Harper is PUSH511's May CrossFit Member of the Month!
Harper has been a dedicated member of PUSH511 for nearly a year and a half; in that time, she’s become a true force in our community. As a mom of two, she leads by example—showing her kids (and all of us) what it means to stay strong, committed, and positive even when life gets hectic. Whether she’s crushing workouts or bringing her infectious smile to the gym, Harper embodies what it means to be consistent, coachable, and community-minded. Here's why our coaching team nominated Harper as Member of the Month:
Harper is awesome. She's a fantastic role model for her kids, a strong force in the gym, coachable, and great form. She's fun to have around, attends the social events, and always carries a wonderful smile. Now if we could only get her to go to the dentist. :)
As a mom Harper knows fitness is important to help her keep up with her two kids plus staying mentally balanced. She is committed to her fitness and is a team player. During the Intramural Open competition, she sliced her wrist and was still striving to get in the workouts to help her teammates. It is appropriate Harper is May's Member of the Month in honor of Mother's Day!
Harper has the most can-do, positive spirit! She's always down for a challenge and works really hard, and doesn't let things like a crazy schedule or injury get in her way. She's inspirational for her kiddos as well as all our members, and is a great example of how if you put in the work, it will pay off. Oh, and she's also like the nicest person ever. The total package. I always enjoy getting to coach or work out with Harper!
Now, let's get to know our May Member of the Month!
When did you start CrossFit? I started CrossFit in August 2015 at another gym and was there until 2019. I took a hiatus from fitness altogether from about 2019 – 2024 (life and kids got in the way ;) ). I joined PUSH511 in January 2024 and have slowly re-built my strength and endurance back to my early CrossFit days!
What's your fitness background? I played lacrosse and field hockey in high school but was not good enough to play D1 at Lehigh where I went to college. After college, I played social sports (those count as fitness right? Fun fact: I met my husband Matt through my kickball team friends).
What’s your favorite CrossFit movement? Anything with a barbell! But squat cleans are probably my favorite.
What’s your least favorite movement? Echo bike – 1000000%.
What do you do for work? I’m a Project Manager at RK&K (a local civil engineering firm). My team designs infrastructure (i.e. utilities, grading, stormwater management, paving) to support site development projects within the city and state. I’m currently working on the Sinai Cancer Center, Patterson Park Boat Lake Restoration, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and the Johns Hopkins Life Sciences Building.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family. My husband, Matt, is also a member at PUSH511. We have two kids, Mo (age 6) and Miles (age 3.5) who you’ve probably seen around the gym in the afternoons and weekend mornings. We also have a 2-year old cat named Arthur Ashe.
Tell us something we don't know about you! I was in the Lehigh University Concert Choir (soprano, for anyone wondering). We got to travel internationally to Germany and China to perform.
How has CrossFit affected your life outside of the gym? I went to visit my brother in Colorado a couple years ago during my non-fitness days (see first paragraph above), and I had the worst altitude sickness. A few months after I joined PUSH, I went out west again and didn’t experience altitude sickness. The other times I had been at high elevations were pre-kids (back when I was doing CrossFit) and didn’t get sick then either. Coincidence or no?
What do you enjoy most about PUSH? The community/members really hold me accountable on things, like going to the dentist.
What tips would you offer someone who is just getting started with working out? Log your scores, even if you’re in last place for awhile. It’s so motivating to see personal progress! (At least for me, as someone who loves data and statistics).
What's your favorite song to work out to? 90s or 2000s pop/hip hop. Bonus points if it’s crunk to bring me back to my clubbing and dance party days.
What's your favorite restaurant? I don’t get the luxury of going out to nice restaurants as much as I’d like to these days, so I don’t know much about the latest places, but La Barrita is a place we’ve gone a handful of times and has never disappointed.
Who's your hero, real-life or fictional? My parents! Also, shoutout to all the other working parents out there grinding; y’all are also heroes.
What does your frequently used emoji tab look like?
What's your favorite travel spot? Matt and I honeymooned in Italy, and I’ll forever reminisce about the delicious food we ate. Taking a boat ride and jumping into the water off the Amalfi Coast is also a core memory.
If you could win an Olympic gold medal for any sport, real or fake, what would it be? Researching and planning trips. I’m the friend in the friend group who will make a spreadsheet to track flights from all of our various airports; list out hotel/rental options; and plan out the itinerary. But, as much as I love planning, I’m also the friend who will get to the airport late and be the last one to board the plane. This also doesn’t bode well when Matt is the type who would like to get to the airport 2+ hours before the flight departs.
What's your hidden talent? Granny crafts (knitting/crochet, cross stitch, sewing, I’ve done it all…).
What are your top five favorite movies? Oh gosh, I’ve never been much of a movie person. I don’t think I could name my top favorite movies. Instead, I’ll list 5 classic movies that I’ve never watched:
- The Godfather
- Top Gun
- Harry Potter
- Lord of the Rings
- Star Wars
