For the first time since we started the Athlete Of The Month blog series, we have chosen one of our masters athlete to represent the month of December! Everyone meet Janet Daum. She can be seen at the Tuesday and Thursday evening Masters’ classes working her butt off. With the help of a better diet and consistent exercise, Janet has managed to lose more than 70 lbs. She is moving better than ever before and really has no limitations from here on out. Congratulations Janet! Your positivity and drive are infectious!

1. When did you join EDCF?  How did you find the gym?  What was your first impression or how did that first workout go?

I believe I joined EDCF in either late April or early May of this year. I was told about Crossfit by a man that I ride the bus with to downtown most mornings. After hearing about Crossfit for a year and a lengthy rehab following my last ankle surgery, I decided it was finally time to join. My first impression was that this type of workout was definitely something that would keep me motivated.  The first workout was really tough but I knew it would eventually get better…

2. What class time do you attend the most, are there any regular members you work out with at that time?

We have a great group of folks in there that made me feel welcome from the beginning. During the workouts, I usually partner with Susan, Isabel, one of the Debbies, Vickie or Marci. Can’t forget about the guys- Jay (from the bus), Tom, Tim, Rick and Dennis…oh and Joe and anyone else I may have left off.

3. Tell us a little about yourself, What is your life like outside the gym? Where do you work, do you have kids/pets/husband/bf/partner? What is your favorite hobby outside the gym?

I work at the federal building downtown.  I will spare you the details. I have a dog and a cat which my parents refer to as the grand-dog and grand-cat. It’s just me and the critters right now, no boyfriend currently. I started volunteering in 1999 at Equest, which is an amazing place that offers horseback riding for people with disabilities.  I returned to Equest just this past September after a 5 year hiatus and a few orthopedic surgeries.  It’s good to be back!

4. What do you like about CrossFit or EDCF that keeps you coming back?

Crossfit keeps me coming back because it keeps me motivated.  Every workout is different and there is always something that challenges me in each class.  I keep telling myself that I will eventually like doing burpees…. The people keep it fun as well.

5. What is your favorite lift or exercise or type of workout? What is one of your short term and long term goals?

I really don’t have a single lift that I could currently call my favorite. I usually like anything with kettlebells, which I have actually caught myself encouraging others to get the next larger weight…imagine that. I find the AMRAPs a good challenge every time. My main goal in joining Crossfit was to lose weight and get moving.  That is still my goal today….to keep moving!

Barbells & Handlebars 2014, the best one yet, is in the books. Saturday started out a madhouse with things quickly falling into place and ran smoothly for the majority of the event. Throwing an event like this shows the roots of our community. How a bunch of awesome people were able to volunteer their time and effort and come together as a team for a greater cause. Our volunteers were the fabric of BBHB and I can’t thank you all enough. Seeing everyone working together really warmed my heart and was a huge reminder of why I wake up at 5 every morning to do what I do everyday. I appreciate each and every one of you and I can’t thank you enough for making this event possible. This is what CrossFit is all about and this is what I have been working to make our gym about; the community.

A big congratulations is in order to all of those who competed this weekend. For many of you it was your first taste of competition and you rocked it. It takes guts to put yourself out there like that. I hope that your experience was a positive one and you will consider more in the future. Every one of you athletes conducted themselves with the utmost class and for that I am so very proud to call myself your coach.

I would also like to recognize Jennifer Evidente and Justin Welch who won 2nd and 1st respectively in their intermediate divisions. Way to go you two! You both deserve it as I know how hard both of you have been working in class.

I would also like to quickly thank my awesome team of coaches and fellow owners. Drew, Justin, and Trevor were the glue that held everything together on Saturday. Chase and Ben did everything behind the scenes to make everything you saw unfold possible. A big thank you also goes out to Bryan and Jill Perkins for loading so much time and energy into this event year after year since it’s conception.

I am lucky to have such a great set people around me, thank you again.