February Athlete of the Month: Jennifer “Machine Gun Jenny” Felps
State your Name and/or Nickname please.
Jennifer Felps aka Machine Gun Jenny
Occupation?
Senior Business Systems Analyst at AMD
Words to live by?
“The service you do for others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.” Muhammad Ali
What is your fitness background?
I was certified to teach aerobics in high school (yay step!). I’ve always loved lifting, but I was really a 30 minute elliptical, light lifter, 3 times a week for many years.
How long have you been CrossFitting?
I started On Ramp in March of 2010.
What’s your favorite part of CrossFit?
My favorite part is the support from all the other athletes and coaches. No one is ever derogatory. Not ever. The last person in (usually me) is cheered on like a first place finisher. It’s amazing every single time. I was afraid when I started that there would be days I would have to sit out because of my leg injury. There has not been one single WOD that the coaches have not been able to mod for me in nearly a year of classes. It really makes me feel like part of the team, and not like I’m a burden or in the way.
What are your training goals?
I want to compete in my first powerlifting meet in the spring (Thank You, Coach Blake!). That is so exciting! I just want to keep getting better at everything – higher jumps, faster times, smaller bands on my pullups, bigger CFT numbers. I’m perfectly fine with taking baby steps to get there.
Favorite sport or activity?
My favorite activity is playing with my son, Rooster (whose favorite activity is coming to CFA to monkey around). The 630AM Strength Days at CFA are a very close second!
Recent adventure you’re planning?
James and I are going to see Liz and Cody lift in Fort Worth at their meet in February. We are bringing a little CFA to Cow Town!
Tell us something we don’t know about you?
I have 2 3-legged cats, Cleo and Stinker. I got them that way from the shelter. I guess I don’t believe in throwing something away because it’s not perfect. Nothing wrong with the scratch-and-dent models. I’m sort of one myself.
Longhorns or Aggies?
Gotta be Longhorns. I graduated from UT Austin in 1998.
Best quote that you’ve said within the walls of CFA that was never recorded on the quote board!?
Oh dear. I said something the other day about not wanting to have Big Bertha between my legs…9am immediately pointed out how lucky I was that the quote board wasn’t up yet. I know I was 3 shades of purple.
Leave the fine folks of CrossFit Austin with some parting words?
I’m incredibly honored to be thought of as an athlete by a group of athletes I respect and adore. WODs at 630am are not always pleasant, but every freezing cold morning I run to the car I know I will be seeing my friends. And I’m excited every single day. CrossFit has made me a better person in a million ways that have nothing to do with bands and bars and kettlebells. I’m so grateful to have such a huge motley crew of new friends to rely on, and to cheer on every day. You all make Fran tolerable. There is no greater complement than that.
