Presenting our Iron Buffalo Recipients || Alex Difonzo & Erin Garza

Happy 2019 Everyone! We are still so full of love from celebrating our 10 Year Anniversary last month and we’re excited to share our first ever, Iron Buffalo winners.

Every year, we’ve chosen a male and female that stood out to us and exemplified the things that we look for in members of our community. In year’s past, this award has been called the Push-Up Man and Push-Up Woman of the Year award. While we will always be proud of our Push-Up men and women, we chose to bring to light a new award with a new decade and new ownership. The Iron Buffalo award reflects many of the same things we looked for with the PUM/PUW. The athletes chosen were not limited to physical ability alone, although both of these athletes are quite talented in their individual areas. It also encompasses their ability to connect with their fellow CFA members, their continuous drive, and their commitment not only to this community, but to their own longevity, health, and overall being.

As Tim was considering the elements of this award, he turned to his own family and his own history. The Buffalo has been a symbol in his family for many years. From family homesteading a ranch in Buffalo, Texas where he and his brother made many childhood memories, to his hometown in Bartlesville, OK where Buffalo statues line the intersections of the city. Even the company he formed to purchase the gym, The Buffalo Collective, uses the symbol.

The Buffalo, in Native American culture symbolizes a spirit of abundance and friendship. As a totem it symbolizes earth-centeredness, selflessness, and the power of a team unit. The buffalo itself is a symbol of power. It has the strength the carry heavy burdens, not just physically, but in all aspects. We find all of these qualities to be what we looked for in our athletes of the year and could not be more proud to call them the Iron Buffalo recipients.

These athletes exemplify all of these amazing qualities and more. They lead by example. They work hard. Their family and friends are a priority in their lives and they uplift and encourage those around them. We are so honored to share the interviews of our 2018 Iron Buffalo recipients, Alex Difonzo and Erin Garza. Congratulations you two! We’re grateful to have you as a part of this team and this family.

 

IRON BUFFALO – ALEX DIFONZO

When did you join the CFA community?
I started fundamentals in October 2016 and joined group classes a few months after that.

What is one of your most memorable moments from your early days at CFA? Any ‘newbie’ stories you’d like to share?
I did the Open after doing CrossFit for about 3 months. That was my first big dose of reality. I vividly remember smashing my head between two 50lb dbs while trying to do walking lunges. It really showed me how much work I had ahead of me. P.S. we did that same workout a few months ago and didn’t smash my head even once.

What is it about CFA that you love or that is different from other sports/programs you’ve tried?
The community, 100%. I don’t think I could push myself half as hard as I’m able to without the constant encouragement, coaching, and just overall awesomeness of everyone else in the gym. No matter how much I’m hurting after a workout I always leave in a good mood.

What advice would you give yourself if you could go back in time to when you first started CrossFit?
Give it time and trust the process. I remember thinking that I would never be able to get my lifts down, or my mobility where it needs to be. It’s crazy to think about how far I’ve come in just 2 years.

What was your initial reason for starting (your ‘why’)? How has that ‘Why’ changed?
At the start I just wanted to get into a fitness routine that I wouldn’t get bored of, and to try to be a little less out of shape. Now all my goals are focused around seeing how far I can push myself, both mentally and physically. I want to see how strong, how fast, and how fit I’m capable of being.

How did you create long term fitness/CrossFit success for yourself?
For me it was swallowing my pride and working on my weaknesses not just doing workouts I thought were fun. Once I realized there’s no shame in lowering my weight or staying after class to fail at double-unders for 3 weeks straight I was able to slowly chip away at those weaknesses.

What makes you come in and train on days when you don’t want to?
I always think about what an old swim coach of mine said, “anyone can show up and perform when they’re feeling good, but a real athlete puts the work in on the days everyone else stays home”. It’s been a while since I’ve considered myself a real athlete, but I’m hoping to get back there sometime.

Recent PRs?
It probably sounds insignificant but I just recently strung together 20 double-unders in a row. I’ve always had a hard time with them so it feels good to get a few in a row.

Current training goals?
Long term goal, MURPH with a vest this July.

Tell us about an obstacle you have had to work through in your training. How did you work through it?
My mobility, without a doubt, has been my biggest obstacle. When i started I don’t think i could even air squat below parallel. I’ve done a lot of things to improve, I started doing yoga on rest days, more foam rolling, durability classes with Jesse, and massages with Heidi.

What is your cheat meal go to?
Torchy’s! Chips and queso, fried avocado taco and fried chicken taco.

What does the Iron Buffalo title mean to you?
It means a ton to me. I feel like I’ve only just started hitting my stride in CrossFit and am super excited to see just how far I can push myself. This is obviously a huge motivator to keep pushing. CFA is full of so many amazing athletes, I couldn’t think of a better place to be.

Thoughts upon winning the title?
I was shocked, I wasn’t expecting it at all. I don’t think my face has gotten that red since I was in high school. I’m generally pretty hard on myself so I don’t do great with being recognized for stuff.

How will you use your new found  Buffalo Strength?
I’m going to push myself even harder now, you can’t half-ass a workout when you just won the Iron Buffalo.

What are you most excited about in the upcoming year? Gym related and/or personally?
To be honest, this past year has been so crazy with new jobs, buying a house, and getting a puppy, I’m really excited to be able to be able to just put my head down and work in the gym. I’m planning on doing some olympic lifting with Dylan which I’m pretty pumped about.

Leave the fine folks of CFA with some parting wisdom.
Don’t take it too seriously, if you’re not enjoying it it’s not worth it.

 

IRON BUFFALO – ERIN GARZA


When did you join the CFA community?
May 2015

What is one of your most memorable moments from your early days at CFA? Any ‘newbie’ stories you’d like to share?
I have SO many wonderful memories at CFA, but one memory sticks out the most. It was a particularly hot summer afternoon at the gym, you know the kind where the air is thick and the sticky humidity is covering everything? Well, the WOD that evening involved pull ups. Lots of pull ups. “Great!” I thought, “I can do those and fast!” I was on the rig doing butterfly right next to JoAnna Brandt, who I didn’t know super well at the time. I was flying high and the next thing I know, I’m flat on my back. I slipped off the pull up bar! My world was rocked, I couldn’t breathe and I was pretty embarrassed. I was preparing myself for an “OMG are you okay?” but instead I look up and see Jo with her gnarly, beautiful curly hair looking down at me and she said, “Well…GET UP!!!!” (There may or may not have been an expletive at the end of that sentence). I love that memory.

What is it about CFA that you love or that is different from other sports/programs you’ve tried?
In 2017 I left CFA and joined a different gym in Austin. I nearly came running back to CFA just 3 months after leaving. Sure, at this new gym the programming was good and I may have gotten little stronger but I didn’t feel the same connection with the community. I missed showing up every day after work and being greeted with a smile and a high five (or a hug). I missed Night of Champions. I missed watching people get their first muscle up or achieve that PR they’ve been working on all year long. I missed seeing my friend’s babies running around and watching their badass parents become healthier people. I love CFA because we are in it together.

What advice would you give yourself if you could go back in time to when you first started CrossFit?
“You need to stretch!” (Lol) No, but seriously…I have to say I was all in when I first started CrossFit but I didn’t realized the importance of rehabilitation for many years. I am paying for that now!!

What was your initial reason for starting (your ‘why’)? How has that ‘Why’ changed?
I graduated from college in December of 2013 and moved 30 miles north to Austin. I was working in the bar industry and with that came a string of nasty habits that were holding me back. I wanted to be the best version of myself and was tired of feeling like I was going through the motions. The change in routine left me searching for a new direction in life. I signed up for CrossFit and started in March of 2014. A few months later I met another newbie, my sweet husband Aaron. ☺

How did you create long term fitness/CrossFit success for yourself?
I found the class schedule that worked best for me, chose my days of rest and tried my best to stay committed to that routine. Luckily I have lots of friends who hold me accountable at CFA too!

What makes you come in and train on days when you don’t want to?
My friends! Also, knowing that I will leave the gym so much happier than when I walked in.

Recent PRs?
I PR’d Diane at 8:42 RX. “The Girls” are particularly challenging and I love getting better at these benchmarks.  

Current training goals?
I want to push myself further in training and treat each workout the same. It’s easy for me to stick to the same weight throughout a training cycle or not get back to the bar for a few more reps. I want to push myself to reach further and in turn I hope it improves my endurance and strengthens my mental game.

Tell us about an obstacle you have had to work through in your training. How did you work through it?I have a problem with my sternum so I really struggle with pushups and dips, especially out of the muscle up. I have found that this obstacle was more than just physical, it was mental for me. I had to learn to give myself grace and modify! Tim helped me with the “backpack” pushup and I’m working on tightening my core for dipping out of the MU.

What is your cheat meal go to?
Talenti Gelato! All the flavors, all the time.

What does the Iron Buffalo title mean to you?
Ah, so much! To me, it means that numbers do not mean that much in the long run. I’m not a top performer in the gym and have to scale a lot of things. It means that you can be recognized for being you and that’s gotta be the surest feeling in the world.

Thoughts upon winning the title?
I was literally shocked! I felt like I didn’t deserve the title (Enter Wayne’s World quote, “We are not worthy”). But in all seriousness it felt really great. CrossFit has meant so much to me over the last 5 years and it continues to mean so much to me now. My life has completely transformed relationally, spiritually and physically from my commitment to CrossFit and I’m really proud to be the first female Iron Buffalo lady at CFA.

How will you use your new found Buffalo Strength?
I want to encourage others to be the best version of themselves, whatever that may look like for them. There is always more that we can do to love our neighbors or say a kind thing.

What are you most excited about in the upcoming year? Gym related and/or personally?
Gym related, I’m just thankful for another year to move! I hope to gain strength this year but I also want to learn more about nutrition. Personally I am looking forward to a trip to Hawaii with my hubby in June and settling into our new home here in Austin!

Leave the fine folks of CFA with some parting wisdom.
Just remember, the only thing that matters is your attitude and effort. You can’t always control your performance and strength but something that you can always control is your attitude and your effort. I am absolutely encouraged by you people and love you all dearly. Thank you for showing up, working hard and pushing me every single week!