We’re so happy to announce that our Athlete of the Month for December is someone who has been in the pipeline for a while now and has done the hard yards to earn this badge of honour (sorry… no prize money). Please join us in congratulating Amanda for taking our the final Athlete of the Month for 2016.
Dr Amanda, as we should refer to her these days having recently completed her Veterinary Degree, has been one of our most consistent bodies in the gym over the past year and a half. Actually, a fun fact for your reading pleasure: our Athlete of the Month has joined us for 721 sessions over that time ☺ Amanda has also been fabulous in repping the Niche flag in just about every competition on the calendar, finishing just 5 points behind 1st place worldwide in the Whole Life Challenge points tally and as we are well aware, excelling in the area of matchy-matchy active wear and accessories. With this award, we must unfortunately also say goodbye to Amanda as she pursues her career back in her Trumped up homeland. Amanda, you have been an amazing part of our family and while you are irreplaceable, we will work hard to train someone up to your wardrobe standards. Let’s hear from our Athlete of the Month for December:
Why did you start CrossFit?
A friend of mine from uni found a Scoopon for $10 of unlimited crossfit for a month at Crossfit Cuties and I was apparently the only person she could think of that would be crazy enough to give it a try. Everything in that gym was pink and I knew I would fit right in. After our intro classes I remember being terrified of doing an actual WOD because I still had no idea what I was doing…turns out I caught on pretty quickly and was hooked. After a few months there I dropped into a gymnastics class at Niche and fell in love immediately. It brought me back to my cheerleading days and focused on all the things I liked best. Plus Niche had boys (unlike Cuties). While they were obviously nice to look at, I also found them more fun and competitive to workout with, which pushed me to work harder.
What is your most memorable moment to date?
My most memorable moment would definitely have to be getting my first kipping ring muscle up. After countless months of failing I was starting to get discouraged and never actually thought it would happen. Then one day I somehow magically floated to the top of the rings and screamed like a little girl. Now I finally love them.
I also really enjoyed competing in the Fran event final at Primal this year. It was the first time I did butterflies in a competition and I felt awesome afterwards. It was great to have random people from other gyms come tell me how well I did. Definite confidence boost!
What is your most and least favourite WOD or movement?
I tend to be a fan of any workout that’s heavy in gymnastics movements. Toes to bar, pistols, pull-ups, handstand push-ups…sign me up! Therefore I think Mary would be my favorite (yes I spelled it the American way):
20 minute AMRAP
5 handstand push-ups
10 pistols
15 pull-ups
My least favorite would be any workout that combines heavy lifting and cardio. Or really any workout that involves the death bike or rowing…
What tip would you give someone just starting in CrossFit?
- Fact: If you match your outfit to your shoes you have 10% more gains that day. Bonus points if your outfit also matches your weights.
- Gymnastics will make you a better person. Point your toes and squeeze your butt…always.
- If you check the workout before class (obviously for outfit planning purposes) don’t cancel out because there are movements that you don’t like or don’t think you’re good at. Those are the most important workouts to go to. You may not do as well as you’d like, but they’ll make you better in the long-run.
- Try not to take it too personally if you don’t do well in a workout (something my stubbornness still struggles with). Nobody is good at everything, but as long as you pushed yourself and still got a good workout in that’s really all the matters.
- Don’t compare yourself to other people (even if their scores are fun to chase). It takes a lot of work, but you’ll get there; everyone was a beginner at one stage!
What is one random, non-CrossFit ‘thing’ about yourself?
I once sustained a pretty severe concussion from a sheep headbutting me. I thought it was hilarious at the time, until I ended up in the hospital the next day and was told I potentially had a fractured skull. False alarm! Later in my veterinary studies another sheep dislocated my shoulder while I was on prac. Now after 9 long years of blood, sweat and tears (and so much caffeine) I’m finally going to bet a vet! And hopefully never touch another sheep as long as I live… #bringmethepuppies #callmedoctor
