November Athlete of the Month || Reed Cross!!
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.
Our November Athlete of the Month is Reed Cross! Reed joined CFA in January of 2021, and his consistent effort over the last few years hasn’t gone unnoticed. Reed captures the spirit of growth and fitness longevity by being flexible with his schedule (often popping around to different class times to make it work), making appropriate modifications, and finding new skills to develop and refine. Most recently, he’s been working on his strict pull-up endurance! While he may be known as one of our “quieter” members, Reed is always friendly and coachable, and he’ll let his wild side show by bravely wearing shorts in 40-degree weather! We are excited to see his continued improvements, and we’re proud to call him our November AOM! Congratulations Reed, and thank you for letting us share in your journey!
State your Name and/or Nickname please: 
Reed
Words to live by?
Every day is an opportunity.
What is your fitness background?
I’ve never really been competitive about fitness, but I always feel better after I work out, so that’s why I keep doing it.
How long have you been CrossFitting?
I joined CFA in early 2021(ish) to get active after a bit of a pandemic lull. That was my first exposure to CrossFit.
Take us back to your first day of CrossFit… How did you feel? How do you compare it to workouts today?
Really sweaty! I want to say the first actual class I took was Cindy, which makes 20 minutes feel like a really long time. It still feels long, but every time the workout comes up I feel stronger than the last time.
What’s your favorite part of CrossFit Austin?
The coaching staff! It would be much harder to go to the gym if everyone wasn’t nice and encouraging.
Current Training Goals/PRs?
My goal when I joined was to hit 225 squatting, now that I’ve done that I want to get better at pull ups.
What advice do you have for folks just starting out in CrossFit?
Just keep trying new things and over time you’ll get better. There are still a lot of movements/skills I’ve yet to master, but comparing to where I started a couple years ago I can see how far I’ve progressed.
How do you balance staying focused in your training when life gets busy?
I consider the gym “me time”, I give myself that hour to not worry about other things going on in work/life. I come out of a workout more motivated and focused, so taking that one hour benefits me the rest of the day.
What is your cheat meal go-to?
Pizza. The “ooh la la” at Pinthouse is fantastic.
How do you use your fitness outside of the gym?
I play a few recreational sports, I also like to run with my pups.
What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your fitness journey?
Winter is tough for me, it’s a lot harder to get out of bed when it’s freezing outside.
Tell us about a moment you felt most proud of yourself during a workout.
The last time I did a one-rep max on deadlifts I got a PR!
If you could create a WOD and name it for yourself, what would it be?
IDK…I always feel the best after the really long workouts, so it would be like 35 minutes long with lots of cardio.
What keeps you going on the days you don’t feel like it?
The five dollar late cancel fee haha. That’s usually enough to get me out of bed and to the gym.
What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit?
I really enjoy cooking for other people and my friends tell me I’m good at it.
Tell us something we don’t know about you…
I really love to travel when I’m off work, Mexico City is my favorite destination yet, but I’d love to visit Japan one day.
Leave the fine folks of CrossFit Austin with some parting words…
Stay classy.