Athlete of the Month

We have so much love for our community, and want to take the chance to highlight one athlete each month that exemplifies hard work – if you haven’t met Arielle yet (or even if you have), make sure to give her a hello and high five next time you see her at the gym! She may look serious when she comes in the door, but she is a total goofball! 🙂

Here is a little about Arielle’s journey through CrossFit so far:
I am very passionate about sports and fitness. I have always been involved in sports since I was a little kid. I ran track in middle school, was a competitive gymnast for 9 years and a D1 rower at the University of Michigan (GO BLUE!) I first tried CrossFit at CrossFit Decatur. Emily was one of my gymnastics coaches, and encouraged me and my teammates to come in and try a class while she was coaching there, and I loved it. I officially started at CrossFit Terminus in August 2017 after moving back from Ann Arbor. I started CrossFit because I was looking for a way to meet new people, get fit, and have fun!

Q: Where are you originally from?
I am originally from Atlanta, GA

Q: What class do you attend?
5:30!

Q: Do you have a favorite workout or movement? Least favorite?
I love workouts with running and body weight movements like air squats, sit-ups, and burpees. My least favorite movement is wall balls.

Q: What’s your favorite hobby, pastime or interest outside of work (other than CrossFit)?
I love football, eating, yoga, art, graphic design, and sleeping! I also love watching time piece television shows like Downton Abbey, Victoria, and The Crown.

Q: Favorite music to work out to or just listen to in general?
I LOVE working out to Drake. And then SZA and Frank Ocean just in general.

Q: What is something that we may not know about you?
Emily was gymnastics coach and we also have the same birthday (June 15th) !

Q: Favorite Atlanta Restaurant?
Too many to choose from. I love Flying Biscuit, Bartaco, Folk Art, MF Sushi.

Q: Favorite moment at CF Terminus?
I love introductions and the question of the day at beginning of class. It’s really fun to hear different facts about everyone!

Q: How has CrossFit affected your life (inside/outside of the gym)?
CrossFit has really helped me make the transition from college athletics to normal life. I have been a part of a team for as long as I can remember, so having a community at CrossFit Terminus has been really beneficial to my mental and physical health.

Q: Any advice for someone considering trying CrossFit for the first time?
Just start! You don’t need to be in shape to start CrossFit. It’s for everyone, and the longer you wait the scarier it gets.

Thank you, Arielle, for bringing silliness and laughter to the gym each day! Your work ethic and drive inspire everyone around you. We have loved getting to know you and watching you grow in our community and look forward to all the PR’s to come! 🙂

We have so much love for our community, and want to take the chance to highlight one athlete each month that exemplifies hard work – if you haven’t met Kelvin yet (or even if you have), make sure to give him a big smile and high five next time you see him at the gym!

Here is a little about Kelvin’s journey through CrossFit so far:

I used to be a competitive swimmer. After moving back to GA for a new job, trying to find groups to swim with had become very difficult without driving really far or waking up really early. I am not a morning person, and I had also become bored with swimming laps. In 2011 one of my co-workers had an art show hosted at her gym in Marietta – CrossFit on the Square (MVMNT). I had never seen a gym like that before, and I liked the description that they gave of what CrossFit was. I signed up for an intro/elements class.
I remember my first workout was a baseline workout of 500m row, 40 air squats, 30 situps, 20 pushups, and 10 pullups. My legs and arms were sore for days. I was hooked! I like that CrossFit workouts are different everyday, classes are only an hour, and I also like the variety of movements. The community aspect is great, and it’s a nice to make new friends if you are new to the area.

Q: Where are you originally from?
I am originally from Edison, NJ.

Q: What class do you attend?
I usually attend the 7:30PM class after dinner. I work from home, and sometimes I go to the other classes during the day.

Q: Do you have a favorite workout or movement? Least favorite?
I like doing bodyweight movements, so Cindy is one of my favorites.
My least favorite is probably the 14.5 Open workout of 21-18-15-12-9-6-3 reps of: thrusters (95/65 lb). and burpees over bar.

Q: What’s your favorite hobby, pastime or interest outside of work (other than CrossFit)?
My wife and I play Destiny 2 together on xbox one. She also does cosplay, and we will work on a prop or costume together in our free
time. We do some woodworking projects here and there as well. We built our bookshelves, closet shelving, outdoor sectional, and bed together.

Q: Favorite music to work out to or just listen to in general?
My favorite music to work out to just needs to get the blood flowing, something fast and loud, Marshall’s mix usually is a good for that.
Once the workout starts, I usually don’t hear the music anymore.

Q: What is something that we may not know about you?

I am a medical animator. I went to graduate school for medical illustration at the Medical College of Georgia. I took med school classes and honed my skills in illustration. It was there where I was introduced to medical animation as a field.
Medical animation is the combination of medical illustration, visual effects, and 3D animation in the visual storytelling of medical
topics. Our clients are usually agencies working with Pharma, and our animations are used for marketing and advertising. You can find examples of our work on our site https://vesselstudios.com/

Q: Favorite Atlanta Restaurant?
It is tough to pick. I like a lot of the Guy Wong restaurants: Ton Ton Ramen, Miso Izakaya, Le Fat. I also like Octopus Bar, Tasty China, 92 92,and Local Three.

Q: Favorite moment at CF Terminus?
One of my favorite moments was PRing my back squat by 40 lbs, and finally snatching my bodyweight a few months after coming back from injury. It was a big surprise. The coaches at Terminus have always been very helpful and supportive through any of my needs to modify movements and workouts.

Q: How has CrossFit affected your life (inside/outside of the gym)?
The stimulus from CrossFit is so varied and intense. I think that muscle soreness is pretty pervasive theme over the past few years.
Since starting CrossFit, I feel more ready for many everyday physical challenges. For example, this year I ended up carrying a 27 lb toddler for 6+ miles everyday for a week in Toronto, and loaded and moved hundreds of lbs of lumber.

Q: Any advice for someone considering trying CrossFit for the first time?
I would advise that they expect to be sore and tired the days after, to acclimate to the intensity, be patient in learning the movements, listen to the coaches, and stay consistent in training.

Thank you, Kelvin, for being such a consistent member in our community! We appreciate and want to celebrate your progress and persistence – thank you for trusting us to help you stay moving through your injury. Keep up the hard work and continue spreading your quiet positivity – it is contagious!

We have so much love for our community, and want to take the chance to highlight one athlete each month that exemplifies hard work – if you haven’t met Vickie yet (or even if you have), make sure to give her a big smile say hello next time you see her at the gym!

Here is a little about Vickie’s journey through CrossFit so far:

I have been doing CrossFit since January 2017, when I first came to CrossFit Terminus at the behest of my fantastic friend Patrick Donohue. I had zero experience lifting weights, a rather repressed experience of uncoordinated gymnastics in P.E. class a million years ago, and some more recent experiences of doing various movements (like squats or burpees) at varying levels of correctness at another (non-CrossFit) gym. My reaction to CrossFit was immediate: This is AWESOME!! I thanked Patrick with a jar of my most favorite arnica salve, which seemed entirely appropriate.

Q: Where are you originally from?

I’m from Richmond, VA. I moved to Atlanta in 2005 for grad school. I still have no idea how to get anywhere without using my GPS, partly because of the 8000 Peachtree Streets.

Q: What class do you attend?

5:30 or 6:30 PM, depending on when I leave work.

Q: Do you have a favorite workout or movement? Least favorite?

Deadlifts! Power cleans! Actually, I love anything involving a barbell. And I like rowing quite a bit now. But I’m not so much a fan of wall balls. Or the assault bike.

Q: What’s your favorite hobby, pastime or interest outside of work (other than CrossFit)?

I read a lot, I drink a good deal of good coffee, and I’m crafty. Anything involving yarn or paint or glue is probably something I’m in to.

Q: Favorite music to work out to or just listen to in general?

They Might Be Giants! I’ve seen them in concert nearly once a year since 1990. But I like a pretty broad range of music, too.

Q: What is something that we may not know about you?

I’m a published writer. I’ve co-edited a book, and I have a few book chapters and essays and blogs and whatnot out in the world. I write about music and science fiction and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (I’m a member of the Whedon Studies Association. Yes, there is a Whedon Studies Association.), and I write some memoir stuff, too.

Q: Favorite Atlanta Restaurant?

Currently, everything at 2nd and Hosea: Mix’d Up Burgers, Greater Good BBQ, and Poor Hendrix.

Q: Favorite moment at CF Terminus?

I’m not entirely sure how I’m supposed to pick just one. The Open was awesome, going to see the Atlanta Hawks play was fantastic, every single time someone PRs is the best thing ever, every time I PR is the best thing ever, the question of the day is usually pretty entertaining, this list actually doesn’t end.

Q: How has CrossFit affected your life (inside/outside of the gym)?

I could seriously write an entire essay about this. And maybe I will, eventually (but I won’t do that right here). I’ve met a group of super awesome people whom I really admire. Like, REALLY super awesome people. And with their help and support and encouragement, I’ve done things that I had no idea I could do. For example, I kicked up into a handstand for the very first time ever! I was upside down! Holy cats! It’s sometimes still unfathomable to me exactly what I can do, and how much I continue to progress! So, part of the impact comes from learning to push myself, to do the things that I once thought were impossible, and in redefining what “impossible” is for me. Another part is more subtle, where CrossFit is beneficial in the ways that meditation is beneficial. CrossFit gets me out of my head, and out of my self, and really helps me connect with the present moment. This rep, this movement, this WOD is the whole world while I’m in it. Those are my favorite WODs. And still another part is sheer health benefits. I feel so much awesomer than I have in years!! I can do so much more!!! It’s pretty amazing. =)

Q: Any advice for someone considering trying CrossFit for the first time?

Do it! Don’t be afraid! It’s awesome!

Thank you, Vickie, for bringing an amazing energy and smile to class every single day. Your positivity and sunshine-y disposition are a joy to everyone around you and you are a testament that trusting the process and putting in the time and work each day really does pay off! We have loved watching you grow during your months with us and can’t wait to see all the things that you will achieve in 2018!

We have so much love for our community, and want to take the chance to highlight one athlete each month that exemplifies hard work – if you haven’t met Jay yet (or even if you have), make sure to say hello next time you see him at the gym!

Here is a little about Jay’s journey through CrossFit so far:
“I never did any physical stuff till I got into my thirties. I have always been afraid of CrossFit because the movements always looked like they were way out of my ability. After some coaxing from a friend I signed up with another box in town. However, moving across town made that gym inaccessible to me and I found my way to Terminus. I have been very happy with the move. My time here has been great! The community here is amazing and the coaching has been instrumental in the progress I’ve made so far. In fact, I don’t think it is a stretch to say that any progress I’ve made is a direct result of the seeming inexhaustible kindness and dedication of the coaches here and their commitment to the folks they coach.”

Q: Where are you originally from?
I am originally from San Diego. But I have lived all over.

Q: What class do you attend?
8:30 is my jam. Its where all the magic happens.

Q: Do you have a favorite workout or movement? Least favorite?
I really like toes to bars. This movement was the first place where I saw a clear improvement from where I started. I have a love/hate relationship with Burpee’s. I am also a big fan of the rower. I don’t really like running but I’m coming around to it slowly.

Q: What’s your favorite POSITIVE mantra? 🙂
Don’t complain, just do the work and don’t quit! Not sure if that is really a positive mantra but it works for me.

Q: What’s your favorite hobby, pastime or interest outside of work (other than CrossFit)?
I like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. I am constantly looking for new recipes to try. I also have never met a card game that I don’t like.

Q: Favorite music to work out to or just listen to in general?
Well when I’m working out alone I am big fan of deep house and disco tracks (Blame it on the boogie y’all!). However, at the gym I have been feeling Marshall’s “I am trying to please everyone” list and Ben’s tour through the 1970’s.

Q: What is something that we may not know about you?
I once pulled the sword from the stone at Disneyland. It was probably the crowning achievement of my life. Its been all down hill from there.

Q: Favorite Atlanta Restaurant?
This changes frequently but right now I would say I’m always ready for Shoya Izakaya or Desta.

Q: Favorite moment at CF Terminus?
I really like coming in and hearing Ben talk about something bizarre he read in the news. Its fun to hear his take on some of the stuff happening.

Q: How has CrossFit affected your life (inside/outside of the gym)?
Coming to CrossFit has significantly help with my focus and discipline. Getting a workout has helped me get out some of the stress from the rest of my world and allowed me to focus on what’s important. Plus I feel like I start each day having already accomplished something.

Q: Any advice for someone considering trying CrossFit for the first time?
Just commit to coming as often as you can. Everyday you show up is a win which you get to carry with you for the rest of the day. It can be a little daunting in the beginning especially if you are like me and don’t have a lot of physical activity in your background; however, everyone here from the coaches to the other athletes will help you get through it – you just got to keep showing up.

Thank you, Jay, for always being involved in class and cheering others on – you help bring out the best in others and prove that persistence is key to any challenge we face in life!