Wednesday 12.05.12

WOM Cindy K. works her doubleunders

Reminder:

WE MOVED!

Meet Our December Warrior of the Month

Cindy Klebe

Why did you start CrossFitting? I started Crossfitting for a few reasons. One was to get my best friend riled up (which rarely happens and is hard to do), another was to have something that my husband and I could do together that was healthy, and the third was to get out of my own “head space”. As it turns out, Warrior CrossFit Muscatine, is the perfect means for meeting and exceeding all of my expectations!

You see, my friend Laurie does Crossfit in the Quad Cities. When she and I would get together, she could not stop talking about it. She would talk my ear off. Bring up a different topic? I don’t think so. I continued to listen. I figured that if she was this excited about something (and Laurie is a person not known to get excited about much of anything), then it might be worth giving it a try. So I joined WCFM and didn’t tell her, because I wanted to surprise her with doing a handstand pushup or something. Well, that didn’t go quite as planned, it went better! She found out at a party from a friend she normally wouldn’t see. She confronted me with a riled look in her eye and I knew it was mission accomplished!

My husband Mike and I were looking for something that we could do together, discuss together, and foster new positive common relationships through. We found all these things and more! The people, coaching, and upbeat attitudes of the WCFM community are awesome. It is an aspect of our lives that we craved and we have been excited to be a part of it since day one.

Finally, the mental, physical, and social aspects of CrossFit are a great type of therapy; which is just what I needed. After losing my Mom, she was all I could think about. I would replay the weeks and final day leading up to her death and it pissed me off. I needed a distraction from my own “head space”. I knew I had to make a positive commitment to my own health. I needed to focus on something good; something other than this life altering experience that had a hold on me and my desire to be as mentally strong as my Mom was. WCFM has been the positive, healthy outlet I have sought. I miss my Mom, but I know she’s in heaven thinking, “My daughter is crazy, pumping iron and loving it; whatever makes her happy.” She would so say that!

Favorite workout/exercise? I’d say my favorite workout is any partner WOD. I like them because you might excel at a certain skill, while your partner excels in another, so you can both benefit and cheer and push the other to the max. You don’t want to let your partner down, so you truly do “leave it all out there”, leaving nothing left in the tank. Plus, you drip buckets of sweat to prove you gave it your all! I also really enjoy any of the barbell exercises. Learning the right form, then executing the skill safely and efficiently really resonates with me.

Least favorite? Well it used to be Wall Balls; then it was Burpees; now it’s Doubleunders. They are my arch nemesis and I need to practice them. Hopefully in time, I will be able to master them with ease and without rope welts!

What is your athletic background? I was pretty active in Jr. High playing summer league softball. When high school rolled around I played basketball and softball all four years. My two brothers tried to play sports, but they just weren’t as into it as I was. My mom and dad went to nearly every game I ever had. I also played one year of college basketball at Highland Community College in Freeport, IL. Those were some great times. My position was point guard. I went on to finish my BS in Resource Management-Environmental Education and Interpretation and Environmental Communications at the UW-Stevens Point, in WI. Here I was lucky enough to be able to go on a semester abroad to Australia and New Zealand. Another environmental studies trip was to Germany where we stayed in an actual old stone castle in the Black Forest. Because of these unique opportunities, I wasn’t able to try out for the UWSP softball team until my senior year. My goal was to make the team and be the fastest base runner I could be. I made the team with the fastest mile, and became their pinch runner. When they needed a backup catcher or shortstop or 2nd baseman, I was ready to play. It was a fun time indeed!

My adult athletic background includes playing on two volleyball teams for 18 years now in Moline. However, more recently, I took up competitive tennis and am absolutely passionate about the sport. It’s one of my favorite things to do, next to CrossFit of course!

What are your goals within the next year inside or outside of the gym? A goal of mine inside the box is to work on my doubleunders and become efficient with them. Another goal in the box is to be able to complete three fluid bar muscleups in a row, then move onto the rings! Finally, those handstand pushups are on my radar as well to get greater mobility on. Outside the box? Funny you should ask. Usually I have a challenge on the horizon, but I do not have one in the works yet. I’d like to do a Tough Mudder race with my husband. I see the next one that’s close to Muscatine is in St. Louis, MO on September 14th, 2013. How ‘bout we get a team together WCFM? Fun times await us!

What is your advice for people just beginning CrossFit? My advice would be to listen to the coaches. Strive for good form first with low weights to avoid injury. Then slowly add weight to improve upon your own goals and milestones you have set for yourself. Don’t compare your progress with others. Focus on you and your abilities and progress from there. Whether it is weight loss, weight maintenance, muscle gain, or to become a more balanced and well-rounded athlete; CrossFit will not disappoint.

WOD

*Complete 5 total rope climbs before the end of the WOD

Run/Row 800 m

5 chest-to-bar pullups

9 thrusters (135/95)

Run/Row 800 m

7 chest-to-bar pullups

7 thrusters (135/95)

Run/Row 800 m

9 chest-to-bar pullups

5 thrusters (135/95)