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All the years of training with free weights, kettlebells, and martial arts has led me to this…

I found “Cindy.” She isn’t a person. She’s a CrossFit benchmark workout.

Surely, a 20 minute workout is no big deal, right? Especially one that includes JUST pullups, JUST pushups, and JUST bodyweight squats.

Well, live and learn…

I learned I can struggle and after lying on the floor for a while, I decided I needed to embrace this struggle and improve. This was after I decided I wasn’t going to pass out, by the way.

Growth is important in all things and that’s what I’m here for: to make each and every person better when they leave than when they got here. I have been teaching and coaching for over 23 years and I’m ready to help.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s of Science in Education.  Concentration: Exercise Science
• Functional Movement Specialist (FMS Level 2)
• USAW Level 2 Sports Performance Coach & Club Coach
• CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
• CrossFit Gymnastics
• NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist
• TaeKwonDo Instructor
• Formerly HKC Certified (Hardstyle Kettlebell)

Qualifications:

• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer

My friend would not stop asking me to come to this new gym she found…

In 2009 I was stationed at Elgin AFB in Florida.  I used to do early morning runs before work (typically anywhere between 3 to 7 miles).  It was my go-to workout plan though occasionally I would throw in some push-ups and sit-ups.

I felt like this was fine and what I would soon find out was I was missing a whole world of things I never knew I would love so much

After about a month of my friend asking me to come with her to a new gym she found [called CrossFit], and me telling her I would go and then not show up, I finally walked into the doors.  My first trial workout, at CrossFit Fort Walton Beach, was a 4 movement Tabata-style workout:  pull-ups, squats, pushups, and situps.  “Ok,” I thought, “16 minutes isn’t a bit deal.  I can run for well over an hour and feel fine.”

Well, I was smacked with a big dose of CrossFit reality.

I wasn’t as good as I thought, the workout was hard, I had to scale, and I was in a  puddle of sweat on the floor wondering what just happened to me.  The weird thing was, I loved it!  The next thing I knew, I was setting up my membership and scheduling On-Ramp classes for the next day.  Needless to say, my long morning runs took a big back seat to barbells, weights, chalk, and a family I didn’t know I needed so much.

Why is it so important to me?

There are probably a hundred good reasons why CrossFit is important to me so I will just stick with the top 3:

1. Confidence
   • By far, the very first thing I noticed about myself going through CrossFit, was this.  “If I could do everything IN the gym, why can’t I do those other things OUTSIDE the gym?”  Turns out I can.  I continue to use this as motivation when something is a little scary for me.
2. Nutrition
   • I did my first nutrition challenge in 2011.  It was a paleo challenge and it was hard.  What kept me going was the changes my body was making.  It was a huge eye-opening experience for me.
3. Helping Others
   • Everything CrossFit has done for me I want to give to others, no matter what the goal is (seeing someone get their first pull-up, a PR on a lift, or helping them with nutrition.  Nothing replaces the feeling of seeing happiness on someone’s  face because they did something they couldn’t do before!

Qualifications:

• Precision Nutrition Level 1
• Two-Brain Coaching First Degree
• NASM Personal Trainer
• NASM Group Trainer
• NASM Sports Nutrition Specialist
• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
• CrossFit Weightlifting

Future Certifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science (2021)
• CrossFit Gymnastics

In 2012, I decided to give CrossFit a try.  I had been at a much smaller gym, a globo gym, working out solo, etc…  I even worked at a big gym as a PT as well as teaching at a knock kickboxing gym!

I have a tendency to dive in DEEP when I try a new sport or activity.  Now that it’s 2021, I am a coach!

Even though I’d had my CrossFit L1 Certification for 5 years already, it was time to step into the ring!  At 45 (now 46) I’m the oldest on the team but I am learning new tricks every week!

I did not come with any tech knowledge… like, next to none… but he apparently knew I’d eventually get that together!

Although I do love CrossFit classes, my true heart and soul lies with indoor rowing!  I have spent the last few years learning and perfecting my craft!  Becoming a certified rowing instructor had been on my bucket list for some time.

Next up, Master Rowing Status!

Along with this love for rowing, I created the Driven Row Club!  It’s a thriving group who shows up every week for a mix of Indoor Rowing and Functional Fitness!  Iron Hero has the perfect mix of every type of athlete.  It’s small enough that nobody gets left behind but big enough that it takes a few months to learn everyone’s names!

It’s been a pleasure getting to know everyone!

I love a good event to get everyone together!  Team work makes everything better.

I love loud music to workout to!

I love a good challenge!

And I LOVE goal setting and reaching!

I’m here to help motivate you to do the things you didn’t think you could!  Sometimes I’ll even do it along side you.  I am… Iron Hero!

Qualifications:

• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
• Certified Concept2 Rowing Instructor
• Certified UCanRow2 Rowing Instructor
• Certified Darkhorse Pro-Rowing Master Instructor
• CrossFit Masters Trainer Certificate
• Currently apprenticing for Masters Rowing Certification with UCanRow2

Qualifications:

• Brand X Professional Youth Coach Certified
• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer (Soon)

Qualifications:

• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer

Qualifications:

• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer

The road to finding CrossFit was a long and interesting journey!

I came from a long distance running, yoga, and physical therapy background.  After completing several ultra-marathons in 12 months, my body needed something different.  I had tried  CrossFit class here and there, but was honestly intimidated.  Being tired of long endurance and low intensity, I decided to change it up with short endurance and high intensity.

CrossFit did the trick and I began my journey the summer of 2016.  Being in ministry school in norther California, I was able to slowly grow in the area of CrossFit and the workouts and community hooked me.  I also taught Yoga for CrossFitters classes while in California at Jefferson State CrossFit.

After completing my ministry schooling, I decided that I wanted to coach others in CrossFit as it had positively impacted my life.  I wanted to do that for others.

CrossFit has made me strong both mentally and physically.  The summer of 2018, I completed the Level 1 CrossFit course in Omaha, NE and began and internship at Iron Hero CrossFit.  I then started coaching and personal training after its’ completion.

I have a strong desire to see others succeed and develop them into the best versions of themselves.  CrossFit is accessible to everyone and I love bringing my physical therapy/Yoga background into classes.  Positivity is one of my strengths and you will be sure to find it in my classes!

Come check out what a positive and encouraging CrossFit family can look like!

Qualifications:

• Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant, NE
• Certified Yoga Instructor, 200 Hour
• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
• CrossFit Weightlifting