CONGRATULATIONS ERIKA!
In honor of Mother’s Day, this month’s MOM aka Member of the Month is a CrossFit Mom, who also has a birthday this Month.
Congratulations Erika You Rocking CrossFit Mom!
A few words from her peers and coaches…
I nominated Erika as the Member of the Month because of her hard work and dedication to being a healthy and fit mom for our family. When I started CrossFit over three years ago Erika was doing Bikram Yoga and jogging. It was her workout routine for as long as I’ve known her. She’s always been consistent at staying healthy, but never really pushed herself too much. Growing up she didn’t play sports or do many athletic activities and she had always told me that she wasn’t very competitive. We talked a little bit about CrossFit and what I was doing every once in a while, because I was seeing some great results and was very happy with finding a new workout routine. With that being said, I never asked her if she wanted to try it because I thought she’d never have any interest in lifting weights or “competing” with herself or others within a gym environment.
One day, to my surprise she said she wanted to try it. She joined the Foundations classes and was excited about learning all the new things that come along with CrossFit. From the very beginning she started working on things from home. She couldn’t do a single pull up when she started and every day she we would work on that with our home pull up bar. She also bought a jump rope and practiced double unders in the backyard over and over again. She started getting pretty good right from the start and would even joke with me that she beat my time in a WOD, which I would then reply, “yeah, but I Rx’d it!” So with that as ammo, she worked harder and harder and now she beats me on a consistent basis. She has far surpassed my CrossFit abilities. She even made the podium in her first athletic competition, our PUSH Winter Games and joined the PUSH GBAL team.
Now she can do multiple pull ups in any WOD and has just learned to do “butterfly” pull ups! She’s become very competitive with herself and even has a friendly competition with many of the other girls in the gym.
It’s amazing how she’s gone from never playing sports, never lifting a weight, and not being competitive to being the girl from the morning classes that many of the afternoon members check on the board to see what they are shooting for in a particular WOD.
She’s not only my wife but my best friend and I never thought we could be any closer than we are, but CrossFit has given us one more thing that we both love and it’s brought us even closer together!
Now that our son Tyler is growing up in the gym, I hope good health rubs off on him as well and he gets his mother’s athletic ability and dedication!
I could not be prouder of our May Member of the Month!
A mom to a child and an adult child, Erika has maintained that family, work, and exercise life balance that so many people struggle with. She works hard and knows her weaknesses, and despite a busy life, will still show up early to improve on her weaknesses before a class starts. I’m always giving her a hard time for being “old,” despite us only being a few years apart, but she takes it in stride and kicks my ass in the gym everyday. Good for you Erika! You’re probably the strongest girl at the senior center!
I think one of the best things about Erika is that she is always willing to do the extra work. She comes early, even to the 6 a.m. class, to work on things like double unders, ring dips, etc and she always approaches it with a positive attitude. She is just one of those people that will brighten your morning by providing support and a perfectly-timed sassy remark or comment. She is so very deserving of the member of the month award!
Erika is a pleasure to see every morning. She always has a great attitude and is ready to go at 6 am. She can take a joke too. I also have the luxury of seeing her husband Steve in the afternoon if I miss the morning class, he’s just not as fun to look at (Just kidding, but seriously) ha.
Jane Fonda may be Erika’s spirit animal - but Erika is mine. She’s incredibly dedicated - always spending the first few minutes of the morning, practicing a skill. She is also the first to ask about the WOD’s rap song reference (that none of 6 am knows - saving the rest of us from embarrassment). She works hard - encouraging all of 6 am to do the same.
Erika always brings energy and a smile at 6 am! She works hard to improve and is eager to help others do the same.
This Mom knows how to embrace Life and charge full ahead. Erika is an inspiration to all who have the opportunity to coach her, workout with her and be her teammate.
Erika is definitely someone I look up to at the gym. Not only is her enthusiasm contagious, but so is her drive and perseverance to excel and improve in CrossFit. Without fail, she is that person who will get to the box early before a 6 am workout to work on something, whether it is her double unders or most recently her butterfly pull up, and stay after a workout to continue practicing. She has such a love for the sport and never gives up no matter how painful the workout is or when a workout is packed with her favorite movement - double unders. I love having Erika as part of the 6 am crew; she is such a fun and kind person and pushes me to be better.
Now some insight from the Spirit Animal herself…
Started CrossFit: March 2014
What is your fitness background: Pre CF life, I did a lot of Bikram yoga and ran. I love to ski, but that’s about the only “sport” I’ve done. I was in the marching band in high school. I used to toss the rifle!
Favorite Movement: Kettlebell swings, GHD’s and deadlifts (couldn’t pick one)
Least Favorite Movement: Wall balls and box jumps
Occupation: HR Training Manager for an Architecture/Engineering firm in Fells Point
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family: Fortunately, just about everyone at PUSH knows my family, with the exception of Mr. Pickles. My hubs, Steve, got me into this CF gig, and we’ve been making it a part of our lives ever since. We are the “older parents” trying to keep up with a very active almost-4-year-old, so staying active is so important to us. We want to be able to play with Tyler for many years to come. And I have to be able to catch him as he runs out the gym door! I’ve always done some sort of “working out”, but I’ve now dove head first into this CF lifestyle. I’ve been so happy to see Steve continue with this, so we now have a common bond that keeps us both going with it.
Tell us something we don’t know about you: For Christmas in 6th grade, my parents gave me Carrie and Christine by Stephen King. Nothing says “Merry Christmas” like a possessed girl and car. And I’ve been obsessed with his books ever since. I’m pretty sure that was the turning point to weird-town for me, especially since I was only 11 at the time. I’ve read The Shining about 15 times since then.
Words to live by or Favorite Quote: Don’t practice until you get it right. Practice until you can’t do it wrong.
How has CrossFit affected your life outside the gym: Steve and I now have a shared obsession, although I think I’ve overtaken him in the “obsessed with CrossFit” category. It’s gotten rid of the “nevers” in my and my family’s life: Never being strong, never getting rid of the weird arthritis in my hand, never doing a pull up, never trying something new. And I never thought I could beat Steve in something athletic…which is a lot of fun! I’m not a super-competitive person, but CrossFit has really gotten me to push myself out of my comfort zone and do more than just “the bare minimum”. Even at work, I find I have a lot more confidence, especially when I can walk into work and think “I just did 30 T2B” or “I just got a snatch PR of 85#”! Work is a lot easier to manage when I think like that!
What do you enjoy most about PUSH: The people! I spent a over a decade working out at the Merritt and probably spoke to about 5 people total during my time there. I love coming into PUSH at 6 am and joking around with our crew and pushing each other to do better. It’s the most positive place I’ve ever experienced. We have such great coaches that know what they are talking about and push me, especially when I am trying to cheese out on weights…I love that Steve and I can bring “Tornado Tyler” and have him experience mom and dad working out and setting that example for his future. Seeing all the families, existing, new and upcoming is so exciting and how integrated family life and healthy living can be.
Fill in the Blank:
I like… playing in the park with Steve and Tyler, obsessing over CrossFit, singing old 80’s music, reading horror stories, long walks on the beach…haha!
I eat… weird, as Steve and my co-workers say. My diet is pretty much vegetarian, some seafood, just trying to stay low on the food chain. I did strict Paleo for a few Whole 30 challenges using a lot of tuna and shrimp for my proteins, but giving up rice and beans is too challenging for me to do on a regular basis. I could eat rice and beans every single day for lunch and dinner. I know…weird.
I do… adulting only when necessary. I’m old enough now that I’ve learned I don’t want to take anything too seriously. Although when Rogue calls me for that sponsorship deal, maybe I’ll rethink this philosophy.
I am… goofy, fairly obsessive, and consistent.
Favorite Cheat Meal… Macaroni and Cheese…the really good baked kind.
Favorite Real-Life Hero/Athlete…Camille Leblanc Bazinet. I watched her win at the 2014 games right when I was really getting into CrossFit, and I see what she can do at almost the identical size and weight I am (although maybe just a little younger…haha!), and it makes me realize that I can do more, push harder, no matter how short I am, or how T-Rex my arms are.
