How were you introduced to Crossfit?

A friend brought me to ‘Bring a Friend’ day back at the old gym, a year and a half ago. I was pretty nervous about trying it because I was having a lot of major lower back pain and was convinced it’d be too much for my back. But, she had these great stories and the results on her were overwhelming (she was also strict Paleo at the time).

But, at the event I sat with all the other newbies, and with XiaXi, and there were all these other buff, lean and mean folks working out around up, and XiaXi started talking CrossFit, Mobility, and WODs. Then it was time, as all the buff people were working out, for the beginners to start to do some baby step type exercises. I thought I was going to die by the end of the class, and my back didn’t seem to mind to much (in fact I felt a little relief), and we only worked out for 20 minutes, and … I’ve been hooked ever since!

Favorite WOD/Lift:
I’m best when it comes to endurance, and so I like WODs that combine a bunch of components like: kettlebells, slam-balls, hitting the tractor tire with the sledge hammer, and lifts. These types of WODs are challenging and very satisfying. HELEN is a serious butt-kicker, but that’s the type of WOD that makes me realize, “This is what it’s all about,” this is what these daily skills trainings have been preparing me for.

I have always wanted to:
I’ve always wanted to enter an endurance race, ride in a hot air balloon, visit Morocco, Turkey, and the Czech Republic to tour the baths and lakes. I also want to go to Belize to snorkel the coral reefs before they disappear. And I want to learn to speak French.

One word people use to describe me:
I think in general I hear people say that I’m “sweet.” I of course would add a lot of other words in there, but sweet is not a bad thing.

Outside of the gym I like to:

Outside the gym I like to ride my bike around town, go to new neighborhoods, and check out new places. I also love to get out in my kayak with friends (it’s a tandem) and camp and explore new lakes in the area. And, with summer kickball season starting this month, I’m getting excited for that. It’s a lot of fun even though our team rarely ‘wins.’

Something nobody knows about me or would be surprised to know about me
That’s a pretty tough one. I’m not too shy about things I have done or experienced, and have no problem talking to people about them if asked.

But, I guess one thing that seems pretty surprising is that I have moved 45 times in my life, including stints of living in my van, a tent, a camper in a friend’s driveway, and a few high-rise apartments in a few different countries. That one is pretty surprising even to me … 45 times!

Oh, and I did the Naked Bike Ride last year, just to see what it was all about. Once was enough

Favorite physical activity outside of Crossfit
Outside of Crossfit, I like going on long-distance rides with my team ‘Team Bikey’ (totally silly name), and I hope to take part in a 12-hour endurance race this September with my little brother up in the San Juans.

Favorite place to eat in Portland:

Shigezo! Hands down Shigezo is my favorite restaurant to eat at (sorry Elizabeth because it’s the best sashimi outside of Japan, and it’s a lot like the izakayas of south Tokyo.

A close second is HaeRim. The owner and I like to dork around, he with his best English and me with my best Korean. It’s nice and reminds me of the great times I had living there.

Song that gets me pumped for a workout:
Scott has been playing some pretty good electronic dance music lately. I’d have to say anything that has the buildup and a good driving beat, but I loathe little girl voices trying to sing about what they’re gonna do at the club or going shopping at the mall, even if they do have a catchy rhythm.

Proudest Accomplishment:
I’ve done a lot of things in my life. I’ve traveled a lot and entered lots of events, but I feel particularly proud when I hang out with my niece (she’s 8 and in MT) and I get her laughing. It helps me feel like the short amounts of time we get to hang out will be good memories for her, and that feels good.

It’s also pretty satisfying to finish some sort of art/craft project, or when I do something challenging, like my first full push-up (after months of CGTs), or finish a long bike ride … that’s good stuff.