Fun Facts:
I love to workout. Specifically I love to lift and feel strong. I used to carry certifications in personal training and strength and conditioning. I wanted everyone to feel that same passion for fitness!
I grew up being FAST. I was typically the fastest on my soccer team. I was one of the fastest on my track team. I loved fitness and rose to the occasion for any random 5k or competition - often without training.
When living in Philly, I ran regular exercise classes at the Art Museum - just because.
I ran in a Marathon relay in Pittsburg with my family - we even got Steve to join! Did either of us consistently run at that time? Nope.
I moved to Quakertown and "worked at" Frank's Gym - i.e Trish's garage - where a number of ladies gathered and we worked out together.
For a small period of time, I created group fitness classes at a local park, also here in Qtown.
I competed in a Duathlon (Run-Bike-Run) with my bestie Trish, because why not? Did we train? I mean I think we tried to...once?
I hiked the Grand Canyon - down, over, up - in one day. Did I train? Umm, I think I walked on an incline on the treadmill at the gym...once. Did I essentially crawl to the 'finish line' in a state of shock? YES. Did I hurt like hell and could barely move the next day - also YES.
It was always my goal - no matter where I was - to be THE strongest female in the gym. No one else needed to know this - I wasn't competing against anyone - it was just what drove me to be better.
My physique has changed over the years and while I would struggle with that I saw in the mirror, I always tried to make fitness my priority. There was no excuse.
"Hey what are you doing tomorrow at 5am?"
"Um, I don't know, what are we doing?"
"Want to run?"
"Sure!"
And that started my love hate relationship with running. My neighbor Steph and I would run come hell or high water (literally it would be snowing, raining, ANYTHING) and we ran. Started with 3 miles then became a minimum of 5miles. EVERY MORNING. Sometimes we gathered other neighbors (shout out to Sharon and Susan!). Then sadly, Steph moved. I needed to find something else.
Our home gym came into play. Les Mills became a part of my life. Cycling was a new love for me.
I tried out the YMCA a bit. Made some great gym friends and really enjoyed that little community (shout out to "gym fam fo life" Adam and Erin +)....BUT something still was missing. I was SICK of training myself.
July 2023 I crossed over to CROSSFIT. While some may say it is the dark side - I assure you - it is anything but. WHY IN THE HELL DID I WAIT SO LONG?!
These are my people. These are my fitness fanatic, health forward, competitive friendly people.
This is where I was able to regain my strength - get my name up on the strength boards for top three in various lifts > YESSSS. Challenge and push myself looking like an idiot while attempting to perform gymnastics type moves. But most importantly create meaningful friendships with an amazing group of people.
And these people - this CrossFit Q fam - showed up for me in a big way by creating a special workout with some of my favorite lifts.
"We can do push press - most people would prefer that....and then you choose - just don't make it weird."
"You're the one who makes it weird Heather."
Ok, sometimes I get confused with the movements and I organically create my own! Just ask Shawn haha!
The coaches determined rounds and reps based on important numbers in my life and they curated a playlist with my fav artists and songs. The also opened their doors to the community for anyone else that may have wanted to come support me - shout out to the Relentless Iron Crew and my sis!
For this fitness enthusiast, it was the PERFECT way to say F*UK Cancer...even if I made it weird.
<3
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