“It means to not take for granted the bodies we were blessed with, to practice gratitude, to use your story to encourage others, and most of all, to build a community worth competing for, because we are so much stronger when we are together.”
1. Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a 39 year old wife, mom, full time cancer clinical team member and side cancer crossfit coach. My dream is to share and inspire my patients to exercise because not only does it help them feel better but it gives them some control with their cancer. I have always been interested in exercise and loved competition, the adrenaline rush of activity in things like sports, bungee jumping or even a simple rope climb in the gym. I was a high school soccer player known much more for my tenacity than my skill. As an adult my lack of skills has brought me to realize that every day you have to put in the time and effort and it won’t be easy but worth it.
2. What’s a typical day look like for you?
After I get my family breakfast and and dinner started, my hubby and I trade off on who takes our high schooler to school and then it’s off to work for us. I work full time in the largest cancer center in Kansas City seeing patients as part of the clinical care team seeing patients who have been affected by caner. I work with them to develop an appropriate fitness plan to help them with their short and long term goals. I talk to the physicians and nurses and often am speaking about this subject. Three nights a week, I head directly to coach BUILD, then I jump into a crossfit class and head home to make dinner. Then its unpack and repack for the next day and then a little relax time and then bed.
3. How did you get started on your current fitness journey?
While I’ve been in fitness since I was15 years old, it was only three years ago that I tried crossfit. I had been a triathlete and while I didn’t dislike the training, it bored me and I realized that I was missing something. I did too much endurance, lost a lot of muscle and eventually felt slower. I did love the races through but crossfit was the first time that I felt that same buzz that I did in a race and the results were amazing in much less time. i also had less aches and pains and felt more energetic overall!
4. What’s one goal you’re currently training to accomplish by December 31, 2016?
I want to get a muscle up. It’s one thing that I feel that I haven’t broke into yet but I can do if I work at it! As a short muscular athlete I feel like I missed my called as a gymnast so as an adult I want to feel what it feels like to fly!
5. What’s one life goal you’re currently pursuing outside of fitness?
Being a great wife and mom- daily! But I also want to find my place in putting my passions of CrossFit and exercise for cancer survivors together to impact a much larger population than I have access to now because I truly believe in what it does for our survivors!
6. What does it mean to you to Compete Every Day?
Working in cancer, death is always in your face. Exercise for me is LIFE. Feeling your heart pounding, your lungs working overtime and the burn you feel in your muscles makes me feel so alive. I compete every day because I can. I’m healthy, able and have found the place that makes me feel alive. When I lose a patient, I honor them with giving them the best effort I can in the workout. I feel that because I’m still there, its my way of doing it in their memory. t’s kind of my own little hero WOD but its just my thing. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever really shared that before but it’s something I do daily in my head.
7. What is one obstacle you’re proud you’ve overcome?
I truly feel that I’ve been very fortunate in life. When I went through a major surgery, divorce, moved myself and my business all in 6 weeks, I learned what I was made of and that I just needed to rebuild, me and my life.
But more recently, I am so proud when I am consulted by our physicians, surgeons and medical providers to get my perspective and exercise plan for our cancer patients. When I first started in health care, exercise was considered fluff but now its considered to be more important to our treatment plan and I’m super proud of that because it really does make a difference for our patients.
8. What/who do you compete for?
My husband & our son. I want them to be proud of me and see that I give 100 % effort and have a positive attitude every day even when the wheels fall off. But also my patients, I want to be the best role model I can be and learn as much as I can to share and teach them to be the best person they can be. Because I feel that anything can change in an instant and the stronger you are physically and mentally, the better off you will be.