Athlete of the Month

March 2021 AOTM: Meet Bari Rosenstein
We have so much love for our community, and love to highlight one athlete each month that exemplifies hard work and perseverance. Bari has been working hard on her nutrition. While counting her Macros she has gone from eating 1200 cals a day to 2000 and is thrilled with her results. Get to know Bari here and give her a fist bump next time you’re at the gym.

Q: How long have you been going to Terminus? What changes have you seen in yourself (physically or mentally) since joining?
It has been a full year!  Since joining, I have seen super strength and confidence. I am lifting heavier and actually trying to keep up with all the bad ass chicks in class!

Q: How has your journey at Terminus helped you outside the gym?
It’s given me serious structure. I plan my day + Saturdays around my workouts. I look forward to putting in work for an hour every day. Also, making friends in a new city has been nice!

Q: Who inspires you at the gym, and how do they inspire you?
I think because everyone at the gym works hard, they all push me to work harder. There are some seriously strong people at Terminus and just being able to workout with them is inspiring enough! (Except on Scale Saturdays!!)

Q: How would you describe what it’s like to be a part of Terminus?
Welcoming. Starting at a new gym in a new city is hard and joining Terminus has been easy!

Q: Tell us about your first day of class at Terminus.
I remember Trent was my coach and welcomed me with open arms. I was so nervous and I remember the workout being so hard!!

Q: What is something that we may not know about you?
I am the Social Media Manager for Auntie Anne’s pretzels!

Q: What are your top 3 memories or proudest moments in CrossFit?
1. Squatting 200 pounds!
2. Actually losing weight!
3. Hanging out with people outside of the gym!

Q: Moving forward, do you have any short term or long term goals in the gym?
I want to be able to do ONE pull-up!!

February  2021 AOTM: Wyatt Minton
We have so much love for our community, and love to highlight one athlete each month that exemplifies hard work and perseverance. Wyatt is a regular at the infamous 8:00AM class. Get to know Wyatt here, and make sure you say hello to him next time you’re at the gym!

Q: How long have you been going to Terminus? What changes have you seen in yourself (physically or mentally) since beginning CrossFit?

Since July 2018. I am physically a different person. I’ve gained at least 20lbs of muscle in places that I didn’t know could host muscle. Mentally, I’m more willing to take on challenges that I previously would have avoided. I’m still gonna complain about em, but I’ma do it. Socially, I have found a great group of people here.

Q: How has Terminus helped you outside the gym?

It has completely changed how I approach challenging situations, particularly with work. I approach things with less of a “I’m not sure if I can do this” mindset and more of a “I’m gonna push through this. And if I die, I die.” sort of mindset.

Q: Who inspires you at the gym, and how do they inspire you?

The 8am crew for sure. Ben, Cam, Sara, Roger, and many more.
Sara’s been an inspiration from day one, Cam tried to kill me on my first attempt at Fran (no, I still haven’t forgiven him), and Ben and Roger always push me to go a little harder than I think I can.

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

I had a short stint as an amateur level competitive gamer in League of Legends. I got to compete against other city’s teams, got flown out to Cali to RedBull studios, the works, baby.

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

DO NOT give up and go as often as you can. It’s gonna hurt but it’s gonna feel amazing when you come back in 2 months and completely blow out a movement you struggled with back in the day.
Also make friends at the gym. The people here are amazing and super supportive.

Q: What are your top 3 memories at Terminus?

1) Preparing to compete with Jake and Stacey. Somehow these two convinced me to do an entire workout AFTER the metcon to get ready for this thing.
2) Damn near having a panic attack during my first Fran attempt. I had on too many layers, couldn’t get said layers off, couldn’t breathe, I didn’t know Cam had level 2 weight on the bar till it was too late- girl. I was a mess.
3) Honestly – any time that Sonya has expressed that she’s proud of me for learning a new movement. She fixed what I was doing wrong with my kipping ring muscle-ups, my pull-ups, and taught me butterflies.

Q: What’s your proudest accomplishment?

Leaving Patrick completely flabergasted (and also pissed) when I came around the corner at 90mph during the 400m sprint rounds we were doing.

Q: Moving forward, do you have any short term or long term training goals?

Short term: I just want to get my endurance up a bit more. Get better at pacing myself on the row, bike, or any kind of “I can’t breathe while I’m doing this” deal.
Long term: I 100% want to do a team competition.

 

January 2021 AOTM: Melana Lex
We have so much love for our community, and love to highlight one athlete each month that exemplifies hard work and perseverance. Melana is a core member of our 7:30pm class. Get to know Melana here, and make sure you say hello to her next time you’re at the gym!

Q: How long have you been doing CrossFit? What changes have you seen in yourself (physically or mentally) since beginning CrossFit?

Crazy to believe that Feb 2021 will make 12 months (- quarantine break)…Since joining the most notable change has been the sense of friendship that has developed with the new class format. Physically, I’m finally starting to lose my Beyonce kneecaps, while slighty getting bootylicious, haha.

Q: How has CrossFit helped you outside the gym?

CrossFit has helped continue to take the limits off of myself mentally and physically; whether due to age, postpartum, weather-based aches or new parent fatigue. Terminus in particular has also reinforced the importance and influence of those who share like values, “iron sharpens iron.”

Q: Who inspires you at the gym, and how do they inspire you?

Oh man inspiration…all my fellow 7:30pm athletes, many are new but we are about this CrossFit life! Patrick and Trent can always be counted on to help me “get my life” with a daggone pull-up or bur-pay (insert eye roll). Marcie “Shero” and Sam welcomed me with their smiles and couple’s goals from day one and they are my low key motivation. Jacquawn is now my official CrossFit Battle Buddy, always pushing, positive and looking to take it to the next level.

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

Hmmm….no secret talents, but I’ve teleworked since Nov 2019, so seeing my fellow athletes each week has been a tremendous blessing as a stress relief and social interlude to my often solitary but hectic work week.

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

EVERY athlete in the gym had a first day. Commit to showing up each week and you will be surprised at how much you progress in the months to come. Join the 730 class for inspiration 😉

Q: What are your top 3 memories in CrossFit?

*Run Against Racism 5K/10K – this campaign confirmed for me that I was in the right place to grow and build friendships
*The first time I ran 400m under 1:50 sec. (It only happened once, but it happened LOL)
*The first time I was able to reach 90% of a leg tuck (new Army requirement). This is huge, when I started, I had zero, 0, ZE-RO hang time or grip strength.

Q: What’s your proudest accomplishment?

Making it to class on time 🙂

Q: Moving forward, do you have any short term or long term CrossFit goals?

Short-term: 3 leg tucks (commitment to my Battle Buddy)
Long Term: Be able to keep up with Marcie

December 2020 AOTM: Will Dodgen
We have so much love for our community, and love to highlight one athlete each month that exemplifies hard work and perseverance. Will is living proof of the transformative power of CrossFit and the Terminus community. Get to know Will here, and make sure you say hello to him next time you’re at the gym!

Q: How long have you been going to Terminus? What changes have you seen in yourself (physically or mentally) since beginning CrossFit?

So I’m coming up on 2 years at Terminus and honestly can’t believe how the time’s flown. I’ve seen countless changes in myself both mentally and physically. I first decided to come because I wanted to be coached, and knew my personal workout regime wasn’t pushing myself hard enough. I wanted to be challenged! After 2 years I can honestly say I’m in the best shape of my life. I’ve always been active and worked out a ton, playing sports and what not, but nothing has come close to how I feel when I look in the mirror from crossfit. I’ve never been a big guy and I’ve seen myself bulk more, my legs feel actually muscular, and my chest feels broader. I feel a lot of changes can seem small, but they are HUGE to me, and things I’ve been trying to improve on for years but never saw results until I came to Terminus. But also, my mental health has been the biggest improvement since joining the gym. I found myself in a sort of depression a few moments out of the last 2 years, and going to the gym was definitely the number one cure for my anxiety. I’d say physically and emotionally, Terminus has allowed me to become more of the person I want to be.

Q: How has Terminus helped you outside the gym? 

Dang I feel like I could ramble on about how Terminus has helped me outside the gym (Emotional regulation, confidence in who I am, friendships/relationships). But I’d have to say helping me deal with my anxiety has been the top one. There would be days I would feel like I was paralyzed by anxiety and I couldn’t accomplish anything, but I knew that if I just got to the gym, got myself in the building, my coaches would do the rest. In those times of anxiousness I’d leave the gym with a new sense of confidence and pride in who I was!

Q: Who inspires you at the gym, and how do they inspire you?

I have 2 answers to this… First off my roommates (Josh and Bryson) who attend regularly as well (and who I convinced to join Terminus haha). Every day I ask how they did in the workout, how it was, what was fun, what was hard, and we all celebrate our accomplishments and growth! I started before both of them but once they got in the gym they took OFF, and I definitely feel like some days I’m playing catch up to them but it’s all good competition! We push each other and celebrate each and every win or PR. They keep me coming back to the gym even when it’s hard. There have been multiple conversations with Bryson where I told him I wasn’t going, I felt lazy, anxious or just like I couldn’t do it. And he’d encourage me, and push me (sometimes drag me haha) to just show up, and I always came out better for it!
Second is the coaches, because honestly everyone of you is awesome and keeps me moving and inspired! (Yall should check out Sonya’s 1 on 1 classes, that will for sure inspire you)

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

Me and Bryson actually have a few songs on spotify (Bryson has a lot more than me… he’s the talent honestly) that we have written together. It’s something we like to do every now and then, just hang out, drink and write music. Look Bryson Eller up on spotify!!!

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

Just get in the building! It can seem daunting sometimes because of the high intensity. But ever since I’ve joined I’ve found that if I can just show up, my coaches will help me figure out the rest. The movements that might scare me, or the weight I don’t think I can lift, they got you! Also make some friends, because the community is by far the best part about Terminus. And bring your friends because working out with people you do life with is one of the best decisions you can make.
Also watch what you eat before a workout… stay away from spicy food.

Q: What are your top 3 memories at Terminus?

1) Sappy alert, but the car rides to and from the workouts with my roommate Bryson will always be special to me. Super fun to workout with some of your best friends.
2) Teaching the first ever Terminus “spin class.” Still waiting to be hired on a permanent basis! haha
3) Our first Terminus happy hour during COVID me Bryson and Sirena logged on together and we all had such a blast and felt like we connected with the community. We logged off so grateful for our gym and the support we had even through the pandemic!

Q: What’s your proudest accomplishment?

At the gym? Getting a muscle up. In life, I’m just proud of where I am in life and the people I’ve surrounded myself with. Community is everything.

Q: Moving forward, do you have any short term or long term training goals?

Nutrition for sure. I feel really good about going to the gym and where I’m at physically. But I think that the next step in my fitness journey is to stop eating out so much and cut back on eating… well whatever I want haha.

Q: How long have you been going to Terminus? What changes have you seen in yourself (physically or mentally) since beginning CrossFit?

It’s been 1.5 years at Terminus and 2.5 years overall but prior to Terminus I was not consistent at all. Since Terminus I’ve seen lots of growth in my upper body strength, I have more endurance, I’ve lost about 20 lbs, and I’m no longer pre-diabetic 🙂

Q: How has Terminus helped you outside the gym?

Terminus is a key part of my routine. I juggle a few projects outside of work which can be overwhelming, and emotionally I can sometimes be all over the place. Crossfit helps me stay centered. It helps me reset, de stress, and stay focused. I’ve also made some friends which makes living in a new city much more enjoyable.

Q: Who inspires you at the gym, and how do they inspire you?

I’m inspired by Emro’s upper body strength and I’m striving to get on her level! I admire Hannah’s hard work, she puts it all on the table at every class! But overall I admire all the badass women who always push themselves. Some days I feel lazy and wanna do the bare minimum but these women have been inspiring me to try harder even on those days that I feel depleted!

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

Ummm. . . I guess I love to travel and I’ve been to 4 continents 🙂

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

Don’t let what you can’t do yet discourage you. Take it day by day, some movements will take years to get and that’s okay. Also showing up is the most important thing. Just come to class!

Q: What are your top 3 memories at Terminus?

I remember my first Saturday workout which scared me from coming back on Saturdays for almost a year. Getting my first strict pullups was a great feeling. And Monday classes with Patrick are just HILARIOUS!

Q: What’s your proudest accomplishment?

Finally being able to do strict pull ups! I can now do 3 unbroken. Hopefully I can double that next year.

Q: Moving forward, do you have any short term or long term training goals?

I want to keep getting stronger and building endurance. My cardiovascular and lung strength needs a lot of work. Long term I want to be able to do less scaling on things like pull ups, pushups, handstand pushups, etc and just do the original workout all the way through.