your Name and/or Nickname please:Josiah. Jo

Words to live by?

Event + Response = Outcome. You can’t control the events in life and you don’t have direct control over the outcomes but you do have total control of how you choose to respond.

What is your fitness background?

I’ve always played sports and been active/exercised for as long as I can remember. I did traditional gym workouts and ran for years and then I needed a change/challenge so I started CF.

How long have you been CrossFitting?

Almost 5 years. Ever since I moved to Austin

Take us back to your first day of CrossFit… How did you feel? How do you compare it to workouts today?

I was excited, probably overzealous to prove I was “fit” because that’s what I thought CF was all about then. Now, my fitness goals are different and I’m more intentional in how I approach workouts. It’s all about fitness longevity now.

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit Austin?

Obvious Answer: The community. It’s supportive. It’s the best. IYKYK

Personal answer: the coaches. I’ve been at 3 different CF gyms and I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed the level of personal dedication and investment to each member, as well as the attention to lifting safely/teaching the basics that every coach shows. Just great people all around.

Current Training Goals/PRs?

Run at least 40 miles/month. Come join the run club after class.

Stretch/Yoga 9x/month aka improve my mobility

What advice do you have for folks just starting out in CrossFit?

Try not to compare yourself to others. Everyone’s journey at the gym has started differently and most people have been doing it for a long time. How fast you move and how heavy you lift are all relative. We’re all getting better and everyone wants you to get better.

How do you balance staying focused in your training and in your life?

Fitness/training has been a part of my life for so long now that it’s just ingrained into my schedule and routine.  It’s vital to my mental health which then benefits outside life. It would be more difficult not to train at this point and I hope the habit stays.

What is your cheat meal go-to?

I don’t really have cheat meals because I’m not a big diet watcher (shame, shame, i know) but I love pizza and probably eat it 2x a week.

How do you use your fitness outside of the gym?

I use it to keep up with my hobbies (see below).  My goal is to never be too tired or out of shape to enjoy activities.

Tell us about a moment you felt most proud of yourself during a workout.

We did Jackie back in April and I have times recorded from 2018, 2019, and now 2021. It’s gone from 10:03 to 8:21 to 7:05. I was pretty surprised. Keeping track of your times really can show you how far you’ve come when you may not even realize it.

What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your fitness journey?

I could be better about taking rest days. Sometimes I bite off more than I can chew.

If you could create a WOD and name it for yourself, what would it be?

“UnBearable” 9 Bear Complex – 400 m run – 6 Bear complex, – 800m run – 3 Bear Complex – 1600 m run. (95/65)

Bear complex (power clean, front squat, push press, back squat, push press)

What keeps you going on the days you don’t feel like it?

Making small goals and finding small victories when the larger ones feel unaccomplishable for the day.

What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit?

Golf, Yoga, Running, Wake Surfing. A lot of live music/concerts/events. Greenbelt. All the Austin things. As far as talents, I make a pretty mean fart noise and can almost rotate my feet around completely backwards.

Tell us something we don’t know about you…

Some may know this but I recently got the opportunity to donate stem cells to some anonymous gentleman and it was one of the cooler/rewarding experiences I’ve gone through. Sign up for BeTheMatch if that’s your thing.

Leave the fine folks of CrossFit Austin with some parting words…

“The only normal people are the ones you don’t know very well.” -Alfred Adler.  Get to know your weird, fellow gym goers.

Each month we spotlight a different CFA athlete who stands out and shows just how awesome they are. What is it that makes up an Athlete of the Month? It may not be the person that finishes the fastest, Rx’s every WOD, or gets a PR every time they walk in the gym. Although we love and celebrate when those things happen, the Athlete of the Month is made up of much more than physical ability. This person shows up, gives their best every time, and then gives a little more. They are hungry to learn and always ready to do the work. They support their fellow classmates and encourage them to reach their goals. This athlete embodies what we believe the CrossFit Austin Community should be about.

State your Name and/or Nickname please:

Lauren

Words to live by?

“Eventually all things fall into place, until then, laugh at the confusion, live for the moments, and know everything happens for a reason”

What is your fitness background?

I competed in synchronized swimming for 13 years, from 8 years old through college. Once my time as a synchro swimmer came to an end I wanted to find something I enjoyed to stay in shape, and found cCossFit!

How long have you been CrossFitting?

Almost 10 months now

Take us back to your first day of CrossFit… How did you feel? How do you compare it to workouts today?

I was so excited to get back into a gym and a routine again after 6 months of gyms being closed from Covid. But I was also super nervous to be somewhere new and not know anyone. I remember struggling with the workout, as I still do more often than not, but there are a lot of movements I can do now that I couldn’t before.

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit Austin?

100% the people! I love the culture at CFA. All of the coaches and members are amazing!

Current Training Goals/PRs?

Consistent pull ups and double unders. Improve my handstand push ups. And as always, lift heavy!!

What advice do you have for folks just starting out in CrossFit?

Don’t be afraid to go at your own pace, scale as needed, and listen to your body. Just show up with a positive attitude and get it done one way or another!

How do you balance staying focused in your training and in your life?

By making Crossfit a priority in my everyday schedule. It’s easy to do when I love coming to the gym as much as I do.

What is your cheat meal go-to?

Pizookies

How do you use your fitness outside of the gym?

I love going on hikes, runs and biking on the weekends. Also, the occasional push up competition with my coworkers & the soccer league I’m a part of with work.

Tell us about a moment you felt most proud of yourself during a workout.

Most recently there was a workout where I was going to do it RX, but then the pull ups seemed impossible at the end of the workout so I was ready to grab a band and scale it. But everyone cheered me on and coached me through it and I was able to finish it RX which I didn’t think I could do. It showed me I’m capable of more than I think sometimes, especially with the awesome support from others 🙂

What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your fitness journey?

Working out used to feel like it was a chore and something I had to do to stay in shape and look good which was always a battle. Luckily since I’ve started crossfit that has changed SO much. I workout now because I love the way I feel after and the people and energy I’m surrounded by.

If you could create a WOD and name it for yourself, what would it be?

It would definitely be a short AMRAP with lots of lifting, especially overhead.

What keeps you going on the days you don’t feel like it?

What keeps me getting up at 5am to workout is knowing I get to see all my gym friends! Also knowing that everyday I get into the gym is another opportunity to improve and work towards my goals.

What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit?

Swimming, photography, anything outdoors, yoga, watching live music, and traveling.

Tell us something we don’t know about you…

I grew up celebrating Christmas and Hanukkah with parents of different religious backgrounds which was super cool.

Leave the fine folks of CrossFit Austin with some parting words…

I’m super grateful to be a part of this community and for all the kindness and support from the coaches and members!! Y’all are the best 🙂

CrossFit Austin will be hosting Murph Day Saturday (6/26/2021) honoring the memory of Navy Lieutenant Michael Murphy and all fallen veterans. Lieutenant Murphy was killed in Afghanistan on June 28th, 2005. This workout was one of Mike’s favorites and he named it “Body Armor”. We will honor a focused warrior and great American who wanted nothing more in life than to serve this great country and the beautiful people who make it what it is.

REGISTER HERE

“Murph”

For time:
1 mile run
100 pull ups
200 push ups
300 squats
1 mile run

*Partition the pull-ups, push-ups, and squats as needed.
**Teams of 2, 3, or 4 (max 4 people) are welcome.
***All movements can be scaled.
****Be sure to wear your twenty pound vest or body armor if you have it.

EVENT SPECIFICS:

REGISTRATION DETAILS

Event Registration + Shirt – Deadline – June 13th

• $40 for participating athletes
• Athlete entry fee includes registration & t-shirt costs and donations

Event Registration without Shirt

• $25 for participating athletes
• Athlete entry fee includes registration costs and donations

***Shirt ONLY (non-participant) – Deadline – June 13th

• $25 for shirt only
• All proceeds from t-shirt sales will be donated

SHIRTS – The image is the concept image and may have some slight changes to the final product.

Bella Canvas Unisex Tee

Bella Canvas Unisex Tank

Bella Canvas Women’s Racerback

EVENT DETAILS

• This event is open to all – members and non-members 
• Athletes must arrive at 30 minutes prior to their heat to warm-up, sign-in, and pick up shirts 
• Heat times start at 8:00 am, 9:15 am, and 10:30 am 
• Spectators are welcome – dogs are not allowed at the facility
• Donations are welcome and can be made through eventbrite, Navy SEAL Foundation, GingerCare, or onsite the day of the event.

Donations and proceeds will go to benefit the charity of your choice. As always, you may donate to The Navy Seal Foundation. In addition, we are including a local foundation run by our own, Linzi Newth, GingerCare. You can read more about what they do HERE.

“I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle – victorious.” – Vince Lombardi

Each month we spotlight a different CFA athlete who stands out and shows just how awesome they are. What is it that makes up an Athlete of the Month? It may not be the person that finishes the fastest, Rx’s every WOD, or gets a PR every time they walk in the gym. Although we love and celebrate when those things happen, the Athlete of the Month is made up of much more than physical ability. This person shows up, gives their best every time, and then gives a little more. They are hungry to learn and always ready to do the work. They support their fellow classmates and encourage them to reach their goals. This athlete embodies what we believe the CrossFit Austin Community should be about.

State your name or nickname please:
Diamond (Thanks Mom). I also go by Dee.

Words to live by?
“Where there is no struggle, there is no strength”. I’ve basically adopted this quote from Oprah.

What is your fitness background?
Fitness has pretty much been a part of my life in varying degrees. In high school, I played for the football team as a corner back and kick returner. I ran for the track team, running the 200m and 4×4 relay. After high school, I joined the Army National Guard, and of course, you have to keep up with your fitness in order to stay fit for duty.

How long have you been CrossFitting?
I have been crossfitting since I joined CFA, so that would be just over a year.

Take us back to your first day of CrossFit… How did you feel? How do you compare it to workouts today?
I was pretty nervous on my first day of CrossFit. I felt like a freshmen with no skills who somehow made the Varsity team. I did not want to embarrass myself. In comparison from then to today, I believe I have progressed greatly. This is the most productive and consistent I have ever been when it comes to my fitness. Definitely don’t feel nervous about getting after it with everyone now.

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit Austin?
The group sessions. It’s one of the main reasons why I joined. I am terrible at working out by myself so being with others, motivating each other through action and words gets me hyped. Gotta love all the coaches too!

Current Training Goals/PRs?
 Become more proficient with cleans and snatches. And be able to do a muscle up by the end of the year. I’m dabbling more in performing WODs at the performance level as well after a year of mainly doing them at the athletic level.

What advice do you have for folks just starting out in CrossFit?
Give it time and patience. CrossFit is definitely not something you can just jump into and dominate as a newbie whose never done it before. Don’t give up and remain consistent.

Things look a little different right now, how are you staying focused in your training and in your life during this time?
 Without training, I don’t feel at my best and that alone usually motivates me to stay on top of my fitness. Also, family keeps me going. They are my backbone.

What is your cheat meal go-to?
Oh, I love me some pizza, especially Dominoes black box pizza.

How do you use your fitness outside of the gym?
I do it to keep up with the kids. I like to be active with them, play basketball, volleyball, throw the football around, etc. I also do it for work. I love what I do and I want to be able to do it for as long as I can. As a paramedic, there is a lot of lifting and moving involved. I feel as a healthcare provider, I have to “talk the talk and walk the walk”, and fitness puts me in that position. Fitness is also my therapy when it comes to dealing with traumatic events in my field. I’m not a big talker about my emotions, so sweating it out works better for me.

Tell us about a moment you felt most proud of yourself during a workout.
 I felt most proud of my deadlift Max, which is 315, because I’ve never lifted that heavy in my life. It felt rewarding. Now I can’t wait to see what else I can achieve.

What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your fitness journey?
Dieting. That is something I’m constantly working on, and I feel like I’m making some progress. Snatches and cleans are a pain for me, but I also feel like I’m making some headway with that. Overall, I’m just working on pushing myself past that comfortable limit where you want to just stop and rest. I want to continue working past that limit, safely of course.

If you could create a WOD and name it for yourself, what would it be?
“Dig Deep”
7min AMRAP:
10 Goblet Squat,
10 burpees
100m sprint

What keeps you going on the days you don’t feel like it?
I usually just find a way to motivate myself. I do quite a bit of positive self-talk when it comes to that. Remind myself of the goals I want to achieve.

What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit?
Spending time with family, my dogs and friends. Huge fan of horror movies. Hiking. Camping. And I just started getting into woodworking so I’m currently getting my little shop set up in the garage.

Tell us something we don’t know about you…
I was trying to think of something less depressing, but I was homeless as a child, but eventually found a loving home as a teenager.

Leave the fine folks of CrossFit Austin with some parting words…
I am really glad to find such an awesome community. Lets all continue kicking ass and crushing goals.

Each month we spotlight a different CFA athlete who stands out and shows just how awesome they are. What is it that makes up an Athlete of the Month? It may not be the person that finishes the fastest, Rx’s every WOD, or gets a PR every time they walk in the gym. Although we love and celebrate when those things happen, the Athlete of the Month is made up of much more than physical ability. This person shows up, gives their best every time, and then gives a little more. They are hungry to learn and always ready to do the work. They support their fellow classmates and encourage them to reach their goals. This athlete embodies what we believe the CrossFit Austin Community should be about.

State your Name and/or Nickname please:

What is your cheat meal go-to?