We’re very happy to announce May 2011′s Member of the Month who took on the 2011 CrossFit Games Open, even if she wasn’t perfect at all the movements. Her enthusiastic, friendly, and competitive nature has made her a great person to work with (both for the students and coaches alike!). Her willingness to learn, and to continually seek improvement on everything she does without the fear of failure, has been second to none! Debbie Eng has demonstrated week-in and week-out the commitment and desire to succeed that makes her this month’s Member of the Month! Keep up the great effort Debbie! Be sure to give her a pat on the back the next time you see her!
Favorite skill: My favorite skill is usually what I’m trying to learn at the moment, and right now it’s the double-under.
Most improved skills: Deadhang pull-up & rope climb-I recently got my first reps. I’ve secretly wanted to accomplish these since second-grade gym class. Finally, success!
Favorite WOD: Fight Gone Bad was one of the first WODs I ever tried. Before the second round started, I knew I was going to love CrossFit.
Least favorite WOD: I’m beginning to like them all, even the long ones, even my first full Murph coming up in June.
Favorite lift: Deadlifts. They’re more fun than only running lung-burning sprints to develop those fast-twitch muscle fibers along my back side. (I’m a marathoner; sprints are hard!) Also, Mark recently posted, “If you want killer abs and a tight butt, all you have to do is deadlift heavy and clean up your nutrition.” Well, the LBFBPB challenge is addressing my nutrition, so let’s deadlift! ‘Cause who doesn’t want great abs & butt, right?
Least favorite lift: Overhead squats (so wobbly)
Primary motivation in doing CF: I CrossFit because it changes me. It’s helping me become all that I’m meant to be. Somehow, when I walk through that entrance that says, “Leave your ego at the door,” I drop more than my ego. I lose my fears and apprehensions. For an hour, I forget my self-imposed limitations. The stresses of the day fall away. And I know that I’m among friends. Then, together, we do simple things, like jump high, run fast, and lift heavy stuff. But there must be magic in those simple things because after we’re done and I go out that same door to head home, I’m a different person-a better person than when I came in.
Definition of success: Love God. Be kind to others. Give your best in all things.
Long term goal for CrossFit, or outside of CrossFit: Next year, I’d love to participate in the CrossFit Games again and finish better than I did this time around. (It was a thrilling and boundary-busting challenge just to finish all 6 weeks!) Outside of CrossFit, I’m training to qualify for the Boston Marathon and to finish a half (maybe full?) IronMan triathlon in about a year. Big goals, I know, but I’m going for them!
Three words that describe how you feel during/after a WOD: The coaches might be looking for words like excited, energized, and exhausted. The truth is, about a third of the way into a WOD, the words that come to mind most often are ”Oh, dear God.” Afterwards, I’m thinking in amazement, “I did that?!” or sometimes even “Let’s go again!”
Favorite outcome of participating in CF (gaining friendships, strength, muscle, etc.?): The PRs and firsts are certainly motivating. They remind me that I’m not done yet. Our best experiences lie ahead, there is still vast and untapped potential within us, and maybe just maybe we can do more than we dare believe. However, my favorite part of CrossFit is the community of wonderful people-athletes, coaches, friends. Sometimes, the “families” we find in life can teach us and nurture us more than the families we come from. In the CrossFit family, the ties that bind are noble virtues like working hard, pushing your limits, and rallying others on as they stretch and grow. Besides, where else can you find people who, like you, think that doing thrusters, then SDHPs, then push jerks, then overhead squats (ugh!), then front squats-all mixed with burpees-is a good thing?!
