3
Jun
Jackie Pryor
| Q: How did you find out about Ballston CrossFit and what about it convinced you to join? I started at a brand new box in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 4 months before moving back to Arlington. When I arrived in August, I looked up CrossFit gyms near me and found two. Ballston CrossFit is close enough for me to walk to and when I exchanged texts with Brock, he convinced me to sign up for foundations. Q: What stopped you from coming in sooner? The lack of CrossFit gyms in the countries I was living in, but honestly I didn’t feel like I was fit enough to start, not knowing that CrossFit is meant for everyone at every level of fitness. Q:When did you start at BCF and what were your goals going into it? I started foundations in August 2023, and regular classes in September. My goals coming in were to be able to learn the techniques, proper form and push myself in every class and maybe lose a couple of pounds. Q: What has helped you achieve success at BCF? The coaches have made a huge impact on my success at the gym. I have had an interaction with almost every coach and have found they know how to push me to try the harder movements, heavier weights, work on my form and give words of encouragement. Q:What advice can you give to others that are new to CrossFit? True to what almost every other member has said, is that I would tell anyone new to CrossFit would be to be consistent, don’t cherry pick workouts and keep working at the things that feel the hardest. Q: Besides working out, what other lifestyle changes did you make outside of the gym to achieve your goals? For almost 5 years I have been working on my health and wellness. I’ve tried to be more mindful of the foods I eat and cut out alcohol completely, finding that it really helps with my sleep and energy levels, improving my performance. I also try to incorporate active recovery days into my routine so that I do rest, but still move my body. Q: What benefits have you noticed since starting CrossFit both in or out of the gym? The most noticeable benefit I have experienced is my increased endurance – I love hiking with my family, but usually found myself falling behind and feeling so tired and sore. Now I can keep up and actually look forward to the more challenging hikes, like Old Rag. I’ve also started running again, an exercise I once swore I’d never do again when I finished my enlistment in the Army. Q: What has been your favorite thing about Ballston CrossFit? I love coming to the classes and experiencing the camaraderie of the members and coaches. Experiencing my first CrossFit Open was very inspiring, but also just SO much fun! |