Congratulations JR!
JR has been a member of PUSH for a year, let's first hear from JR's coaches and workout peeps.
His attitude is forever positive. JR jumps right in to our community of crazy CrossFitters and contributes his knowledge and support. He is an awesome teammate and starts each WOD with a smile.
Even after a long and tough week JR will still make the time to show up at PUSH and put in work.
JR has approached new heavier weights and higher boxes with a positive and fearless attitude. He continues to push himself - all while supporting and cheering on his gym friends. JR has put in the hard work and it is really paying off.
Makes the time to get to the gym. He works so hard and is an absolute joy to have around. Our community is better because he is here.
JR is both a mentally and physically strong athlete - and willing to put in the extra effort to better himself, and reach his goals. JR also has an incredible personality, friendly demeanor, and is a pleasure to have around!
JR is a pleasure to work out with and has been an awesome personal training client and member at PUSH. He always shows up and puts 100% effort in to our sessions and to classes. Even with a busy work schedule he makes time to come in and work on his goals, which he’s been crushing! Not only that but he is always lifting up others and brings positive energy to the gym!
To say that JR has been going on a journey to better themselves through mind and body is an understatement. He’s gone above and beyond what most individuals would have to endure when stepping foot in a CrossFit gym and has continued that path to greatness. JR has been a beacon of excellence for an underrepresented community, and has become a pivotal member in the PUSH community as well. Strong, determined, incredibly fun, understanding, supportive, and while he may be fighting his own struggles, his smile and joy lifts those up around him. While there is change in his life, we never want to see him change who he is. Thank you JR!
JR has been an inspiration in the gym! When he sets a goal and puts his mind to something, he goes for it regardless of any obstacle. The effort and determination put into every workout shows and as a result, JR has hit some awesome PRs. He’s the first to congratulate and complement everyone else while being humble. So I’m glad we finally get to recognize and congratulate you! Keep it up!
JR brings positivity to every class and loves helping people become more mobile and learning how all the body pieces work together. If one thing we can all learn from JR to help us in life…do more deadlifts! Congratulations keep rocking!
JR is always a blast to work out with and is always incredible supportive of his fellow athletes. He’s put hard work into the gym, his nutrition, and personal development and the progress he’s made at PUSH, especially over the past year, has been so exciting to watch! Well done, JR, keep it up!!
Words from JR
Started CrossFit:
August 2011 after being “graduated” from PT after ACL and ankle surgery! My friend Kevin opened a box I started by doing “box jumps ” on a 45# plate and squatting to a 24” box to continue my rehab and I was hooked.
What is your fitness background:
I played a lot of softball and ran a lot of track and cross country. I was always into lifting (bench, squat, dead lift, press). I ran track and cross country until freshman year of college, then found rugby. Played rugby in college and in an adult league. I worked as a personal trainer and corrective exercise specialist until I went to PA school.
Favorite Movement:
HEAVY Deadlifts (duh) and DU
Least Favorite Movement:
Wall ball, thruster….wait we will be doing these later
Occupation:
Physicians Assistant in general surgery
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family:
I was born in NY city during a heat wave in 1984 causing my dad to buy his first AC unit (he said he got free ice cream because of the brownouts caused by the heat wave but I think he was trying to make me jealous.) I grew up and lived in NJ for most of my life (Bergen county as a kid, central NJ for college, and Monmouth county after college). I graduated Douglass College (Rutgers University) in Political Science and Women’s studies in 2008 . After undergrad I worked as a personal trainer and lived in Ocean Grove NJ with my dog Rory. During that time, I played A LOT of Rugby. In 2009 I tore my ACL, LCL, and messed my ankle up pretty bad. After 2 surgeries and a lot of rehab Rory and I started CrossFit in 2011.
In 2012 I moved to Pittsburgh for PA school and Graduated from Chatham University in 2014, I worked in medical oncology for close to 4 years at Shadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh PA then moved to Maryland in May 2018 where I started working at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore. I live in Crofton, MD with my partner Erika and 3 roommates. I have 2 cats one name Schrodinger (she goes by kitten) and the other one’s name is Schrodinger’s Cat (she goes by cat). I have a younger brother Sam who is 32 and lives in Brooklyn and is a standup comic. My dad and his wife live in NJ. My mom and her partner also live in NJ.
Tell us something we don’t know about you:
I am scared of squirrels (like terrified) to the point that my senior year of high school I almost missed the cross country state sectionals because I fell after running away from a squirrel during a training run and needed 3 stitches on my knee.
Words to live by or Favorite Quote:
“Just keep swimming” Dori
“you’ll pass out before you die’
“Just pick up the bar”
How has CrossFit affected your life outside the gym:
CrossFit has given me the confidence in the fact that if you keep “chipping away” you really can accomplish anything you put your mind to, even if it means breaking everything into singles. It has taught me that weaknesses aren’t a bad thing; they are just things you need to focus on and as your weaknesses improve you always find something new to work on. It also has taught me to focus on my own process and not worry about what other people are doing around me; life and workouts are scalable in the sense that the only way to get stronger in the long run is to really assess and start where YOU are.
What do you enjoy most about PUSH:
The coaching, people, and all the dogs. Moving to a new city is super stressful especially when you don’t know anyone. PUSH is probably the most accepting environment I have ever experienced as a human and as an athlete. To be able to have such awesome programming and all-around great people to sweat with is amazing and something I am very grateful for.
Fill in the Blank:
I like…whiskey
I eat… a lot
I do… try to practice meditation every day and try to live mindfully
I am… transgender (and do not mind answering questions or talking about it)
