Bound Newsletter 12.3.2024
Congratulations to Jennifer Valenti, our November Member of the Month! Check out her story below
1. How long have you been a member at CrossFit Bound? What changes have you noticed in yourself physically, mentally, or emotionally since joining?
I have been a member at CFB for almost 3 years. Before CrossFit I was strictly running, swimming, or biking. Since CrossFit I have changed physically, working muscles I never knew I had. Mentally, it has changed the way I take on challenges in all aspects of my life. It has shown me I am capable of doing things I never dreamed I’d be able to do and left me feeling like what else is possible. Emotionally, it changed the way I handle stress/anxiety, it is a great outlet. It makes me happier to come in and be part of a great group since anything else I had done was very solitary.
2. How has your experience at CrossFit Bound impacted your life outside the gym? (Work, personal life, etc.)
I am a Nurse Anesthetist, mainly working with burn patients. Some days can be very busy and stressful. CFB has been really helpful to take my mind away from work and give me something else to focus on. It gives me more energy and a positive attitude to deal with everyday life challenges with kids, job, and housework.
3. Who at the gym inspires you the most, and why?
Meg Willis has always inspired me at the noon class. She has a working mom of two and I am always inspired by her strength. She is one of the first people to have welcomed and encouraged me.
4. What does being a part of the CrossFit Bound community mean to you?
Being a part of the CFB community has meant a lot to me, I’ve never been part of gym before. It is so inspiring how people at all fitness levels can come together put themselves through that kind of pain and make you wanna come back for more. Even better is when you complain about how sore you are as a group. You’re not alone.
5. Describe your first class at CrossFit Bound. How did you feel during and after it?
I remember my first class with Miles as a coach. It was so different, I had never experienced anything like CrossFit before. I am very grateful for the patience and time all the coaches have taken to help me learn these new skills and movements. No one ever made me feel incompetent or like reaching a goal wasn’t possible. After my first classes I had felt a soreness that I had only ever felt after running a marathon. And that continues for most classes to this day.
6. What’s something surprising about you that people at the gym might not know?
I can’t touch my toes….no flexibility here.
7. What are your top three most memorable moments or proudest achievements since starting CrossFit?
My 1st rope climb, 1st pull-up, and power clean over 100#
8. What advice would you give to someone just starting their CrossFit journey at CrossFit Bound?
Take it slow and set reasonable goals. Be patient with yourself, laugh at yourself, and have fun with it.
9. From where do you draw your inspiration and motivation to push through tough moments in workouts?
I am motivated during difficult workouts because when it hurts so bad it means you’re getting stronger and better for the next time. I’m inspired to see how far I can push myself and reach for new goals and PRs.
Upcoming Events, Schedules, Etc:
Thanksgiving Schedule: Wednesday 8 & 9 am, Thursday: No Class, Friday 8 & 9 am, Saturday 9 am
December 7th: Nutrition Seminar with Special Guest Breakthrough Nutrition Jill Thorton & Jessica Phillips
December 7th: Bound Christmas Party @ 6-8pm
December 24th: Classes at 8 and 9 am
December 25th: Closed
December 26th: Classes at 8 and 9 am
2025 Calendar of Events (so far)
Couples Conquer at CrossFit Bound February 15th, 2025
Registration/Workouts uploaded soon
Elsie Enduro: February 22, 2025
Website/Registration HERE
CrossFit Open (TBD)
Pensacola Beach Brawl Spring: March 22-23, 2025
Website/Registration HERE
Team Ragnar Series in Georgia: April 11-12, 2025
Website/Registration HERE
Atlantic Coast Classic in Florida: June 20-22, 2025 in Daytona Beach
New Members:
Jermaine Johnson
Upcoming Birthdays:
Kalob Apodaca - Nov 5
Jonathan Payton - Nov 6
Jeremy Reardon - Nov 6
Sowmya Kalavagunta - Nov 8
Nicolas White - Nov 9
Ricardo Cervantes - Nov 11
Kristen Humphries - Nov 15
Matt Schuster - Nov 16
Gregory Difani - Nov 18
Zeth Sutton - Nov 20
Julie Chamber - Nov 21
Hannah Woodman - Nov 22
Isabella Lidalen - Nov 23
CrossFit Journal Article of the Week: Putting The Hopper and Your Fitness to the Test
by: Stephane Rochet
“CrossFit aims to elicit a broad, general, and inclusive fitness that gives you the capacity to tackle any challenge life throws at you or any adventure you choose to pursue. We understand nature punishes the specialist, so we specialize in not specializing. We want to be good at everything and not woeful at anything. To illustrate what we mean, take world-class triathletes for example, often held up as the epitome of fitness. When it comes to swimming, biking, and running in combination for long distances, they are unrivaled. Triathletes are also good at many different swimming, cycling, and running events, although as these events get shorter, like the 400-meter run, more powerful athletes will dominate them. Many top triathletes will struggle to compete in any challenge that doesn’t include long swimming, biking, or running distances. They will also likely demonstrate subpar performance in CrossFit workouts, weightlifting, powerlifting, strongman, obstacle course, calisthenics tests, or power sports.
This is not an indictment of triathletes. It’s simply an example of how developing highly specialized skills in one area leads to deficiency in many other areas. This is a compromise CrossFit is not willing to make.
CrossFit’s second fitness standard — the hopper model of fitness — explains that “fitness requires the ability to perform well at all tasks, even unfamiliar tasks, tasks combined in infinitely varying combinations.” In this model, the fittest may not win any single event, but they will perform best across a series of physical challenges pulled randomly from the hopper. While the hopper model is a fun thought experiment to illustrate CrossFit’s view of fitness, there’s a great benefit to applying it to real life and testing our fitness outside the gym. As CrossFit athletes, we can jump into countless races, meets, and challenges with little or no preparation. We do very well because of the incredible work capacity we build with constantly varied functional movements executed at high intensity.
So, while our daily workout is a challenge in and of itself, testing ourselves in unfamiliar ways adds spice to our lives and develops a tremendous sense of accomplishment.
For those eager to test the fitness they’ve built with CrossFit, there’s a wide array of challenges available. From rucking to Olympic lifting, powerlifting, track and field, and strongman events, there’s something for everyone…”
Weekly Training Breakdown: Nov 4 - Nov 10
