I've run 6 half marathons and am currently training for the Silverton Alpine Marathon. I consider the progress I have made in strength more of a feat than the actual weights I can lift. When I started CrossFit, the empty bar was my 1 rep max for many movements. I take pride in how far I have come since then.
CrossFit Level 2
CrossFit Kids Certifications
I was not an athletic kid. Pick any sport, I sucked at it. When I was in preschool, I was diagnosed with low muscle tone, and I worked with a physical therapist weekly just to try to keep up with other kids. Needless to say, I wasn't born an athlete. I didn't play many sports in elementary and middle school, and never really got what it was like to be part of a team. In high school I joined the cross-country team, and, motivated by the support of the rest of my team, I became a pretty solid runner. In my senior year of high school, I started CrossFit and really liked the variety of movements and ways to grow and improve. In college, I got my Level 1 certification and started a non-profit CrossFit affiliate at my college. With this affiliate, I focused on providing a space for students who had little to no athletic experience, so they could find joy and community in fitness. This ignited a passion for coaching athletes who have not had access to athletics for a variety of socioeconomic reasons. Many of these athletes were in the LGBTQ+ community and had felt excluded from athletic spaces in the past. These experiences inspired me to work with the OUT Foundation to promote greater LGBTQ+ inclusion in CrossFit.
When I joined the cross-country team in my freshman year of high school, I came in last in every race. Dead last. I hated the feeling of losing but loved being part of a team. In the off-season that year I ran on my own nearly every day, training to improve my speed and endurance so that I could come back a better athlete the next year. By the next fall, I made varsity and competed at the Massachusetts State meet. This experience taught me that with practice and hard work, I could achieve goals that previously seemed impossible.
I coach to show that there is a place for everyone in CrossFit. When I started coaching, I was self-conscious about not being the strongest athlete. However, I realized that this is one of my greatest strengths as a coach. My goal is to be approachable and not intimidating, showing all my athletes that they belong in CrossFit. My experience working with LGBTQ+ athletes has shown me how meaningful it is for athletes to see themselves in their coach and feel seen by their coach. I am passionate about creating a space where my athletes can be their full selves in my classes. I want to ensure that everyone knows that they are an athlete no matter their skill or experience.
.png)
