Only fitting to highlight 2 of our founding members! From being the first people ready to greet new a face to cheering on the last athlete to finish this couple truly embodies the spirit of Crossfit.
From the Hoovers: OMG we are so honored! It has been one of our greatest joys over the past 7 years being members of CrossFit Terminus. Remembering the first days at Terminus 1.0 doing prowler pushes nearly every day to the absent Edgewood bridge over what would become the beltline to seeing the gym as it stands now is truly amazing. We are so thankful for the love and support from everyone at the gym along the journey to getting married, changing jobs, passing specialist boards exams- Terminus has been there through it all and we could not be happier.
Q: How long have you been doing CrossFit? What changes have you seen in yourself (physically or mentally) since beginning CrossFit?
Steve: I started doing Crossfit in 2010, before I met Ellie, when a former teammate invited me to try CrossFit. My first workout was Cindy, I don’t remember the score but it hurt (in a good way) and I was hooked. I participated in the first Crossfit open in 2011, new movements showed up and I had to learn new skills like double-unders and muscles ups. Crossfit is always asking you to grow as an athlete, it is never easy, it pushes you to do more and be better. The great thing about Terminus is if you can’t do it on your own, coach Ben Benson can provide you with the necessary motivation.
Ellie: I started doing CrossFit in 2011 when my stud boyfriend at the time convinced me to buy a Groupon to try it out with a girlfriend in PT school. My first workout included something with a ridiculous amount of lunges and my quads didn’t work right for over a week, hurting to go down AND up stairs, yet somehow I was hooked. I learned how to do olympic and power lifts that I never imagined I would complete (albeit it very light) and have been able to mentally push myself to a weird place to finish workouts. When I get to work in the morning, I already feel accomplished knowing that I have already taken the time to take care of myself and my health before I set forth to do that for my patients.
Q: How has CrossFit helped you outside the gym?
Steve: CrossFit has allowed me to rekindle the competitive drive that I missed playing college football. Approaching 40, I am in better shape than I was in my 20s. I can hang with the high school football team I coach in 7 on 7 and show them a thing or two in the weight room. CrossFit allows me to stay active outside the gym. I enjoy family hikes, backpacking, and camping with Ellie and our dog Stella.
Ellie: CrossFit has helped me become stronger and protect my body and patients working in the hospital as a physical therapist…it literally makes sure I can get my patients out of bed. It has also helped me to achieve the nickname “Fitness Ellie” in my rehab department which makes me chuckle because most of you reading this are stronger and faster than me.
Q: Who inspires you at the gym, and how do they inspire you?
Steve: I am inspired to see people achieve their goals. I love seeing people get their first; first pull-up, first muscle-up, , first completed WOD, first mile without walking or just walking in for their first class. The first is always the hardest and worth celebrating. Also the ladies of 5am!
Ellie: I am inspired by my ladies of 5AM and #5AMily, past and present. They show up daily, hold me accountable (even when I want an extra rest day), and prioritize fitness to start their day. They all push me to try my hardest, no matter how sleepy I am, to get the most out of my hour in the gym. I am also inspired by Jennifer Eastman who is my idol inside and out of the gym (love you, momma duck!) who always pushes me harder to try to keep up with her.
Q: What is something that we may not know about you?
Steve: I spent two college summers wearing a cowboy hat working on a buffalo ranch outside of Austin, Texas. I am still haunted by the smell of a heard of buffalo in the 100 degree Texas heat.
Ellie: I was on the synchronized swimming club varsity team at the University of Michigan my freshman year
Q: Any advice for someone considering trying CrossFit for the first time?
Steve: Don’t be scared to ask for help, if there is one thing crossfitters like to talk about it is CrossFit. Terminus has a great community of coaches and members that want you to be successful.
Ellie: What he said. Your coaches and classmates are going to support you and celebrate every victory on your journey in CrossFit!
Q: What are your top 3 memories in CrossFit?
Steve: Team Terminus winning the Atlantic Super Regional clinching our spot at the 2015 Crossfit Games and poppin’ bottles at the post regional celebration with another regional champion Emily Bridgers! Big day of wins for Terminus!
Coaching Ellie through her first and second muscle up on 15.2 RX for a score of 2!
Friday Night Lights, the roar of the crowd cheering you on to get the next rep or hit the big weight. There was nothing like a packed house at Terminus to push you to move faster and lift heavier. I loved celebrating with friends and frosty “recovery” beverages knowing that we would do it all again next week.
Ellie: Cheering on my hot hubby at the CrossFit Games team competitions in 2013 and 2015 (as well as all the other competitions he “lets” me watch), getting my first/second/and only muscle ups on 15.2 with Steve and Emily’s help, and Friday Night Lights Open workouts at Terminus
Q: What’s your proudest accomplishment?
Steve: Easy #1 is finally being named athlete of the month after 7 years, even though I have to share it. Feel free to leave Ellie’s name off the commemorative plaque. Seriously though, the friends I have made along the way. Shared suffering has a way of bringing people together and the training gauntlet that was Squat Mafia formed unbreakable bonds. Thanks Ben!
Ellie: Making it to 5am class on time/EARLY every day since the gym reopened
Q: Moving forward, do you have any short term or long term CrossFit goals?
Steve: No immediate goals for CrossFit, although, I have heard rumors the affiliate cup is coming back…
Ellie: It would be nice to get bar muscle ups back, however, I’m happy just making it to the gym 5-6 days a week at this point to make sure that I can stay my healthiest self.