Meet Meghan, September’s AOM!
No stranger to CrossFit, having been doing it for a couple of years, Meghan has been with us for a few months but is already a mainstay in our morning classes. A prime example of showing up to do the work to start the day off right. Let’s see what else we can learn about her!
CFT: Where are you from?
Meghan: I grew up north of Boston in the Merrimack Valley but have found my home in East Boston.
CFT: How long have you been doing CrossFit?
Meghan: About 2 years
CFT: Did you have a fitness background prior to starting CrossFit?
Meghan: Growing up I was more of a bookworm than athlete, but after college I started running as a way to stay in shape. I got hooked and was soon signing up for race after race. Seeing my times improve was really motivating and kept me going.
CFT: What motivated you to try CrossFit?
Meghan: I had just finished my first marathon, and although everything went as planned, I could not imagine doing another one. I was mentally exhausted from spending all my weekends running. And I had lost so much of my muscle mass that I did not like how my body looked. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do next when someone at work told me about CrossFit. I was hesitant to try it, but when she explained the format of the class and how the actual workout could be anywhere from 5 minutes to 20 minutes, I decided to try it. I wanted to get my strength and my time back.
CFT: If you could program your dream WOD, what would it be?
Meghan: I love bodyweight stuff (push-ups, pull-ups, pistols) and kettlebells.
CFT: What is your proudest accomplishment since joining CFT?
Meghan: Getting my first pull-up, being able to lift more weight than I ever thought possible, overcoming my fear of box jumps, and learning that not every workout needs to be at max effort- how to scale in a way that works for me. This has helped me recover properly so I can workout more consistently.
CFT: How has CFT helped you in your everyday life?
Meghan: It’s made me more comfortable in my body. I’ve re-gained a lot of healthy weight that I had lost during marathon training. The strength I’ve gained in my back has improved my posture and my squat mobility has improved so much. Aside from the physical aspect, I’m excited to wake up and go to class in the morning, and when I leave class after accomplishing a tough workout, it sets a positive tone for my day.
CFT: What do you like to do outside of the gym?
Meghan: I love hiking up mountains and through the city, going to the beach, taking my dog swimming, trying all of the amazing restaurants around here, and spending time with my fiance and my family- preferably over a good dinner and bottle of wine.
CFT: What is your favorite song to workout to?
Meghan: Tough question! Started from the Bottom by Drake is a good one. Generally, I like a lot of dance music for workouts because it gets your heart pumping- basically any station that coach Keith plays. I think it would be fun to workout to some 70’s dance music like Michael Jackson’s Don’t Stop till you Get Enough (editor’s note: YES!) or Stevie Wonder’s Boogie On Reggae Woman.
CFT: What else would you like to tell your fellow CFT athletes?
Meghan: Some days are humbling, like during a workout when you have to take weight off the bar because you misjudged how much you could lift that day, and some days are awesome, like when you realize you can do pistol squats and had no idea. But the variety of exercises and workouts keeps me engaged and motivated. There is always something new to learn and work on. Like most people who do CrossFit, I’m not trying to become some super elite athlete. I am just trying to meet up with some great people, play and practice the sport of CrossFit, and on a good day, beat my time from yesterday. The awesome side effect of all that is typically getting a great workout and having some fun.